Swallows and Amazons

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Rafi R @rifrafi 2h One of those rare films hat is true to the book it is based on and all the better for it. a must watch for children and grown ups alike See more Robert B @RT64495318 Nov 3 Perfectly faithful to the book. Even minor details from the book are subtly and faithfully included here. It’s a little slow at certain moments but that only highlights the ambiance and charm of the book itself in working to build a nostalgic and peaceful feeling of tone. If you want to show a movie version of Swallows And Amazons to your kids or grandkids, choose this one, (which I found on Internet Archive for viewing) and stay far away from the horrible 2017 remake. See more 05/07/2021 'Swallows and Amazons' has been one of my favourite books since Primary School and this wonderfully evocative film was one of my late wife's and my favourites; it still is one of mine. It is faithful to the original text (which is more than can be said of a lot of 'films of the book'!) with only a few minor scenes missing. The direction, by Claude Whatham, is superb and the acting brilliant: I think the children in particular are extremely natural and believable and Ronald Fraser makes an excellent 'Uncle Jim/Captain Flint'. The 40th Anniversary BlueRay/DVD set contains extras of behind-the-scenes footage with commentary by Sophie Nevill (who plays 'Titty', the heroine of the film); interviews with some of the cast; a 'Location Featurette' narrated by Christina Hardyment (an Arthur Ransome authority); a Stills Gallery and the Cinema Traiiler. The location where the story is set and where the film was shot is a breathtaking area to visit; fabulous for walking and boating. What more could anyone want? See more 02/08/2018 Great film with all the charm of the book. We watched every Christmas and hope our kids will do the same. See more 08/23/2016 Ignore the 'MOVIE INFO' shown here (23.08.16), this relates to the 2016 film, not the 1976 one. See more 05/01/2014 Adapted from Arthur Ransome's 1930 childrens novel of the same name, and directed by Claude Whatham, (That'll Be the Day (1973) and Hoodwink (1981)), this is a sweet and innocent children's adventure, made for a meagre $250,000. It's a prime example of the kinds of children's film that simply doesn't get made anymore, as the frolics that they play in the film seem so old-fashioned now. Set during the summer of 1929, the Walker family go on holiday to the Lake District, while the mother (Virginia McKenna) stays at home, the Walker children, Susan (Suzanna Hamilton), John (Simon West), Titty (Sophie Neville) and Roger (Stephen Grendon) take a boat out into the middle of the neighbouring lake, and set up a camp on the island, they call their group the Swallows, named after the boat that took them out there. It's not long before they meet two other children, Nancy (Kit Seymour) and Peggy (Lesley Bennett), who are a lot more mischievious, teasing their Uncle Jim (Ronald Fraser), who is staying on a boat nearby, they're the Amazons. It's a very old fashioned film, cut from similar cloth to The Railway Children (1970), and it does highlight the art of children getting out and about and playing. The shoot was an absolute nightmare though, Ronald Fraser was never sober and the weather was very uncooperative, but a charming and precious film emerged from it all. See more Read all reviews

Swallows and Amazons

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