From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

That's about it - imagine running away from home, living in a tree-house and having great adventures. This film was fantastic fun. It may not be highbrow art, but it is a fun film for the kids!

The other guy who commented on this film was obviously looking for something more adult and intelligent. I found that this film was well meaning and had good moral standing.

It is a film to take you on a journey and allow you to see things that you otherwise would not. A good exploration of posh kids meeting with street kids, alien experiences like living alone and being self-sufficient.

Very entertaining for a young mind hungry for stimulation.

It is about friendships and trust, independence and coming of age. Fighting your own battles and finding yourself.

I really liked this film when I saw it the first time in the 80's on television. I think I would enjoy it again, although I doubt I would watch it unless I chanced upon on television one night. I would consider watching it if I have kids, I would like them to see it.

Enchanting family film depicts the overnight adventures of two siblings from a wealthy family who hideaway overnight in the local museum to cure their boredom. They become fascinated with a statue and find that its previous owner (Bergman), while reclusive and seemingly unkind, is actually a benevolent art lover who becomes taken with the older sister in whom she sees her reflection as an adolescent.

Bergman is heavily caked in make-up and is consequently witch-like in appearance, but her elegance remains unmistakable. Her affection for the little girl is heart-warming, revealing the treasures she and her late husband coveted and offers a glimpse into her lonely, withdrawn existence since the death of her beloved. For a brief moment, her enthusiasm and kind-heartedness is restored by the presence of the youngsters and as Bergman's character closes in freeze frame, you wonder if their impact will be long-lasting.

I found the film's score moving, the scenery colourful and the characterisations earnest. Overall, an unexpectedly humble but enjoyable picture elevated by Bergman's presence and a little bit special as a result.

I have to disagree with the posters who didn't like the film because it "isn't believable". My question to them is... Who would believe that a pregnant woman could live in a Wal-Mart or that a movie ticket can bring an action star out of the silver screen. It's a delightful little movie that I would watch over and over and over again either by myself or with the kids. It says something about the perseverance of and dedication of siblings, I only hope that my own children feel like that about their siblings... I haven't read the book yet, but am going to now that I know there is one. I have to be honest here... I was a preteen when I first saw this movie and I can remember going into my mother's medicine cabinet and taking some of her Alka Seltzer just to try it with chocolate sauce... After growing and having kids of my own... I STILL have one every once in a while! Still trying to find this move on DVD or VHS so we can have a copy here at home.

I found Sally Prager's portrayal of Claudia delightful. The character is intelligent, curious, full of wonder, and caring toward her younger brother. Her independence and courage are admirable. I sympathized completely with "Mrs. Frankweiler's" attraction to this spunky young girl. Ingrid Bergman's appearance toward the end of this movie elevates the film to a new level; as ever, her acting is superb.

I loved E. L. Konigsberg's book, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It is one of a few books that I remember fairly vividly from childhood, and I recently read it with my son, so we decided to watch this movie. I liked the movie, and thought that the children and Ingrid Bergman all gave fine performances. However, the movie differs from the book on minor details that I could see no rationale for changing (saying that Mrs. BEF lived in New Jersey, rather than Connecticut, for example). Mainly, though, I was very disappointed in the way the story ends in the movie in comparison to the book. In the book, Mrs. BEF gives the children a time limit and lets them figure out the answer to the mystery themselves. But in the movie, Mrs. BEF leaves Jamie playing cards with her butler, while she takes Claudia to another part of the house, where Mrs. BEF essentially solves the mystery for Claudia. I would still recommend the movie, but it's not nearly as good as the book.