Swallows and Amazons (1974)

Wishes do come true, after all...When, as a boy, I read through every one of Arthur Ransome's novels, I dreamily wished that somebody would adapt them to film. It took longer than I'd hoped, but at least today's children can see something of Ransome's stories, even if they don't read any of his books (although, that is a shame).Sure, the plot has been shortened significantly but you expect that when four hundred pages of novel are adapted for the screen. Still, the screenplay even manages to include the charcoal makers, Old and Young Billy (Jack Woolger and John Franklin-Williams), which surprised me.In short, the story is about the four Walker children (John, Susan, Titty and Roger) holidaying on Coniston Water, sailing on the lake, camping on Wildcat Island (Peel Island, actually), meeting and clashing with the Blackett sisters (Nancy and Peggy), and finally performing a valuable service for Captain Flint, uncle to the Blacketts. It's nostalgic; it's inoffensive; it's family fun for families; it's a perfect story for all children.For myself, I thought Kit Seymour (playing Nancy) lacked the strength of character evident in the stories; looked a bit too old for the part, also. The Walker children were well cast and acted their parts beautifully, I thought. Virginia McKenna, appearing only briefly as Mother, was suitably adult for the times. Reginald Fraser as Captain Flint was okay; Robert Morley would have been a better choice, I think.Being somewhat of a purist, I would have preferred black and white cinematography as a better mood setter. However, the colour print certainly enhanced the beauty of the lake and surrounding area. Overall, I can't complain. I'm looking forward to experiencing the TV stories of the Coots on the Norfolk Broads. And, with fading hopes, I'm wondering when a benign producer will put the money up to adapt Peter Duck or Missee Lee for the screen. Hope never dies, however...Recommended for all children from seven to one hundred and seven.

Yes, pretty wooden acting from the children, but I think that was pretty common 34 years ago! However, it's still a good film.Regarding the likelihood of any parent allowing their children to do what the Walkers did, even at the time - my uncle aged 14 was allowed to take his two younger brothers (10 and 8) overnight camping in a very similar boat on the Solent in 1926 - a far more dangerous place to sail! They were all "not duffers, didn't drown".I think the film still appeals to younger kids. I took my god-daughter and a friend (8 and 6) to the island in a small dinghy with tan sails, and we lit a fire at the camp ground and filled a kettle from the lake, just as the Walkers do in the film. That was in 2005, and they loved it!

I certainly went into this wanting to like it; I am the kind who can be pray to the odd bout of nostalgia... For days I have seen and for those I have not. I may have seen this film as a child, but I have no strong recollection of it. It can certainly be said, however, that childhood memories are in some sense evoked by watching it, seeing as "Swallows and Amazons" deals with childhood; a decidedly different childhood, of course, but there is a link. I enjoyed mine, as the fine "fellows" here seem to; but it is an oddly regimented, conservative ideal that is espoused by the film, despite the tag of "adventure" and the promise of exploration.I have not read any of the Ransome series of books based around these children's adventures, so I'm in no position to comment on them as fiction. I can certainly comment, though, on the merits of this film as entertainment. It is perhaps with a degree of sadness that I sense that it could not really appeal to much of today's child population. Times have obviously changed very much. But books like "Cider with Rosie" and "Carrie's War", less oppressively traditional perhaps, may still have a good chance.The photography is unquestionably very alluring; capturing enough of the visual beauty of a golden English summer of times past. The more metaphorical sides of the "golden summer", or of childhood, are sadly never really delved into. I can see Ransome's work would perhaps read a lot better than this film plays, in this regard. The acting here, of the children, is okay for what it is. The youngest chap is the most amusing; a hapless old chap of a buffer... Roger. And I quote the "I can't see anything!" bit as prime evidence of his endearing, if not all that well played, haplessness. Titty is probably the most endearingly and memorably played, otherwise. The adults make little impression. Not enough of Ronald Fraser's "Captain Flint" figure perhaps... He does engage a bit when on screen. Interesting and perhaps amusing to see that "Zanna" Hamilton, is the same girl who went on to play Julia in "1984" as Suzannah Hamilton...Anyway, I shouldn't be harsh on this film, but it really is flawed. It has its pleasures, and is inoffensively watchable, but one would have to be very indulgent to fully endorse it as a film. It doesn't have enough, frankly, of the wistful complexity that we all know childhood to be composed of. The past is indeed a foreign country, whereas here it is a rather enclosed, parochial and familiar one.Rating:- ***/*****

Although no one would accuse this film of being great art, it is a delightful, wholesome and reasonably accurate (albeit simplified) rendition of Arthur Ransome's wonderful book. It is nearly impossible these days to find any movies where the children are kind to one another, the parents are loving and the adventures are free of violence. If you love sailing, old boats, and a pleasant easygoing story, Swallows and Amazons isn't a bad choice. It is one of our family favorites.