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The Box of Delights [1984]
![The Box of Delights [1984]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SMEGRK5DL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £14.99
Our Price: £19.99 (subject to change)
Lives up to its title
Review date: 2007-12-06 Rating: 10 out of 10
We watched this, spellbound, with our son when it was first screened in 1985. It is still our family's Christmas favourite.
A wonderful performance by Patrick Troughton, with an excellent supporting cast.
The special effects are not up to modern standards, but - as effects should - they enhance the presentation, rather than drowning you in technology as so many modern productions do.
If you are willing to watch an old-fashioned story with no CGI, do yourselves a favour and buy this for Christmas.
But take care - the wolves are running ...
PS if you want to hear more of the theme tune, you can find it on the Naxos recording of Victor Hely-Hutchinson's "Carol Symphony".
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Reviews
THE BOX OF DELIGHTS
Review date: 2007-11-27 Rating: 10 out of 10
I FIRST SAW THIS SERIES IN 1984 WHEN I WATCHED IT WITH MY 9YR OLD SON. IT WAS BRILLIANT. WE COULDN'T WAIT FOR EACH EPISODE TO BE SCREENED. WHEN I SAW THAT IT WAS OUT ON DVD, I JUST HAD TO BUY IT. I WASN'T DISSAPOINTED, IT IS STILL AS GOOD AS I REMEMBERED IT. I NOW HAVE A YOUNG DAUGHTER AND SHE LOVES IT AS WELL. THIS SERIES HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME. OUTSTANDING. SOMETHING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO WATCH AND ENJOY, ESPECIALLY AT CHRISTMAS TIME. A REAL FAMILY FILM.
Classic Children's TV !
Review date: 2007-11-21 Rating: 10 out of 10
It can be a dissapointment to watch a programme you remember with great pleasure as our tastes change as we grow older.
But this series mixes Masefield's story with some great acting and the direction is superb. Arguably, this is one the best TV adaptions of a classic novel. Okay,the story has been adapted to the constraints of pre-CGI special effects and the acting of the extras "acting" as the cathedral choir is dire. (To be fair even De Niro and Pacino could struggle to suspend our disbelief when the ropey CSO finale has the choir standing on fresh air!) But given the constraints of a tv budget this is superb. Admittedly it can look dated compared to Jacson's LOTR trilogy or the latest adaption of the "Lion , the witch and the Wardrobe" but it oozes wonder, imagination and joy. Whether a 6 year old will enjoy it as much as this nostalgic 36 year old is a moot point but my 2 toddler sons love it as well! Best watched in the run up to Christmas Eve episode by episode. Trust me, your TV can be a "Box of Delights" by playing this dvd.
NOT SPLENDIFEROUS AT ALL!
Review date: 2007-02-13 Rating: 2 out of 10
why is everyone giving this series 5*s? I can usually sit down and force myself to watch the most boring film ever, but this one was hard to beat. I FELL ASLEEP DURING THE SECOND EPISODE! Unfortunately i decided to watch from where i left off i and i wished i hadn't. dull backrounds, laughable special effects (even for its time), boring story, over-acted and exagerated acting, awful accents and a complete waste of a few hours.
Do yourself a favour and watch Labyrinth or the Goonies, no sorry, im wrong, go and watch absolutely anything else you can find, you will not be dissapointed at all! Avoid at all costs!
COMPLETELY OVERATED!
THIS IS NOT 'SPLENDIFEROUS' AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fantastic magical classic that outshines anything else of its kind
Review date: 2006-12-08 Rating: 10 out of 10
I too watch the Box of Delights every year just before Christmas on video (yes the tape is wearing out) so I was delighted when the BBC released this production on DVD! The Box of Delights was first televised on BBC TV in 1984. At the time this production was considered outstanding due to the use of new special effects using chroma key and inventive animation techniques. Chroma key was a relatively new technique in the early 1980's so it was an exciting experience to see this magic appear on our screens in a remarkable production. Today the use of CGI makes these effects look somewhat old fashioned, but I feel that they still look impressive (especially the scene where Cole Hawlings uses the power of the box to magically open a picture at Seekings to evade Abner Brown's Agents).
