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Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to August's film club. As is traditional during holiday season, we're having a free-for-all session, discussion 'desert island' films - those few films that you couldn't be without if stranded alone on a desert island. If you can think of a list of eight films, and reasons why you've chosen those, even better.
This year we're looking at children's films. Which were essential to you when you were a child, or even now that you're all grown up?
Look forward to seeing what people come up with.
'Ö'Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 2
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
Welcome to the ML Classic Film Club. This club is for film fans to discuss their favourite films - either thematically by type, director, actor, producer, studio, etc - or in some more serendipitous way. Our goal is for informed but informal conversations somewhere slap-bang in the middle between ogling Hollywood stars and dry academic waffle.
We meet on the third Saturday of each month (or as close as possible for those who can't post at weekends) and the topics we have looked at so far have been:
*2006*
September - Preston Sturges F2693944?thread=3478441
October - Those Were the Days: A cinema goer's trip down memory lane F2693944?thread=3573153
November - Pedro Almodóvar F2693944?thread=3679179
December - Fred & Ginger F2693944?thread=3748217
*2007*
January - Screwball US comedies of the 1930s F2693944?thread=3819522
February - Powell & Pressburger F2693944?thread=3898224
March - Film parodies F2693944?thread=3979158
April - Ealing comedies F2693944?thread=4078333
May - Gainsborough films F2693944?thread=4170064
June - Film noir and neo-noir F2693944?thread=4272114
July - Yasukiro Ozu F2693944?thread=4364674
August - Desert island films F2693944?thread=4490375
September - Hitchcock triple bill: Early years (1926-44) F2693944?thread=4580949; Glory years (1945-57) F2693944?thread=4604887; Later years (1958-76) F2693944?thread=4627367
October - Life and films of Leslie Howard F2693944?thread=4696607
November - Robert Altman F2693944?thread=4792081
December - Melodramas F2693944?thread=4887407
*2008*
January - Ernst Lubitsch F2693944?thread=4997926
February - Sword and sandal epics F2693944?thread=5105863
March - Shakespeare on film F2693944?thread=5215377
April - Mancunian film studios F2693944?thread=5348478
May - Robert Altman F2693944?thread=5463712
June - Westerns F2693944?thread=5593880
August - DIDs: films that got you into film F2693944?thread=5786988
September - War films: the soldier’s story F2693944?thread=5907024
October - War films: the civilian’s story F2693944?thread=5990379
November - Women directors F2693944?thread=6080539
December - Christmas films F2693944?thread=6167516
*2009*
January - Bill Forsyth F2693944?thread=6238296
February - Stanley Kubrick F2693944?thread=6344975
March - Frank Capra F2693944?thread=6422685
April - Films about music F2693944?thread=6506133
May - Courtroom dramas F2693944?thread=6591078
June - Prison dramas F2693944?thread=6692548
July - Mike Leigh F2693944?thread=6787430
August - DIDs: your 8 turkeys F2693944?thread=6842924
September - Films of Australia/New Zealand F2693944?thread=6937423
October - Children in film F2693944?thread=7009827
November - ‘Light’ sci-fi F2693944?thread=7094035
December - Road movies F2693944?thread=7165030
*2010*
January - Roman Polanski F2693944?thread=7223025
February - Miscastings F2693944?thread=7314996
March - High school movies/School films F2693944?thread=7379027
April - Coming-of-age films F2693944?thread=7444091
May - Billy Wilder F2693944?thread=7504303
June - The casting couch F2693944?thread=7579530
July - Clint Eastwood F2693944?thread=7630641
August - DID Films: your 8 favourite children's films F2693944?thread=7705454
Forthcoming attractions:
September - Charlie Chaplin (Reggie Trentham)
No dates yet:
- Serious sci-fi (introduced by Peet)
Other suggestions:
- Italian cinema
- Classic horror films
If there is any topic that we haven't yet covered - either one of those above, or something else - which you would like to discuss, please put yourself forward on the rota thread - F2693944?thread=6795121 - especially if you haven't opened a discussion before. It’s always good to hear from new people.Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 3
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
I had a deprived childhood when it came to films, because we always lived in remote areas, whether in the Far East or UK. The only film I remember seeing when still quite young is "Bambi", so that will have to go on my list of eight.
