Wind in the Willows

This Australian television adaptation of the 1908 children's novel THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS was released on DVD in America as a budget DVD by Digiview (usually sold for $1.00) circa 2005 from what appears to be an unrestored 16mm print. It is unclear whether the handful of passages where background music briefly makes it virtually impossible to hear the dialogue being spoken is a problem that originated from the original television production, the print used, or the production of this DVD but these moments are brief and infrequent so it's not a major problem.

The film neatly condenses the story into fifty minutes in this tale of Mole (the names of the animals simply are their species) finally venturing out above ground and discovering the world, making a friend with Rat who introduces him to the eccentric Toad. Toad quickly becomes the main character in the story, an eccentric and spoiled creature (living in a lavish home called Toad Hall) who becomes obsessed with this new contraption called an automobile (this production for some reason note it's a period piece) which is he repeatedly drives reckless and crashes nearly as often, going through several cars in a matter of months. "Ratty" and Mole enlist the help of Badger to try to break Toad of this bad habit but Toad can not be stopped and eventually runs into trouble with the law.

THE WIND AND THE WILLOWS for some reason has never been quite as famous or popular in America as it is in many other nations. One reason may be the Disney adaptation in the feature "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad" (1949) was one of the least popular Disney films, and possibly parents of earlier generations didn't warm to the spoiled and reckless Toad. Or maybe it's simply not that memorable a story with not particularly endearing characters although Toad is quirky fun and easily the standout character in the tale. This production nicely tells the tale in under an hour without updating or straying from the original story.

Like some of the Jetlag and Golden Film animations, Burbank Films Australia have been responsible for some of my childhood favourites. The Wind in the Willows is one of my favourite stories, and I remembered watching this animated adaptation on video a lot and loving it. At 20 I still do, of the Burbank Films Australia animations I've re-visited so far The Wind in the Willows is up there with my favourites of theirs. The Wind in the Willows from an animation-perspective is one of Burbank's best looking, it's all very simple but very colourful. The music is memorable and always fitting with the action, the story is always engaging and true to the spirit of the story and the script keeps a lively tone that will amuse and delight children and adults alike. Likewise with the colourful assortment of characters, Toad is a hoot but I did feel sorry for him on occasions like when he was in jail, Badger is wonderfully gruff, Ratty is sympathetic and droll, Mole is just as endearing and the weasels are suitably menacing(I remember first time on watching jumping in shock at the sudden close-up of one when they invaded Toad Hall). The voice acting is very well done, especially that of Badger. Overall, not my favourite version(1983 and 1995) but from Burbank Australia animations it certainly is. 9/10 Bethany Cox

While this version has excellent animation, it entirely alters the theme of the book by altering the ending. In the original version, Mr. Toad is an irresponsible "trust fund baby" who keeps destroying his and other people's property, with no sense of remorse. He steals and lies with a sense of entitlement. Mr. Badger, is his guardian who keeps cleaning up the messes Mr. Toad makes. Mr. Badger pleads with Mr. Toad to assume some responsibility for his behavior. In Kenneth Graham's original 1913 book, Mr. Toad finally realizes that the world was not created solely for his enjoyment. In this 1988 animation, this never happens.

Leland P. Gamson