The Box of Delights is based on John Masefield's classic children's book and is set in the 1920's / 30's period. Kay Harker has left boarding school and is coming home for the Christmas holidays by steam train. On the journey he meets two clergymen called "Foxy Faced Charles" and "Chubby Faced Joe" who are two agents working for the villain ringleader "Abner Brown". They challenge Kay to a game of card tricks and it is here that you discover that the two "clergymen" are not all that they seem.
At the next station, the conversation between Kay and the clergymen is interruped by the barking of the dog belonging to the travelling Punch and Judy man called "Cole Hawlings". Kay discovers that he has lost his railway ticket and it is here that the fantastic adventure begins when he meets the mysterious philosopher who harkens from the Middle Ages.
Kay now embarks on a series of adventures when he returns home to his house "Seekings" to stay with his guardian "Caroline Louisa". Gradually the plot thickens as Kay comes into the possession of the Box of Delights. The box is an ancient magical device that contains many wondrous properties including the power to send the user back in time. It also has the ability to reduce the owner to the size of a Tom Thumb and allow you to fly. However the box does have certain limits to its powers in that once you step into the past you must find your own way back! Also, the time line on which you can travel is limited only to the history of Europe.
Kay learns that Cole Hawklings is on a desperate mission to prevent the Box from falling into the hands of evil Abner Brown who is conspiring to use the power of the magical artefact for his own selfish purposes. Kay is drawn into the plot when Cole Hawlings entrusts the box to his safe keeping in an effort to foil the plans of Abner Brown. It follows that Cole Hawlings is abducted by Abner's men and it is now Kay's job to keep the box from falling into the hands of the enemy. Thus Kay embarks on a perilous quest in which he must outwit Abner Brown and return the box to its rightful owner.
The actual BBC dramatisation is brilliantly put together retaining the magnificence of John Masefield's classical book. The story is adhered too very well and brings to life the exciting adventures on which Kay embarks. A wonderful cast of actors which includes Patrick Troughton (former Doctor Who, incarnation number two) who plays Cole Hawlings and Robert Stephens who plays the role of Abner Brown to villainous perfection.
Now to the actual DVD. The presentation is well thought out and shows that the team who designed the DVD understand the Box of Delights thoroughly. Anyone who has owned the video version will not be disappointed. The primary menu allows you to play either the whole drama or you may select individual episodes. Once through to the episode selection you are presented with six circles showing the opening sequences for each. This is brilliantly designed with a flickering old-film effect, which is accompanied by a crescendo of "Joy to the World".
Unlike the video version, when an episode is selected you are shown the entire episode as it was screened when it was originally transmitted in 1984. This means you get to see the episodes as they were meant to be enjoyed with the opening title music and the cliff-hanger with credits. Before the following episode begins you see the cliff-hanger from the previous episode and thus you enjoy the tension and excitement far more.
The DVD also contains an interview with Devin Stanfield who played Kay. This is very interesting as you learn some inside information about the creation of the dramatisation, including the casting and location filming. You also find out what happened to Devin's career after "Box". In addition to this, there is a section with archive clips from Blue Peter and Take Two and a quiz which tests your knowledge of the Box of Delights.
Finally, I would thoroughly recommend the Box of Delights DVD to anyone who has previously bought the video or those who have never seen this production. This is an ideal gift to any child (or adult) for Christmas and will provide a wonderful Yuletide atmosphere to anyone's house. It also shows today's children how children in the past celebrated Christmas with old traditions, games, music, and food (note the "Posset" and "buttered eggs").
In addition to the DVD I can also recommend the BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of the Box of Delights which is also great listening (also available from AMAZON) and the book itself which is great reading.
So to sum up, I give the Box of Delights DVD five stars (although it deserves 10). Buy it - this is a classical gem that surpasses anything else to date. You won't be disappointed, because like me you'll want to watch it every Christmas, year after year and never get tired of it!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Philip Locke
Charles Pemberton
Paul Wilce
Simon Barry (II)
Bill Wallis
Director(s):
Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503151324
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-11-01
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 163 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1984
Language: English (Original Language)