1.Disney's "Bambi" (1942). I cried when Bambi's mother was shot and killed, and again during the forest fire. I haven't seen the whole film since, but there are certain scenes - not necessarily sad like these - that I remember vividly. I dare say I have seen clips on television over the years, which has helped. Anyone else remember the scene of little Bambi and Thumper the frozen lake?
All my other favourite films are those I have onl seen as an adult. I think they are pretty much all about animals.
2."The Aristocats" (1964) - another Disney animation. I saw this for the first time last year and loved it. I gather it had mixed reviews - that it didn't have the loving attention to detail that classic Disney films had, but I liked it. Maybe it was because it was partly set in Gay Paree, or that I fell for rough old tom, Thomas O'Malley who saves the aristocratic Duchess and her three kittens from a tragic fate.
I thought it was clever and funny, and nobody died, which was another plus.
3."The Incredible Journey" (especially the 1963 version, though the 1993 one was okay, if over-sentimental). These films were not animations, but used real animals. The incredible journey of the title is based on a book by Sheila Burford (favourite of mine when a child) and is said to be based on a true story.
Two dogs, one old, wise but getting frail and one young, healthy and impetuous, plus a clever Siamese cat, decide to travel across the Canadian wilderness in search of their human family, when the latter leave them with friends and leave the country for an extended period.
Thinking about it now, I wonder how some of the stunts were pulled off without the animals being at least stressed, in the earlier film. By the time it was remade new regulations would have been in place to ensure their welfare and wellbeing. Particularly in the second film, I daresay dozens of dogs and cats played the three leads!
Ah, here is one film about humans:
4. "The Railway Children" (1970), with the wonderful Jenny Agutter as Bobbie. I am *not* going to mention the last, tearjerking scenes. Suffice it to say I loved the film as much as the book, and that is saying something.
I'll list my other four choices later.
RustyLink to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 4
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
Nowt to do with children's films, but I've just noticed that Advise and Consent, an American political film from the 60s, is on Ö÷²¥´óÐã now. I enjoyed this when I saw it a few years ago. More complex than such films tended to be.
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Message 5
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
Saw "Advise and Consent" a few years back. I remember thinking it was very good and also seem to recall that it was fairly brave and even compassionate about homosexuality, given that it was a mainstream film made in the 1960s.
Last year I saw Henry Fonda in another old film: "The Best Man" (1960s) with a vaguely similar theme (Presidential nominees, dirty tricks and deals, a whiff of homosexuality).
Both intelligent and thought-provoking films, imo.
Um, to get us back on track, I don't think I've ever seen Henry Fonda in a children's film. Just going to look. Nope.
RustyLink to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 6
Posted by Reggie Trentham (U2746099) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
I'll be back later but something has been niggling at the back of my mind ever since I saw what this months subject was going to be. Can someone tell me what the title of the film was, early fifties I think, where two young boys 'kidnap' a baby? I think they were Scottish and it's much gentler than it sounds from what I've said iirc.
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Message 7
Posted by Hollydaze (U14054088) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
Reggie, could it be "The Little Kidnappers"?
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Message 8
Posted by Reggie Trentham (U2746099) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
Bambi is certainly the first film I ever remember seeing (apart from Charlie Chaplin at the kids Christmas party at my dad's work, but more of that next month). I cried when Bambi's mother died as did my children when I took them to see it.
My most abiding memories of childhood cinema is Saturday morning pictures at the Ritz Balham. Marvel Man, Flash Gordon, the Bowery Boys and Hopalong Cassidy being the highlights for me.
Also my mum, a great Bing Crosby fan, took me to see High Society which gave me an abiding love of Hollywood musicals.Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 9
Posted by Reggie Trentham (U2746099) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
That's the one Holly. I thought I remembered a Canadian connection even though it seemed to be Scottish. Duncan McRae was definitely in it and they wanted a dog. Ta.
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Message 10
Posted by Leaping Badger (U3587940) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
Weirdly I've just noticed that one of the films I best remember seeing at the cinema when I was a child is being shown right now on Channel 5: Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. I was seven. It's not a great film by any means, but some of the Ray Harryhausen special effects (fighting skeletons, giant metal man, giant bee, etc) scared the daylights out of me.
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Message 11
Posted by petal jam (U1466691) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:01 GMT, in reply to Leaping Badger in message 1
Hmm.. Badgey I saw the flyer for this thread in TB several hours ago and it's been regurgitating in my brain ever since. I think this must be one of those great generational and urban/rural divides. The concept of owning a film [the DVD] is only current in the last what twenty, twenty-five years? I own the memory of some films I saw in my twenties which I actually don't want to see again becuase I like the memory as it is.
