Quincy's Quest

I totally LOVE this story. Tommy Steele has a wonderful bright personality, and this role really showcases it. I love the songs in this, especially the one sung by the "perfect" dolls, and the stage number hosted by the ventriloquist dummy.

I also love the way that the various elements of the story really balance each other out. The comedy isn't too wacky, the romantic angle isn't TOO sappy, the action and adventure is balanced by the warmth and humour.

This is really top class fantasy storytelling for the child in all of us. I just wish there were more TV specials in this class.

When my daughter was small we watched Quinceys Quest on television and she absolutely loved it. Every year she would ask if it would be on again but it never was.It was a lovely children's film for Christmas and I can't understand why it has never been repeated. I have kept trying to find it, either to buy or rent but have had no success. I have even tried to get in touch with Tommy Steele but have had no luck. Now that he is going to appear at the Palladium this Christmas in Scrooge I am going to try to contact him there to see if he can help. There is such a lot of rubbish on the television these days I am sure there are a lot of parents who would love to see a real family film like Quincys Quest repeated on the television.

The Holy Grail. The Fisher King. Moby Dick. The quest motif is as old as story-telling itself, but never told so effectively or thought-provokingly as this 1979 masterpiece. Steele is solid, Franklin the stuff of childhood nightmares,but it is Reed's bold, sweeping directorial strokes that set this epic towering over its contemporaries. The fact it is set at Christmas lends it atmosphere but is immaterial - the themes are timeless, as valid now as they ever were. Essential.

Quincy's Quest is quite simply one of the most moving interpretations of the story of man's triumph over tradgedy. It captures the upward struggle of a group of rejected toys (read bourgeoisie)in their upward journey of salvation over the toy story owners (read proletariat), with compassion and grace. If Eisenstein had worked in Hamleys this is the film he would have made. If you like this title you'll also appreciate Ben Hur and Birth of a Nation, although both pale in comparison to this masterwork. A timeless classic.

I also have very fond memories of this film as a young child. I am determined to get a copy. I had this on video tape for a very long time as a child and know it word for word - even now I'd guess I could name the next line/screen. However, as this get played repeatedly in my house by me and my brother it eventually wore out! Finally when we moved house my parents used the opportunity to 'accidentally loose it'. Can you believe it? I was so pleased to find this notice board as none of my mates has ever heard of it. This is not just for me but to show my young children - to show them how we did things before animation!!! Please help if you know where I can get a copy of this wonderful oldie.