Harry Potter didn't always rely on CGI to capture movie magic, and one of the best examples was Aunt Marge's inflation in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Marjorie Dursley, played by Pam Ferris, only appeared in one movie, but her brief presence was extremely memorable. The scene, however, didn't utilize CGI effects, and the production team went to great lengths for Aunt Marge's magical transformation.
Aunt Marge was the older sister of Vernon who would visit the Dursely family from time to time. She was a very arrogant woman who adored her nephew, Dudley. Aunt Marge constantly belittled Harry while spoiling his cousin with expensive gifts. The woman was completely unaware that Harry was a wizard and believed he attended St Brutus' Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys, which only fuelled her cruel behavior towards him.
At the beginning of Prisoner of Azkaban, Aunt Marge spent a week with the Dursley family on a special visit. At one point, she spoke ill of Harry's deceased parents, sending him off in a fit of rage. Harry lost his temper and unknowingly used an Inflating Charm on her. Aunt Marge then blew up like a balloon, floated to the ceiling, then outside to the open sky. The Ministry of Magic eventually sent the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad to retrieve and puncture her before wiping her memory of the event. Most viewers would have assumed that CGI was heavily used for the scene, but that wasn't the case. In fact, CGI was only used for her floating and wire removal, but the actual inflation of Aunt Marge was created through practical effects.
How The Production Team Inflated Aunt Marge In Harry Potter
In order to adapt the scene written by J.K. Rowling in her third Harry Potter novel for the big screen, the production team built a real inflatable suit. The team consisted of 20 people, and it took them four months to create something for Ferris to wear in the scene. The suit required three stages of prosthetics, weighing around 50 pounds. There were also special pumps and de-gassing chambers for inflating or deflating the multiple layers of the suit. Expandable rubber bladders were also used for her face ,which was modeled after Aunt Marge's appearance.
Ferris has shared that wearing the various layers of latex caused her to pass out while filming the scene. After the struggles, the hard work paid off since it made for an unforgettable sequence. The fact that it wasn't created through CGI made the sequence even more special for all involved. The production crew held on to the inflatable suit and the prop was put on display at the WB Studio Tour in London. Harry Potter fans were able to see the suit and give an extra level of appreciation to the magic of movie-making.
