In 2002, Dobby the house elf made his debut on our screens in Chris Columbus’ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. From the opening scenes of the film, she appears at Harry’s uncle and aunt to warn him that he is in danger: well, she then tries to prevent him from returning to Hogwarts. The rest, you know.
As Conbin recalls, the character was introduced on set with an orange tennis ball attached to the handle so Daniel Radcliffe could look in the right direction as he pretended to play against the creature. Dobby was then completely computer generated, and because he had to match his description by J.K. Rowling’s book, the special effects team took inspiration from the movements of the ears of Max, a dog still in their office. But for his face, who knows…
Some resemblance to… Vladimir Putin!
The following year, in 2003, Russian lawyers sprung a surprise announcement that they planned to file a lawsuit against Warner Bros., alleging that the bald, eared, pointy-nosed, wide-eyed creature would be created from the face. And the words of their president, Vladimir Putin – who himself complained about the similarity!
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Similar suggestions began circulating online and rumors grew, eventually becoming a meme that led to a mocking statue erected in Ukraine in 2015. The BBC’s children’s site, CBBC, even went so far as to publish a poll on the subject. Of the 5,500 votes cast, only 54% agreed that Putin and Dobby were separated at birth!
Listen to Konbini’s explanation below:
According to eonline.com, the information about the legal actions was first published in a Russian newspaper. A representative of the Russian Bar Association later told RFE/RL that similar proceedings had already taken place, but that it was difficult for the court to decide on this type of charge, which requires the consultation of many experts, and that such an appeal was likely. The success was minimal as it was.
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For the record, rumor (unconfirmed, as The Guardian recalls) has it that George W. Bush was also displeased with his potential resemblance to Gollum when the creature appeared in The Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers that same year!
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
