Had a phone call this evening to say that band was cancelled – which saves me driving in late night, (potentially) icy roads. So what to do? I curled myself up at the end of the sofa, and watched, enraptured the film of Swallows & Amazons that I taped over Christmas. Made in 1974 (and one year younger than me) it may have been, but it has lost none of its charm and enjoyment. Quite simply, I loved it. 🙂
It also got me thinking, about the other adaptation the BBC did in the 80’s of Arthur Ransome two East Anglican novels, Coot Club and The Big Six. A little perusal on the internet later revealled that they were available on dvd – so I have submitted to the whim and ordered them. With luck they might arrive on Saturday, and give me some weekend viewing… 🙂
Additional: Watching Swallows & Amazons also got me thinking – one day I would like to remake the film, not because I think I could do it better, but because I would like to go on and make all the Swallows books…
When I was a little child growing up in the Middle East, I would grab onto anything printed (as there wasn’t a huge amount of books around). I read Swallows and Amazons therefore when I was about 5 or 6, and completely believed in all their adventures. I’ve not read it since, and I’m a bit reluctant to, because it all seemed strange and magical to me then, (as probably, I didn’t understand it) and I know that now I could not approach it with that same childish wonder.
Swallows & Amazons was the first book that I read by myself (much to the annoyance of my Mum, who started to read it to me to discover the following night that I had gone on). It’s always been a favourite of mine, and I have read it many times since with the same enjoyment.
People may laugh at the name, but I always found that I sided with Titty in the stories – I think probably because of her sense of imagination and creativity. John and Susan were too *sensible* and Roger was little *annoying*, but Titty had daring and courage.
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The other drama I remember was the 1986 Classic, Children of Green Knowe which for some unaccountable reason (despite widespread demand for it on the internet – just search Google if you don’t believe me!) they still haven’t released on dvd/video. One day soon, hopefully…
Well, “Titty” didn’t have the same connotations in those days..
I’ve never heard of Children of the Green Knowe (but then, we didn’t come back to the UK until 87).
Children of Green Knowe – an adaptation of the first of a series of novels set by Lucy M. Boston. You should read them, they are very very good!
Interestingly, the BBC have made available the adaptations of Philippa Pearce’s Tom’s Midnight Garden and Helen Cresswell’s Moondial on dvd, so why not Children of Green Knowe … Ggrrrr!! *rants*
Tom’s Midnight Garden is a great book 🙂
Oh go on then – interview me 😉