But... I not only didn't have important children's films, I didn't see films for children, as a child, full stop. Or rather I was taken to see Pollyannna in London, and much later in the sticks, we all went to a Mr Hulot film, which my parents assured us was terribly funny.. though no-one else in the audience was laughing, so my brother and I shrank in embarrassment. Mary Poppins I saw with friends and The Jungle Book. Much preferred the theatre or, thrillingly, a Pantomime On Ice.
So what do I remember with fondness? The films I sat through with my father on Sunday afternoon television, films from /his/ childhood. Early Art Deco Astaire and Rogers [in our house the star was considered to be Eric Blore] The Thin Man series [starring Asta, the dog]; The Lady Vanishes [starring Charters and Caldicott]; early -ish Cary Grant esp. Topper, Holiday [starring Edward Everett Horton] and The Philadelphia Story; Lubitsch's The Shop Around the Corner; The Boys from Syracuse. I will happily watch any of those on a rainy day, ever after. The Philadelphia Story is rarely off my Desert Island list.
Realise I've done much the same with my offspring, brought up on Blackadder, Fawlty Towers and Withnail and I. Oh and some remaindered gems from Blockbuster's pile, including one in which the spirit of the family dog was reincarnated in a squirrel, which had us in fits and tears. But one's children's film favourites would be another thread.Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 12
Posted by Sister Primrose of the Red Tinsel Flag (U5405579) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
I didn't get to go to the actual pictures very often as a child, the result of being brought out of The Wizard of Oz in disgrace having screamed the joint down when the munchkins appeared. I think my Mum was so wrong footed by that fear that she decided she wouldn't be able to predict what else I would find scary and the cinema was out of bounds.
So, most of my childhood film memories would be the films I saw on the box. I loved the Ealing Comedies, particularly Passport to Pimlico. Blythe Spirit was another wet Saturday afternoon favourite (actually pretty much anything with Margaret Rutherford in it held my attention). Also the original St Trinians films. Musicals, the older and camper the better feature heavily - and I'm proud to report that I've made it my business to see that both Girly and Boy are well versed in the canon. Hellzapoppin' also appearss on the list of films I would plead to be allowed to watch - my Mum hated it but it always reduced me to helpless laughter, still does.
As for Daddy, my Daddy that's probably the first modern children's film that drew my attention, though I also liked The Amazing Mr Blunden (both Lionel Jeffries films now I think of it)
I think the first film I took myself to the cinema see was a dreadful dubbed from Italian weepy called The Last Snows of Spring, which at least had the merit of alerting me to the fact that I had some critical faculties - I was the only one of the group who thought it was a waste of money. Not because it was a weepy either; I'm afraid I have a bit of a hair trigger when it comes to lachrymosity.
I was quite surprised when googling to find that TLSoS preceded Murder on the Orient Express, I had remembered MotOE as being a bigger adventure and assumed it was my first unaccompanied cinema trip. The only other film I remember going to the cinema to see before I would stop counting myself as a child was Jaws.
By the time Saturday Night Fever hit town I was 14 and so grown up don't you know. In fact at that age, under the pretext of spending the night babysitting for my friend's sister's children, we took to sneaking out to nightclubs and the world of film took a back burner for a while..
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Message 13
Posted by plum the depths (U5587356) on Saturday, 21st August 2010
I of course with everyone else loved as a child The Railway Children.
It had the wonderful music, the pretty photography (these were things I liked as an adult when re watching) and of course the incomparable Jenny Agutter. As a child I was fond of the younger girl Sally(?) sweet and funny. I believe she was actually older than Ms Agutter in real life!
I loved Disney's Beauty and the Beast although this came out when I was an adult and with children of my own. I took them to the cinema to see it and as soon as the DVD came out bought that and made my husband sit and watch it as well. We both shed some tears at the end. The kids didn't just us.
I think the film that affected me the most when I was a child would be a little known film called Mandy. It is about a child called Mandy who is deaf and it's all about how she and her parents cope.
I must have seen this first on the tv in the 60s. It probably was made in the late 50s. I was captivated by the little girl and have liked the name Mandy ever since. Her acting was natural and unforced. She was delightful but I do not believe she went on to do any more films.
