While the 1983 stop motion Wind in the Willows was … Continue reading The latter is moved to go between the Open Road and Wild Wood episodes, which I’m tempted to say makes more sense than its placement in the source material. Unfortunately, it would not do so particularly well. The 1983 Rankin Bass movie would also include both-in fact, it would try to combine them.

Two of those episodes are the often cut Piper at the Gates of Dawn and the even more frequently cut Wayfarers All. While much tighter and faster paced than the book, Ted Walker’s script has the same relaxed, episodic feel. That it succeeds as much as it does is largely thanks to the voiceover narration beautifully read by Vanessa Redgrave and to the musical score by C0lin Towns, which is often tranquil and relaxing but has an edge when necessary. Milne wrote, “Of course, I have left out all the best parts of the book and for that, if he has knowledge of the … Continue reading But this movie really tries to convey the overall spirit of the book. In the introduction to his stage play adaptation, Toad of Toad Hall, A. In their defense, those are the elements that are probably the trickiest to nail down. Most Wind in the Willows adaptations, animated or otherwise, emphasize the comedic elements, which were a real but secondary part of the book, and downplay or don’t bother with the poetic elements. Toad’s Wild Ride (1996) is basically a Monty … Continue reading

I haven’t seen it, but from what I’ve heard, Mr.

I’m probably exaggerating by calling it the worst in this post’s title. Looking back, I can see that in many ways it was a better introduction to it than the average adaptation would have been, but in one crucial way it was much worse. The 1995 made-for-television animated movie of The Wind in the Willows was my introduction to Kenneth Grahame’s book as a kid.

The open road wind in the willows