Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
- Eagle-eyed viewers have noticed a hidden easter egg referencing Chris Columbus's previous film in the background of the opening scene.
- The original script for Mrs. Doubtfire was written over a decade before production finally began in 1993.
- Chris Columbus originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 American comedy-drama directed by Chris Columbus. Robin Williams stars as Daniel Hillard, a loving but irresponsible voice actor whose wife Miranda, played by Sally Field, files for divorce and is awarded primary custody of their three children.
Desperate to spend more time with his kids, Daniel disguises himself as Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire, a prim, elderly British nanny, and is hired by Miranda to care for the children โ unaware she is employing her own ex-husband. Robin Williams's performance was a showcase for his improvisational genius and his gift for physical transformation โ aided by prosthetic makeup designed by Ve Neill that required four hours to apply, Williams created a character of genuine warmth and wit whose Scottish-accented Mrs.
Doubtfire felt like a real person rather than a drag performance. The film balanced slapstick comedy with surprisingly mature treatment of divorce's impact on children. The restaurant scene, in which Daniel must rapidly switch between being himself and Mrs.
Doubtfire at adjacent tables, was a masterclass in farcical timing. Mrs. Doubtfire earned $441 million worldwide on a $25 million budget.
