The Box of Delights

I loved this series and I was 25 when it was shown, I taped all episodes and watched them over and over, I can only lament the loss of the tapes but I can thoroughly recommend "The box of delights" to anyone who hasn't lost their childhood magic. Patrick Troughton is one of my favorite actors and is marvelous as is Robert Stephens in a dastardly role, the effects are very good considering the budget with the BBC and the acting is great. The story is a classic, although I had never heard of John Masefield until this series much to my chagrin. I know that children of all ages will enjoy it.I know I did and would again.

If you're feeling jaded about the whole concept of Christmas then this would be a great tonic. The innocence and wonder of the fantastic storyline and themes are a perfect counterbalance to today's commercial festival.

There's some wonderful acting (especially from the older cast members) and some classic set pieces (Herne The Hunter was the coolest when i watched this first time round as a youngster).

Take the 80s special effects with a pinch of salt (they're still not completely awful despite the budget/technology of the time) and prepare for a journey that will make you feel like a kid again, in the best possible way.

I first watched this film when I was 5 or 6 (1984/1985), on TV Ontario (TVO), here in Canada.

Over the years I have only remembered vague details about it, including that one of the words in the title was "Box". However I did remember certain characters and the basic plot, surrounding a "magic" box and knew that I really enjoyed it.

A few weeks ago I decided to do a title search here on the IMDB using "Box" as a keyword, sure enough about 20 minutes later I had found this wonderful film from my youth.

After seeing that it was not available on tape here in North America, I placed an order for a British copy and was able to watch the film for the first time last evening, it is just as wonderful as I had remembered.

Thanks IMDB for helping me to re-visit the amazing box of delights!

THE BOX OF DELIGHTS is another fine example of BBC children's drama of the 1980s. This six-part series is an adaptation of the John Masefield novel and features the adventures of a young boy, Kay, who comes into possession of the titular device and must use it to evade and outwit the forces of evil.

You know you're in for something special from the very first scenes in which Kay finds himself encountering a pair of creepy priests in a train carriage. From there on in THE BOX OF DELIGHTS barely pauses for breath as it carries the viewer along on a magical adventure involving trips to the historic part, the machinations of a sinister schemer, half-human half-rat creatures, a kindly and magical stranger, and shape-changing. All in the run-up to a snowy Christmas Eve!

It's fair to say that this is a show which has dated since release. Not so much the trappings - it was set in the historical past of the 1930s after all - but rather the quality of the special effects. They're not so special anymore, but I still find them infinitely more enjoyable than your average CGI effect just because of the effort that has gone into their making. I also love the use of hand-drawn animation when needed and the effects on a whole bring to mind the KNIGHTMARE TV gameshow.

Cast-wise, the viewer is in for a treat with Patrick Troughton on fine and friendly form as the mysterious stranger (sadly, he's given way too little screen time) and Robert Stephens as the scheming master villain. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW's Patricia Quinn also appears in support, and even child star Devin Stanfield isn't too shabby. Altogether THE BOX OF DELIGHTS is a delightful slice of children's television and up there with the exemplary likes of other BBC fare such as THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and MOONDIAL.

I was fortunate enough to be a child when this first appeared on BBC and for the life of me i cant understand why it isn't repeated around the festive season.

I lived in a house in Scotland, we had snow knee deep, a coal fire to keep me warm and while we had no wolves to worry about we did have the occasional nosey fox or foraging badger to add to the mix of realism this gem of a classic children's drams. Every night myself and my two sisters who despite being ten years older than me would sit all snug and toasty and be transported away by what can only be described as the closest you will come to believing in magic as you ever will in your life.

While the pace of this can be charmingly laid back there are enough moments of wonder and tension to make you wonder where those 30 minutes went.

I wont go into the story as so many others already have and lets face it, this has dropped of the radar of television so only those that watched it or even just caught a glimpse of it know about it already.

Im thirtymumblemumblemumblemumblefour now and like others i watch this every year. Because of its setting, a kind of famous five version of england that really only existed in literature the box of delights doesn't age as it was already in that in-between place of time so viewers of all ages can enjoy this.

This is a fine tribute to those actors sadly no longer with us who gave this story life and gravitas and a true sense of magic.