The Wind in the Willows
The Wind in the Willows
| 30 December 1983 (USA)
The Wind in the Willows Trailers

One spring, Mole decides that he can ignore the spring cleaning for a little longer, and begins a series of adventures with his new friend Rat. They go for a picnic on the riverbank, on a caravan expedition with Toad, until Toad switches allegiance to his new car and his reckless driving makes Mole and Rat search out Badger for help in curbing Toad's profligate habits. But Toad gets away from them and gets a 20-year sentence from the magistrate for theft, reckless driving, and Gross Impertinence. While Toad works his wiles on the jailer's daughter and escapes jail dressed as a washer woman, Badger tries to guard Toad Hall from the machinations of the Weasels and is badly beaten. And it requires a plan of attack and all four comrades to regain Toad Hall.

Reviews
Lovesusti

The Worst Film Ever

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Sexyloutak

Absolutely the worst movie.

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Chirphymium

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

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BelSports

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

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TheLittleSongbird

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

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LisaLisa85

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!

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Jackson Booth-Millard

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!

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Slick-50

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.

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