Quick Facts
| Title | The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar |
| Type | Short film (fantasy/comedy), first of a four-part Roald Dahl anthology |
| Director | Wes Anderson |
| Composer | Alexandre Desplat |
| Release date | Premiered Sept 1, 2023 (Venice); Netflix release Sept 27, 2023 |
| Where to stream | Netflix |
| Cast | Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Rupert Friend, Richard Ayoade |
| Accolade | Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film (96th Oscars) |
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar Soundtrack: Roald Dahl’s The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (or simply The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar) is a 2023 American Imagination short film written, co-produced, as well as directed by Wes Anderson. However, it is based on the 1977 short story of the same name, Roald Dahl.
A rich man learns of a guru who can see using his eyes, then sets out to cheat at gambling without gaining the skills to cheat. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch with Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Rupert Friend, and Richard Ayoade.
However, the film is the first of a series of four-part short films based on Dahl’s short stories, including “The Swan“, “The Ratcatcher“, and “Poison“.
On September 1, 2023, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival and had a limited theatrical release on September 20, 2023, followed by a premiere on September 27, 2023. It also received praise from critics.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar Soundtrack (Composer)
Alexandre Desplat composed the score for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. The French composer is a frequent Wes Anderson collaborator, having previously scored The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom, and The French Dispatch. Desplat is a two-time Academy Award winner, for The Grand Budapest Hotel (2015) and The Shape of Water (2018), and has been nominated for the Oscar eleven times overall – one of the most decorated film composers working today.
For Henry Sugar, Desplat’s score underlines the film’s rapid, theatrical storytelling style, moving briskly between narrators as the story is passed from Roald Dahl to Henry Sugar to the guru Imdad Khan. The short went on to win the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 96th Academy Awards, adding to Desplat’s list of Anderson collaborations recognized by the Academy.
The film is based on Roald Dahl’s 1977 short story of the same name. Dahl (1916–1990) was a British novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter whose children’s books – including James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and The BFG – have sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide and form the basis of Wes Anderson’s four-part Netflix Roald Dahl short film anthology.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar Soundtrack (Additional Song of the film)
On September 1, 2023, The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar inaugurated of competition at the 80th Venice International Film Festival for the first time. It had a limited theatrical release only in New York and California on September 20.
It was initially scheduled for a streaming release on October 13, 2023, but was released on Netflix on September 27.
A song played in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar’s soundtrack is listed below.
- Cosi Fan Tutte, K. 588, Act I Scene 2: No.10, Terzettino „Soave Sia Il Vento” (Dorabella, Don Alfonso, Fiordiligi) – The Swingle Singers: Kosi Fan Tutte, K. 588, Act I Scene 2: No. 10, Terzettino “Soave cia il vento” (Dorabella, Don Alfonso, Fiordiligi) is a song performed by The Swingle Singers. It is featured on the soundtrack of The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.
(External Link: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (film) – Wikipedia)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the score for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar?
Alexandre Desplat composed the score. He is a frequent Wes Anderson collaborator, having also scored The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The French Dispatch.
Who stars in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar?
The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Rupert Friend, and Richard Ayoade.
Where can I watch The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar?
The film streams on Netflix, where it released on September 27, 2023, alongside its three companion shorts.
Did The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar win any awards?
Yes. It won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
Is The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar part of a series?
Yes. It is the first of four short films Wes Anderson adapted from Roald Dahl stories for Netflix, followed by The Swan, The Ratcatcher, and Poison.