I was taken to the cinema to see Oliver! Ooo I thought it was wonderful. I liked little Mark Lester and thought Jack Wild was brilliant.
The other film that comes to mind is the Yearling. I cried buckets when the little boy had to get rid of the deer.
Second Disney would have to be Dumbo. Made me cry as a child when the mother elephant was locked up and made me cry even harder when I watched it again as an adult with my kids because I really felt her pain. Oh my goodness.Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 14
Posted by JB on a slippery slope to the thin end ofdabiscuit (U13805036) on Sunday, 22nd August 2010
OK, I'll be the dissident and say that I did not like the Railway Children as a child.
At the time, it all seemed too pretty-pretty and it was hard to sympathise with people who were so poor they had to sack all the servants.
Having gone on to study E Nesbit, I now blame Lionel Jeffries for not understanding, or choosing not to understand, the very radical politics behind the story, with its themes of dispossession and asylum-seeking.
Contrastingly, I loved Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang because it was good honest nonsense and it had a car. Ditto The Love Bug.
They do say there are children's children's books and parent's children's books. Maybe something similar with films?Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 15
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Sunday, 22nd August 2010
I've actually found it quite difficult to think of four more children's films that I have actually *seen*, never mind liked. Rod for my own back, really, as I could have chosen films I'd liked when growing up, like- oh, I dunno - "Gigi" (though some of it obviously passed over my head).
Anyway, I started so I'll finish with children's films. Um.
5."Little Women" (the 1933 version rather than the 1949 or 1994 ones). Katherine Hepburn was the definitive Jo, as far as I was concerned. Anyway, I grew up with the March family books so was programmed to like even a reasonable adaptation, and this a good one, imo.
6. "Ond Hundred and One Dalmatians"- the 1961 Disney animation, rather than the 1996 version, though Glenn Close did make rather a good Cruella in he latter. Again I loved this book, and by the time I saw the film (when grown up) I was able to appreciate some of the black humour which I'd missed when little.
7."Charlotte's Web" (2006, animation). Who'da thunk that the death of a cartoon spider could make a grown woman cry? I loved this film. Sorry, but I did.
8. "ET: The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982). I think this is just about one of the only films I've mentioned tht I've actually seen at cinema, rather than on television. Yes, I enjoyed it, and yes, I cried towards the end, and yes, there was humour, great SFX and cinemtagraphy, genuinely cute child actors. Of course it was sentimental, but hey.
My main criticism was that it was just too darned long, but then I say this about most new(ish) films.
If I'd allowed myself to choose grown-up films I'd seen on television on rainy Saturday and Sunday afaternoons while living with my grandparents in this country, I would have had an embarrassment of riches: the Fred and Ginger movies, "The Shop Around the Corner", "The Lady Vanishes" (just the 1938 version, natch), "Shane" and "Gigi", for a start. Oh, and anything with Bing Crosby, because my grandmother adored him and I adored her so......
PP, I remember now that when I was still very young I was actually taken to see "The Wizard of Oz" (probably shown at cinemas every Christmas) and I loathed every minute of it. I didn't like that stuffed-into-her clothes pretend-child Dorothy, the grotesque surrealism, the songs - nothing. Okay, I liked Toto. Refused to see it since - anyway, not sure it has ever been on television.
plum the depths, ah not "The Yearling". I cried and raged all through the book, and couldn't bear to see the film. If I'd had my druthers the whole dratted human family would have been culled, rather than the deer.
I've never seen "Dumbo" that know the story and seen lots of clips. I would love to see it, tissues at the ready (and feeling murderous - again - too at the casual cruelty of the human race).
JB, <>
I am sure there's a lot of truth in that. Certainly my mother's choices for me in terms of books in particular usually remained untouched - and I was a bookworm even then.
RustyLink to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 16
Posted by Sea Nymph (U1474682) on Sunday, 22nd August 2010
Great children's film on its own, though rotten when compared to the truly magical books - Mary Poppins.Julie Andrews is sooo sugary sweet and therefore wrong for the role.Never mind, at least I get a chance to post this link for the trailer again
something I hold dear because it gave my then wife to be the excuse to talk to me for the first time.Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 17
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Sunday, 22nd August 2010
Oh my. As if that wasn't scary enough, SeaNy, I watched the recut of "Mrs. Doubtfire" too. Wasn't brave enough to watch the ones of "The Shining" or "The Exorcist" - I mean how much scarier than the actual films must they be?
