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DVD Description
Starring Helena Bonham Carter (Harry Potter, Sweeney Todd) as Enid Blyton, Matthew Macfadyen (Little Dorrit, Spooks), Denis Lawson (Bleak House) & Claire Rushbrook (Secrets & Lies).
The film explores how the orderly, reassuringly clear worlds Enid Blyton created within her stories contrasted with the complexity of her own personal life. It sheds light on the ambitious and driven – but as yet unpublished – young woman, from the development of her rich imagination against the adversity of an imperfect childhood, two World Wars, and a first marriage ending in divorce – to household name.
One of the most recognised storytellers of all time, Enid Blyton’s charming characters and classic tales have enchanted countless generations of children for almost 80 years. Having sold over 500 million books in 40 countries, this film follows the woman behind the enduring and compelling stories such as the beloved Famous Five, Secret Seven, Malory Towers and Noddy series.
Special Features:
Deleted Scenes
Directors Commentary
Image Gallery
The film explores how the orderly, reassuringly clear worlds Enid Blyton created within her stories contrasted with the complexity of her own personal life. It sheds light on the ambitious and driven – but as yet unpublished – young woman, from the development of her rich imagination against the adversity of an imperfect childhood, two World Wars, and a first marriage ending in divorce – to household name.
One of the most recognised storytellers of all time, Enid Blyton’s charming characters and classic tales have enchanted countless generations of children for almost 80 years. Having sold over 500 million books in 40 countries, this film follows the woman behind the enduring and compelling stories such as the beloved Famous Five, Secret Seven, Malory Towers and Noddy series.
Special Features:
Deleted Scenes
Directors Commentary
Image Gallery
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Commentary, Deleted Scenes, Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: The film explores how the orderly, reassuringly clear worlds Enid Blyton created within her stories contrasted with the complexity of her own personal life. It sheds light on the ambitious and driven - but as yet unpublished - young woman, from the development of her rich imagination against the adversity of an imperfect childhood, two World Wars, and a first marriage ending in divorce - to household name. One of the most recognised storytellers of all time, Enid Blyton's charming characters and classic tales have enchanted countless generations of children for almost 80 years. Having sold over 500 million books in 40 countries, this film follows the woman behind the enduring and compelling stories such as the beloved Famous Five, Secret Seven, Malory Towers and Noddy series. ...Enid
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
67 of 71 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have to agree with other reviewers in that Enid Blyton, it seems, was not a naturally maternal type of person. It seems strange then that she was able to enrapture some many young readers, involving them in fantasy worlds and adventures that seem so real and appealing to childlike tastes. But that is what she did best - create fantasy worlds which suited her. She was severely traumatised as a child by the departure of her father from their family home and simply retreated into an existence which she could control for example to avoid introducing her mother to people, she simply told them she had died. This left her unable to attend the real funeral years later.
I grew up close to the village where Enid Blyton spent much of her life and she was well known as being a difficult character. It was rumoured that she visited her gardener in hospital, taking him fruit, the price of which she is alleged to have deducted from his wages. Her own daughter, Imogen has written at length about her childhood years in less than endearing terms. The public persona and private person simply don't match but she was a very clever lady and strived to keep her target audience very happy, whatever the personal cost. She ran a national competition inviting her readers to chose the name of her new house, hosted tea parties and spent hours reading aloud to children all over the country but seemed unable to acknowledge the needs and feelings of her own children.
Overall I enjoyed the film although I can't help but feel Enid got off a bit lightly! However, you may have have needed a mini series to explore the many facets of this absorbing and intriguing character. I thought Helena Bonham Carter was excellent in the lead role.
I grew up close to the village where Enid Blyton spent much of her life and she was well known as being a difficult character. It was rumoured that she visited her gardener in hospital, taking him fruit, the price of which she is alleged to have deducted from his wages. Her own daughter, Imogen has written at length about her childhood years in less than endearing terms. The public persona and private person simply don't match but she was a very clever lady and strived to keep her target audience very happy, whatever the personal cost. She ran a national competition inviting her readers to chose the name of her new house, hosted tea parties and spent hours reading aloud to children all over the country but seemed unable to acknowledge the needs and feelings of her own children.
Overall I enjoyed the film although I can't help but feel Enid got off a bit lightly! However, you may have have needed a mini series to explore the many facets of this absorbing and intriguing character. I thought Helena Bonham Carter was excellent in the lead role.
37 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Really chuffed with Amazon for getting this to me so quickly, and DVD greatly anticipated as true Blyton fan (distant memories of Grandmother bellowing at me to read something else at the age of twelve - yes, I was VERY sad...).
