Hunted in Holland

As commented on by virtually all other reviewers, this has a silly story (even for a children's film) and so-so acting, but it's a jolly nice travelogue of 1960 Holland filmed in attractive, muted Eastmancolor, with a decent music score.

Interesting to see that the Holland shown seems relatively unscathed by WW2 (unlike the usual CFF "bombsite" London films). Bikes are much in evidence and I trust that it is still safe to leave them anywhere unlocked as shown here! Interesting also to note quite a few big German cars already around, and a few gigantic American ones (they were fairly common right up to the '70s).

Not one of these early CFF films is unworthy of attention; thanks again to UK's Talking Pictures channel. If small channels like these are allowed to thrive, who cares what the BBC does!

I suppose there is a type of elderly female relative who would think that this is just the sort of movie to see with a youngster. It's filled with such lovely images of Holland. We are still supposed to call it Holland, aren't we? They haven't changed the name because it's an oppressive remnant of some colonial past? No? Well, that's nice. Sean Scully is a nice boy, a bit rambunctious, but he'll settle down, off to visit his pen pal, Jacques Verbrugge, who is so well behaved. He knows all the rules, and no doubt had a fine career as an EU bureaucrat. And then there's Sandra Spurr as Jacques' little sister. She looks so nice and neat and her shoes are so well polished! It's a shame they had to get involved with those diamond thieves, but they noticed them, and they actually rescued the diamonds and outwitted the thieves. Because, thieves aren't very bright, dear. They don't think, and if they did, they would make better plans and study hard and go to college. Now, sit quietly and watch the lovely movie, and if I doze off, don't wake me.

The creators of this little gem seemed to be more interested in giving the viewer a tour of Holland than in telling a story.

It reminds me of those old educational films that tried (nearly always unsuccessfully) to add a story to some academic subject to make it more interesting. There are however many impressive scenes of Holland in this film.

The plot consists of three kids (a Dutch boy, his sister and their guest from England) who happen upon a stolen diamond bracelet. A gang of jewel thieves then chase the three throughout Holland trying to recover their prize.

Obviously, this was a low-budget production as witnessed by the weak plot and poor acting; Its one redeeming feature being the scenery. I also especially liked the houseboat the Dutch kids called home.

Although this film is suitable for all ages, I doubt that most kids today would find it watchable...My 14-year-old summed it up as "boring." But, if you'd like a peek at picturesque Holland 40 or so years ago, then this film would fit the bill.

I hope wadenpond 88 got a copy of this lovely film. See previous review in 2009.

It's 30C. Here in the Midlands watching the Holland of 1960 sail by from Talking Pictures.

Great achieve footage of the docks in pre container ships times Loads of windmills. Excellent soundtrack by Muir Matherson with another Matherson conducting. Its in wonderfully vivid colour too A pleasant hour of nostalgia whatever the temperature outside.

I am working my way through the CFF films currently being shown on Saturday mornings on Talking Pictures TV and this one has the silliest story and worse acting so far. Over acting by just about everyone in it with plenty of shots of the locals watching the action which ruins the believability still further. Not CFF's greatest effort by a long way.