Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Moving out of the shadow..., 13 Feb 2003
Out of the same stable as 1970's 'The Railway Children' this film has long lived in the earlier's shadow - rarely receiving a UK television outing. This is - very much - unfair as in many ways it's a much superior film. A ghost-story for intelligent children (and adults!), it oozes period charm like its elder sibling and boasts performances as strong, if not stronger.
Lynne Frederick and Garry Miller are convincing as the children called to travel back in time to save two other children from a gruesome death. Rosalyn Landor, well suited to the Empire-line, is charming as the elder of the two ghosts and Laurence Naismith as the solicitor with the tormented soul is powerful and moving. Watch out especially for the scene where he leads Miller up the stairs, suffering the pain of a century's folly, to make good his earlier, fatal, error of judgement. Powerful stuff.
Diana Dors comes of age as a character actress here, too, and this is a must-see for all her fans.
The twist-in-the-tale ending has often been done since, but rarely any better, and still leaves the viewer who has soul with a warm glow and a tear in his eye. Thirty-one years has been too long a wait for the opportunity to own this film.
Buy it, lock yourself away one Sunday afternoon and wallow. It's beautiful and it's worth it.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 'The Ghosts' by Antonia Barber, 27 April 2003
I saw a repeat of this film the other day, and just had to come here to buy a copy.
I read the origional book at school, and the film was a rare treat, in that it had lost nothing of the origional story. It has not dated over the years, being set in 1918 and 1818, the costumes and manor house setting never will, but most of all, the plot has just about everthing you could want.
There is the wonderful potrayal of mixed class fortune, Diana Dors is fabulous as Mrs Wickins, surely one of the best mother-in-law from hell images ever, and a supporting cast who's characters good or bad are all understandable, without having to be forcably explained. Even the chilren all give quality performances, and move between comedy and drama seemlessly. Indeed were this film an entirly adult venture, I don't think anything could have been lost or gained.
The film includes time travel, murder, wealth, arson, class seperation, ignorance and the struggle for redemption, all tied to the spirit of a certain Mr Blunden, a soul who's past misdeed and conscience would not allow him to rest in peace.
It may not sound much like a childrens film, but there is nothing here that in anyway shocks or is morally corruptable, and it is filmed in a similar manner to 'The Railway Chilren', with glorious scenes of bygone days, and an English countryside from a gentler time.
Lawrence Naismith (always one of my favorite actors),is just right as Mr Blunden, the mysterious benefactor who shapes the films events, and who's line 'we three kings', was proberbly better explained in the book.
This film is surly a must for anyone who enjoys a well crafted and well acted film, and if I can think of any critisism at all, it is that it's title should have stayed 'The Ghosts', as 'The Amazing Mr Blunden' doesn't give it the class it deserves.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great to Watch on a rainy day!, 27 Dec 2003
By A Customer
This film is excellent from start to finish. It involves a ghost, seeking help from two children. They need to go back a hundred years, and help this ghost to save two other children from being killed in a fire.The two actors who shine here are Laurence Naismith (1908 -1992) and Diana Dors (1931 - 1984). Naismith plays a ghost in the form of an old man, who seeks help from the children, and Diana Dors is the villain. As mentioned before, this film is best watched on a rainy day, when you can cuddle up on the sofa. Lionel Jeffries, the director, also made 'The Railway Children' two years earlier. Even though 'The Railway Children' is more popular, this film is the better of the two. The special features include biographies of the main cast; Laurence Naismith, Diana Dors, and the supporting cast such as the children. There is also an interview with Lionel Jeffries - though he doesn't speak about the film unfortunately. Also includes an interesting Still Gallery. One of my favourite parts of the film, is the score. Elmer Bernstein's work is brilliant, and the score is really fitting. I would recommend this film to almost anyone.
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