Undoubtedly film is extremely well made and superb acting by all, esp Helena BC BUT have to say was disappointed with ending - it sort of glossed over the end of her life and finished rather abruptly as if they had simply run out of time. I also think the film makers could have incorporated some fantasy sequences from her much loved books to add some light heartedness into a very sombre story and also to show how much joy Enid Blyton did bring (and still brings) to so many children - regardless of her personal failings. Perhaps they could have amalgamated the two worlds of Blyton's sad childhood with the delights of the Faraway Tree et al and shown Blyton in her imagination as the happy, fun-loving child she clearly longed to be.
I think the fact that I used these books as pure escapism from my own private childhood hell makes me wish that the film had focussed on the joy of her books a little more.....because I don't think I would have held on to my sanity without them as a child...
If you're a true Blyton fan then you absolutely have to watch this really to understand her as a person - but please don't forget how much joy she has brought millions of us around the world.
Undoubtedly film is extremely well made and superb acting by all, esp Helena BC BUT have to say was disappointed with ending - it sort of glossed over the end of her life and finished rather abruptly as if they had simply run out of time. I also think the film makers could have incorporated some fantasy sequences from her much loved books to add some light heartedness into a very sombre story and also to show how much joy Enid Blyton did bring (and still brings) to so many children - regardless of her personal failings. Perhaps they could have amalgamated the two worlds of Blyton's sad childhood with the delights of the Faraway Tree et al and shown Blyton in her imagination as the happy, fun-loving child she clearly longed to be.
I think the fact that I used these books as pure escapism from my own private childhood hell makes me wish that the film had focussed on the joy of her books a little more.....because I don't think I would have held on to my sanity without them as a child...
If you're a true Blyton fan then you absolutely have to watch this really to understand her as a person - but please don't forget how much joy she has brought millions of us around the world.
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Enid (Amazon.co.uk Exclusive) [DVD] [2009]
This story is a wonderful explaination of why Enid Blyton might have been much like this characterization of her. She seems to have been emotionally arrested in childhood, unwilling as an adult to see nor deal with life's difficulties. I don't see her as wicked...just determined to do what she wanted, no matter who was hurt in the process...rather like a very young child. She was a very strong woman who continually emotionally escaped from life to live in her stories. Her escapism drove her away from most all of her family & friends.
Helena Bonham-Carter was marvelous & you could only feel pity for Enid as she threw everyone away as she struggled thru life.
This is a wonderful portrayal of Enid Blyton, a delicious story.
This story is a wonderful explaination of why Enid Blyton might have been much like this characterization of her. She seems to have been emotionally arrested in childhood, unwilling as an adult to see nor deal with life's difficulties. I don't see her as wicked...just determined to do what she wanted, no matter who was hurt in the process...rather like a very young child. She was a very strong woman who continually emotionally escaped from life to live in her stories. Her escapism drove her away from most all of her family & friends.
Helena Bonham-Carter was marvelous & you could only feel pity for Enid as she threw everyone away as she struggled thru life.
This is a wonderful portrayal of Enid Blyton, a delicious story.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Untrue and terribly disappointing film - Avoid!
I have been a fan of Enid's books since my childhood and my partner offered me this DVD as well as the Barbara Stoney's biography in paperback as a gift, and I was very looking... Read more
Published 4 months ago by C. Pechabadens
Very Good But....
I was brought up on Edid Blyton and was amused to hear the letter read asking why all 'baddies' talk 'common' and all 'nice' people talk 'posh'; I've often wondered that myself but... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Dr. John Bromilow
Boring to say the least
I love movies like this, wonder why I found it so boring and inadequate. I purchased this thinking the life of Enid Blyton would unfold with more indepth. Read more
Published 10 months ago by wilson mbao
The BBC continues its slide into irrelevance
The BBC continues its slide into irrelevance
I wonder how many male authors have faced the same sort of assault for their inadequacies as parents? Read more
I wonder how many male authors have faced the same sort of assault for their inadequacies as parents? Read more
Published 10 months ago by D. Hayes
What a surprise!
Well I was certainly surprised to see just what Enid Blyton was really like! Having said that, when I think of the endless hours of fun she gave to so many children, I still think... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Ms. A. E. Stevens
Fans of Enid Blyton Beware!
When I was young, I loved Noddy, and everyone knows about the Famous Five! However, I had heard little stories about their creator, like the origin of the naughtiest girl and such,... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Andrew
Enid [DVD]
Great acting about a first class writer and second class human being. Don't buy it for the kids to see, they might never read Enid Blyton again?
Published 13 months ago by Lionel
Quality low profile movie
I'm guessing most of the buyers of this DVD will have been Blyton fans in their childhood. She was a complicated character and in many ways hard to like. Read more
Published 13 months ago by hejira38
Well worth watching for all Blyton fans.
Enid Blyton was brilliantly portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter. However the way Enid Blyton was painted as cold hearted and self serving will have you on the edge of your seat to... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ms. J. T. Freeborn
Full of surprises
Amazing to see what Enid Blyton was like. I was raised on Noddy books and The Famous Five etc and one does tend to assume she must have been great with all children to write such... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Bronwyn Reid
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