And did you catch a glimpse of the "Scary Dancing Clown" one? Aagghhh.
Need a big cup of strong, sugary tea now.
RustyLink to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 18
Posted by Sea Nymph (U1474682) on Sunday, 22nd August 2010
That last was bad enough just as a still.I don't dare watch it for real.Am compiling my list of desert island children's films.Be warned though, I did see High Plains Drifter for the first time at the tender age of 12-ish due to being left forgotten in front of post-watershed telly while a mild family crisis unfolded around me.
When things had calmed down, Mum was surprised to find me still up and somewhat shocked to see what I'd been watching.
She let me stay to the end though.Good sport, my ma.Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 19
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Sunday, 22nd August 2010
"High Plains Drifter" was, I seem to recall, the most violent and morally "iffy" (remember the rape?) of Clint Eastwood's earlier Westerns. Full marks to your ma for keeping her cool; I think it would have been worse to drag you away before the end, and anyway the "worst" bits, if memory serves, were in the first third of the film.
I mean, who cares what terrible deaths the bad guys have(towards the end), right?
RustyLink to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 20
Posted by plum the depths (U5587356) on Sunday, 22nd August 2010
mmm Mary Poppins... went to see that when it first came out in the 60s I must have been about 7/8.
I remember the teacher asking us what we had done at the w/e.Most children said they had been to the cinema to see either MP or Winnie the Pooh and the blustery day. This seemed to annoy her for some reason.
I liked MP but I can't say it remains a favourite. I did like the children singing their little song though.
When I was 14 I saw Spartacus (tv) and that made a big impression on me. The homo erotic scene went straight over my head mind you.
I also loved Whistle Down the Wind. Seen at a similar time. Watched WDtW a couple of years ago and it really stood up. Very moving and all that. Haley Mills was delightful.
As a child I really liked Dr Dolittle. Saw a little snatch of it a while back and thought it as boring as shite. I'm talking about the Rex Harrison one not the remake.Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 21
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Sunday, 22nd August 2010
Just been reading about actors working with animals. Apparently when Eddie Murphy played Dr. Doolittle (in at least two films) he loathed animals so much, they had to have body doubles for close-ups.
Conversely, Jennifer Anniston, Will Smith, Heath Ledger (and others, can't remember) fell heavily for their various furry co-stars and were broken-hearted when they parted company from them.
RutyLink to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 22
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Sunday, 22nd August 2010
Dooooolittle, Ruty. Sigh.
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Message 23
Posted by plum the depths (U5587356) on Sunday, 22nd August 2010
Ruty?
Ah yes tis the season when a young deers thoughts turn to...Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 24
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Sunday, 22nd August 2010
Thumperrrrr?
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Message 25
Posted by E Yore (U1479700) on Monday, 23rd August 2010
Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:28 GMT, in reply to Rusters in message 24
Hello all, flying visit from Ezoria so apols for typos.
I haven't had time to read anyone's contributions - it might have to wait until September at this rate - but Disney looms large on my list.
My very first film to which I was taken, aged 5, by some older neighbhourhood children, was 'Cinderella', and I can remember refusing to leave the cinema hall. I'd seen the film twice through and was on my third run by the time my father came home from work to collect me and haul me out physically (my mother couldn't carry me so her attempts were unsuccessful.)
To this I will add:
Mary Poppins
The Sound of Music
The Red Balloon
The 101 Dalmatians (original version)
The Aristocats
The Wizard of Oz
The Collected Oeuvre of Laurel and Hardy - Swiss Miss was my particular favourite, but as a child any L&H film on television was guaranteed to keep me entranced for quite some time.
***
The Jungle Book is my favourite Disney after 101 Dalmatians, but in fact I never saw it as a child, only as an adult.Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 26
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Monday, 23rd August 2010
Wot, no "Dumbo", E. Yore, and you with your love of elephants too!
You must have been a very determined child to refuse to leave the cinema. I do empathise though, I've always found even the *concept* of film enchanting.
RustyLink to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 27
Posted by Sea Nymph (U1474682) on Monday, 23rd August 2010
Which is why, when she caught up with what I was doing, Mum was so blasé about letting the film finish.No way she'd have let me watch under ordinary circumstances.
Anyway DICF
Snow White - first film I was ever taken to see.Scared the bejayzus out of me during the transformation scene.Just as it was meant to do.
