christopherjanethardiman

Magic Roundabout characters in movie length story - action for kids - script for adults.

In this film, you can see how skillful Eric Thompson was in adapting the French (was it French?) scripts to suit both categories of his English audience.

The story itself is great, and on Magic Roundabout standards just a little dark, but the marvellous humour never lets up, from Dougall's belligerent cuckoo clock, Brian Snail racing, and beating the train, to the appearance of the superb Buxton, the Blue Cat (Hiss!).

All your favourite characters appear, plus a scarecrow who has been in the Guards, and a rather strange Owl.

An excellent little film - release it on DVD, please!

The trouble with directors or in this case 'stagers', is that they seem unable to leave a good thing alone.

So here we have 'Traviata' which is supposed to show the principal character's opulent living at the one end, and the subsequent squalor at the other. Hence you should have sets - one opulent - the other shabby! Instead, we have a set comprising a sofa, a chair and a clock! For goodness sake, spare us this sort of pretentiousness!

Don't get me wrong - I don't mind updating Operas, or putting them in a modern setting, if it's done well and if it works, but this kind of mistreatment is not necessary or clever and it doesn't work!

I was going to give a rating of only five stars to this, but the singers are superb, and Verdi's music is still wonderful.

For the singers, and for Maestro Verdi six stars - for the production - none!

This is a movie which makes you want to sigh 'Aaaah' at the end when you first see it and look for it's faults later.

True, it's often over sentimental and contains a performance from Minnie Dupree as the old lady, which may invoke the occasional murderous thought, but it's a nice film, which leaves you completely satisfied and at peace with the world.

The splendid cast includes Janet Gaynor and Douglas Fairbanks Jnr, neither of whom were renowned for playing comedy but they are both excellent. Best of all is Roland Young as the father in possibly the finest performance of his distinguished career. A word also for Billie Burke, as the scatty mother, although I tend to find her performance a little irritating. Perhaps that's how it should be?

The support cast includes Richard Carlson in his first screen part and the lovely Paulette Goddard who do well in the limited roles they are playing. And of course Minnie Dupree.

All in all, a great little film that only the hard of heart could possibly dislike.

Aaaah!!