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The Box of Delights

  • TV Series
  • 1984
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The Box of Delights (1984)
FamilyFantasy

Based on the classic children's novel by John Masefield, the story follows the exploits of a young boy, Kay Harker, who finds himself drawn into a world of magic and danger when he encounter... Read allBased on the classic children's novel by John Masefield, the story follows the exploits of a young boy, Kay Harker, who finds himself drawn into a world of magic and danger when he encounters an old Punch and Judy man.Based on the classic children's novel by John Masefield, the story follows the exploits of a young boy, Kay Harker, who finds himself drawn into a world of magic and danger when he encounters an old Punch and Judy man.

  • Stars
    • Devin Stanfield
    • Robert Stephens
    • Geoffrey Larder
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    1.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Devin Stanfield
      • Robert Stephens
      • Geoffrey Larder
    • 27User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 BAFTA Awards
      • 4 wins & 2 nominations total

    Episodes6

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    TopTop-rated1 season1984

    Photos22

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    Top cast40

    Edit
    Devin Stanfield
    • Kay Harker
    • 1984
    Robert Stephens
    Robert Stephens
    • Abner Brown
    • 1984
    Geoffrey Larder
    • Foxy Faced Charles
    • 1984
    Jonathan Stephens
    • Chubby Joe
    • 1984
    Heidi Burton
    • Jemima
    • 1984
    Joanna Dukes
    • Maria
    • 1984
    Flora Page
    • Susan
    • 1984
    James Grout
    James Grout
    • Inspector
    • 1984
    Carol Frazer
    • Caroline Louisa
    • 1984
    Crispin Mair
    • Peter
    • 1984
    Glyn Baker
    Glyn Baker
    • Herne the Hunter
    • 1984
    Patricia Quinn
    Patricia Quinn
    • Sylvia Daisy Pouncer
    • 1984
    John Horsley
    John Horsley
    • Bishop of Tatchester
    • 1984
    Helen Fraser
    • Ellen
    • 1984
    Patrick Troughton
    Patrick Troughton
    • Cole Hawlings
    • 1984
    Anne Dyson
    Anne Dyson
    • The Old Lady
    • 1984
    Nick Berry
    • Pirate Rat
    • 1984
    Stewart Harwood
    • Pirate Rat
    • 1984
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews27

    8.31.1K
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    Featured reviews

    10Pheebs-2

    Superb!

    The Box of Delights has been one of my favorites since it was first televised. At the time I was less than five years old... since then I have watched it at least once every year... it has never lost it's magic, and I am sure never will. The only worry I have is that the video tape may soon wear out!

    If you get the opportunity watch it, it will be worth your while.
    10andyetris

    Fantastic in every way!

    This has been one of my favorite Christmas movies since I ran across it on the PBS "Wonder Works" series almost two decades ago. I was fortunate enough to have taped it at the time and I've watched it every Christmas since!

    Devin Stansfield is Kay Harker, a young Briton from an affluent family who is travelling by train to spend the Christmas holiday with relatives. Taking a nap in an empty compartment, he unexpectedly finds himself in the company of two apparent clergymen (Jonathan Stevens & Geoffrey Larder) who cheat him out of a shilling and then steal his wallet! Appearances continue to prove deceiving as an old tramp (Patrick Troughton) turns out to be the ancient alchemist Raymond Lully, and Kay plunges into a wonderful adventure of magic and mystery.

    The acting (mostly perfect) is occasionally a little wooden, and the special effects are a tribute to the demands a limited budget makes on the imagination. However the cinematography is superb and the screenplay does justice to the rich novel by Mansfield. The plot is excellent and the story taps a rich vein of English mythology.

    It's unfortunate that this video is apparently only available from England, where it is only for sale in British video format - which is not compatible with U.S. machines! I hope that "The Box of Delights" will soon make its debut on DVD.
    10youbigbluemonkey

    The essence of magic

    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.
    kkuwertz

    A wonderful piece of television magic especially at Christmas

    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.
    cows_and_pigs

    very exciting

    I have not been quite so excited watching a series in a long time, thanks to the bbc wanting re-releasing of all their best children's drama this delight is now on DVD.

    Its very hard to think of things that haven't been said about this brilliant drama but i'll try.

    As we are coming closer to Christmas i would urge anybody who loves to get into the festive mood to buy this as everything that you'd associate with xmas is here and yes it is slightly intimidating if you weren't born into a middle class background as all the children go to boarding school and speak in possibly dated plummy tones but the story is what counts and it's a cracker.

    It's adventurous, fun and a little scary (with wolves howls in the air). The acting in the principal actors is spot on and the thing thats so great about it all is you never feel like you're being talked down to as a child, this explains why it's so popular with nostalgic adults Ed Trotter

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Filming lasted for a period of six months in the early months of 1984. Editing and special effects took the best part of the summer and autumn of 1984 and the series was eventually broadcast in the last two months of 1984, culminating on Christmas Eve 1984 (coinciding with the events of the finale which take place on Christmas Eve).
    • Quotes

      [repeated line]

      Cole Hawlings: The wolves are running.

    • Connections
      Featured in Q.E.D.: The Magic Picture Show (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      Carol Symphony, 3rd movement (excerpted and adapted)
      (uncredited)

      Written by Victor Hely-Hutchinson

      Played as the series theme

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 1984 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • BBCi page
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La caja mágica
    • Filming locations
      • Eastnor Castle, Eastnor, Ledbury, Herefordshire, England, UK(Exterior)
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • Lella Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 30m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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