Saw it again years later and was disgusted at the selfishness of Snow White - sheltered by the dwarfs, cared for when she was 'dead', then rides off with hardly a goodbye and no backward glance when her prince comes.Callous old cow
Pufnstuf - feature length film of lunatic drug-addled 60s/70s TV show.Camp as all hell.Mama Cass in a bath full of fruit.Jack Wild on top of his game.
Evil Roy Slade - comedy western starring John Astin (Gomez from Addams Family telly series) which predates Blazing Saddles by two years and has some of the same gags (how odd!).Much sillier though, so definitely appealing to a younger audience.
Dumbo - makes me cry every time I watch it.Especially the bit where his mum reaches through the bars of her prison to rock him to sleep.My absolute favourite of the pre Pixar Disney films.Dumbo's triumph at the end is worth all the heartache
And my favourite of the post Pixar
Finding Nemo - none of the others (good though they are) sustain over the 90 minutes or so
Other three to follow when I've thought some more.Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 28
Posted by Sea Nymph (U1474682) on Tuesday, 24th August 2010
Last three then
The Nightmare Before Christmas - Henry Selick is an animation genius and you get some fantastically catchy songs.Would you watch it at Christmas or Hallowe'en? Both obviously.
Coraline's great too, but the songs just edge it for Nightmare.
Dougal and the Blue Cat - nuff said.Eric Thompson will always be sadly missed.I love the way his script elevates a rather sappy children's entertainment into something strange and hilarious that works for all age groups.
Star Wars - no I'm not one of those nuts that goes to conventions and collects the toys, but this was and is proper edge of the seat, goodies and baddies, Saturday morning pictures entertainment.Takes all the best bits of those RKO serials they used to show during the summer holidays and brings it bang up to date.It still looks wonderfully futuristic even now.
I always wanted one of those 3D monster hologram chess sets.
And that's that, except someone reminded me of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and that's in there too.See it, if you haven't.Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 29
Posted by Rhona D aka Meen Bonkers (U219830) on Sunday, 29th August 2010
Bambi. Sob.
Sound of Music. Sob.
Railway Children. Sob. (Daddy, my daddy -- where's Sharpers?)
The Grinch that stole Christmas.Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 30
Posted by irene (U14262395) on Sunday, 29th August 2010
blimey pjji, you have seen the 1940 film version of ' the boys from syracuse'? respec! as a devotee of film musicals , i have never ever managed to see it, not even in long gone days as a child glued to sunday afternoon tv. its not even available on dvd. harumph.
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Message 31
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Monday, 30th August 2010
Meen, it's a very long time since I've seen Sound of Music, but I don't remember anything sob-worthy. I did wobble a bit when the daughter's Nazi beau didn't betray the family. However, it was so long ago I can't remember if I've even got that right. Maybe I wobbled because he *did* try and betray them.
RustyLink to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 32
Posted by petal jam (U1466691) on Monday, 30th August 2010
Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:17 GMT, in reply to irene in message 30
I have, possibly twice, on television. I think it wasn't a very good print - the contrast was a bit low and the background a grey fuzz from the picture I have in my head. There was a fair bit of stagey clowning - the term 'double take' could have been invented for this production. What I mostly remember though is the costumes, which reminded the very young me of ancient Egypt rather than Greece - and most of all the music. There is a running gag about a couple of heralds on ancient and inadequate brass instruments before every high caste entrance which wouldn't be out of place in the Marx Brother's Fredonia. We used to have a family joke about Antipholus and antiphonus [which took me years to understand. Only recently got one of his about 'Wigan Pier.' Parents can be so cruel.]
This was right up my father's street, along with 'I'm busy going nowhere, working the whole day through' [Connecticut Yankee] and 'Brush up your Shakespeare' [Kiss Me Kate.] My son has a similar fondness for The Blues Brothers.
Saw the pukka Shakespeare a good twenty-five years after I saw the film and it doesn't really compare - the comic timing isn't sharp enough on stage.
Err....whaddaya mean it's off-topic? It's a heart-warming film for all the family, OK!Link to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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Message 33
Posted by U14607731 (U14607731) on Monday, 13th September 2010
My 8:
Polar Express
The Sound of Music
Oliver!
The Borrowers
E.T.
Tiger Bay
Goodnight Mister Tom
Harry Potter ILink to this forum: Film Club Aug: Desert Island children's films
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