The Wind in the Willows (I) (1983 TV Movie) User Reviews

Sublime

[LisaLisa85 · 9/10 · 8 June 2007]

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!

one of the most precious bits of my childhood

[atrolleynatrain · 9/10 · 26 January 2006]

together with jeremy brett's sherlock holmes and the burlesque of allô allô, this was a landmark for a very young admirer of brit-fashioned TV productions. i saw this for the very first time on the telly and i suppose this was but the movie of the series. today i know this movie is a fair piece of artwork that moulded my life: i teach English. the characters are so exquisite and the scenario is state-of-the-art tasteful paintings. the Gothic side of the movie is also an allurement to it. when mole leaves in search of badger, part of the tone of the movie is clear: there's true darkness in those woods. that darkness is also stressed through the gory mole's fingernails. there's much violence, too, for those who like a pinch of tavern-like brawl. it's a sweet translation into moving pictures of a great story for parents to read their kids when they misbehave and have problems with the increasing, and at times puzzling, importance of friendships in their lives. there's the hilarious water-dancing of the ducks in the river and the truly tiresome teenager frog. beautiful. beautiful.

Lovely animation and voice work

[joestevensus-10727 · 9/10 · 19 October 2019]

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.

Perfect

[RJ-21 · 10/10 · 17 October 1999]

There have been several versions of The Wind in the Willows, and this is, without a doubt, the best of them. Everything about is wonderful. It has magnificent animation and looks beautiful, and is written and played excellently. This is as good as movies get.

Superb

[angelpig · 10/10 · 27 March 2000]

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.

British fable comes to life in this TV film

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 10 May 2018]

This is a TV movie of the children's novel, "The Wind and the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932). From that book, another British author wrote a play that made Toad Hall well known in England. Alan A. Mile's (1882-1956) "Toad of Toad Hall" was first staged in London in 1929. From then on, the characters of "Willows" became household names in the U.K. Milne, of course, wrote his own children's' books and created Winnie the Pooh.

Grahame's fairy tale about four animals who became friends was soon a favorite of school children in the U.K. Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad entertain adults as well. Their animal lives are similar to those of humans. They talk and do just about everything that humans do. A cup of tea is as natural to them as it is to the citizenry of England

Toad's fascinations, first with a horse and wagon to explore the world, and then with racy automobiles, that lead to trouble. His friends have to keep him under lock and key to "dry" him out - that is, until he goes through withdrawal and gets over his craze. Anyone with alcohol or drug addiction experiences will recognize this aspect of the film right away.

Toad and his friends never became as popular in America (where other cartoon characters did, i.e. Winnie the Pooh, the "Peanuts" characters of Charles Schulz and other cartoon characters). Still, the fable is a classic that may amuse and delight young and old for generations. This film is made with stop-action animation.

otherworldly

[magic_marker · 10/10 · 21 February 2002]

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 Vidiot Reviews...

[capone666 · 7/10 · 5 June 2016]

The Wind in the Willows

If animals did have human qualities, humans would have gone to war with the cows years ago.

Fortunately, none of the anthropomorphic fauna in this animated movie are edible.

Suffering from spring fever, Mole (Richard Pearson) emerges from his subterranean home. During his constitutional he encounters his woodland colleagues Rat (Ian Carmichael) and Badger (Michael Hordern). Together, they arrange a picnic, followed by a visit to Toad Hall.

The latter, however, proves a wild ride as the lead footed Mr. Toad (David Jason) takes the trio on a whirlwind tour of the countryside in his roadster, which lands Toad in hot water.

Featuring an unforgettable Mr. Toad performance and finely detailed characters that are masterful manipulated, this brilliant stop-motion BBC adaptation of the misadventures of upper-crusty critters is now a classic in its own right.

More impressive is that foxhunting dogs haven't torn any of these beloved characters to shreds.

Green Light

vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

Legendary

[Slick-50 · 10/10 · 10 May 2001]

There is only one word for this movie: legendary! The entire cast plays their parts to perfection, especially David Jason as Toad, but overall, the whole cast of talented actors who have ideally lent their voices to this production deserve praise. They've done themselves well.

A Projected Life review

[parkerbcn · 7/10 · 27 April 2021]

Far from the storytelling quality of the Disney adaptation from 1949, still this British version made for TV and animated in stop-motion has a lot of charm and is visually quite beautiful. It's probably too slow for modern audiences, but it's a faithful adaptation.

One of the best versions by far of the book

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 20 February 2011]

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

The Wind in the Willows

[jboothmillard · 5/10 · 21 June 2005]

I have seen many different versions of Kenneth Grahame's famous and popular story of the river and the characters that live in it. This is the clay cartoon version where the characters (I think) are made of Plastercine and do not move much, unlike the Aardman Animations clay work. I think you know the story already. Mole gets out of his hole, meets Rat, they meet Toad, go in the wild wood, meet Badger, Toad goes to prison for nicking a motor car and so on and so forth. Toad is the only character I have always liked in and Wind in the Willows. This one is voiced very well by Sir David Jason. It won the BAFTA for Best Children's Programme (Entertainment/Drama) in 1984, and it was nominated the same award in 1985. A TV series followed this, which was was number 56 on The 100 Greatest Kids' TV Shows, and it was number 69 on The 100 Greatest Cartoons. Worth watching!

