The Wind in the Willows

A bit abbreviated from the book, but wonderfully done stop motion animation and great voice work. The film manages to capture the magic of this world in a way that traditional animation couldn't quite match. The actors were spot on in their portrayals with David Jason giving life to the irascible Toad but somehow, as noted in the bonus feature, making him sympathetic as well. This film spawned 5 TV series which were quite nice in their own right.

I say this as a lover of Kenneth Grahame's wonderful book, and I do agree wholeheartedly with anyone who says it is one of the best versions. The stop motion animation is very effectively rendered, while the writing and storytelling is absolutely excellent, while they remain loyal to the book's tone and details they also have a lot of charm and infectiousness about them.

The characters are immensely engaging and also stick to the characters of the book. And of course the voice acting is wonderful, especially David Jason who is a hoot as Toad.

Overall, this adaptation is wonderful and one of the best versions. If you haven't seen it, do, you will not regret it. 10/10 Bethany Cox

As someone who loved Kenneth Grahame's book "The Wind In The Willows" - my father used to read it to me a lot when I was little - I have seen many TV/film/theatre adaptations of the story. But it was this 1983 feature length film by Rosemary Sisson (produced by the great animation team of Brian Cosgrove & Mark Hall) that, for me, ranks as perhaps the best of the lot. This was perhaps the most faithful adaptation to Grahame's book, and in my opinion, it was this adaptation that got it absolutely spot on!

Everything about this version is excellent - this was exactly the characters and scenes as I imagined them from when my father read me the story and from when I was old enough to read them myself. The Edwardian scenery was just perfect. The often poignant and sometimes hilarious incidental music was awe-inspiring. And the theme tune was so beautiful, so relaxing, and so heart-wrenching all at once!

As for the characters and voice actors... They simply couldn't have made a better choice for Mr. Toad than the fantastic David Jason, who takes to his part with passion and vigour. The great Ian Carmichael's warm, friendly and dry manner was totally perfect Ratty (what a pity they couldn't keep him for series that followed on from this film), and Sir Michael Hordern's gruff, husky and stern yet kind voice made a fabulous Badger. Richard Pearson as the shy and sensitive but lovable Moley was very good too, while Brian Trueman and Una Stubbs were great in their supporting roles. The Weasels are great villains, and some of the scenes, while rather dark and scary, evoke exactly the view and words of Kenneth Grahame.

And then there's the songs. David Jason's "The Open Road" still makes my head turn to the screen even now, and Ian Carmichael singing the Ducks' Dance followed by the amazing sequence of the clay puppet ducks performing a well-timed dance routine... Well, you have to see it to believe what an incredible experience it is.

Whether a child or an adult, this film is an experience to be treasured!

This stop-motion animation was the first adaptation of a British children's novel to make me realise why Britain produces all of the world's best children's novellists. Its ethereal, sunlit world was the product of a mature and dark yet utterly English imagination inspired by a 2000-year legacy of faeries-in-the-fields mythology.

The stop motion animation is simply wonderful, the characters exquisitely rendered, the actors delightful, the script true to the spirit of the original. This will be enjoyed on different levels by both children and adults. It is decidedly NOT merely for children, anymore than "The Nightmare Before Christmas." This is a beautiful and timeless production that deserves to live forever.