Legendary (and the best theme music of any show ever!)

[feeling_groovy · 10/10 · 20 September 2005]

This is legendary animation and a classic of British Tevevision.

The well known Kenneth Gramhame novel is given glorious treatment in stop-motion animation style (before the days of popular Aardman). The animation is perfect, depicting all the colours and textures of the British countryside, and the impressive cast plays to perfection, such as the gruff, unforgettable Badger played by Sir Michael Hordern, the wise, dry Ratty played by Ian Carmichael, and the thoughtful, sensitive mole by Richard Pearson, and the infectious clown Toad played by David Jason.

There are also ingenious visual ideas and direction such as Badger's echoing lecture in the library, and Mole's encounter with the weasels in the wild wood. This is beautiful, atmpospheric stuff for all ages, plus the songs are great, and the theme music is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever! I can't remember who wrote it - but whoever did deserves some high recognition!!!! In fact, this was later developed into an equally great series, one for each of the seasons, and Peter "Wallace and Gromit" Sallis took over the job of voicing Ratty, but the rest of the cast remained.

In short, they're all perfect! Take that, Disney!

Gold standard version

[sumnerkagen · 10/10 · 8 May 2021]

This is easily the gold standard adaptation of the novel even when they go beyond the novel's storyline. This deserves to be available on streaming services.

Great animation and voice acting - perfection.

Oh Mr Toad!

[adamjohns-42575 · 10/10 · 15 October 2020]

Very crude and naive by today's standards, but I think that is part of what makes it so charming.

It is skilfully and artfully directed, lit and filmed with an innocence of a time long past and a sweetness that has definitely been lost by some of the latest generations.

The vocal acting is superb with characterful voices from Michael Horden, David Jason, Richard Pearson and Ian Carmichael, all of whom embody the parts they are playing.

It is the perfect film to watch on a cold winters afternoon with young children and a hot chocolate, however the weasels and the wild wood still genuinely terrify me!

Beautifully crafted, painted and designed.

Best TV adaption by a mile

[ronbell-23984 · 10/10 · 24 June 2020]

Great adaption of a classic story. Watched this as a kid and it's still great now after 37 years

Aesop and Starewitch in the willows

[luigicavaliere · 8/10 · 15 February 2019]

Aesop relives in the characters of " The Wind in the willow". The animal speak and behave as humans. The mole represents the good man that want goes out to see the world. The rat is the good friend and the rate is the discharged man. The toad is the personification of volubility, that can be dangerous and hasty. The stop motion derived from the pioneer Wladislaw Starewitch , that in common had the fabulous size , the prosopopea and use of the puppets.

Not even close to being in the same league as the 87 Version

[MrMovieReviewer · 3/10 · 11 December 2022]

Why I would never say this was a bad version it's probably the worst version, Very slow in comparison to the other versions, Toads voice over is a shadow of what the great CNR was, this 83 version seemed almost like a dare I say it, a poorly executed knock off of the 87 Version, obviously that couldn't be as it came out first, but overall it's a really average wind in the willows, so why so many reviews in the positive, well when we have something from a childhood, That we love it is hard for us to see the reality of the situation, So if you love a show as a child when you grow up regardless of how average it maybe, We are blind to the reality, why others are not, this is not a bad movie but it's just not in the same league as the 87 Version, But unfortunately some people can't seem to get that because they're childhood blindness to the movie, Doesn't allow them too..

Infectious charm

[moretac837 · 8/10 · 19 January 2024]

I am generally not a fan of older movies, and old children's movies are usually no exception. However this movie holds up incredibly well despite being older than me (36). It just has a delightful infectious quality and is more charming than it deserves to be. I recently read the book and was disappointed as it feels like a collection of disjointed meandering anecdotes. This format creates a tighter more satisfying story arc without losing the incredible fun of the toad character which Graham's genius gifted to the world so many years ago. I have not seen any other versions but I still suspect this would be the best. My 3 young children gave it high marks as well.

Awesome Stop-Motion Animated Adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's Book

[rebeccaajclarke · 10/10 · 14 September 2023]

I find this Stop-Motion Animated Movie Adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's Book is awesome, Because of the story, voice acting, animation, characters and songs. The 4 main characters are the Shy and Kind-Hearted Mole voiced by Richard Pearson. The Reasonable Water Rat called Ratty voiced by Ian Carmichael. The Stern, but very Wise Badger voiced by Sir Michael Hordern and the Hilariously Reckless, But very enjoyable Mr. Toad voiced by Open All Hours, Only Fools and Horses, The BFG (1989), Dangermouse (1981) and Count Duckula (1988) cast member Sir David Jason. The Main Antagonists are The Weasels. I'm giving this adaptation a 10/10.