CFF Bumper Box Vol 6

BFI’s much-loved Children’s Film Foundation (CFF in short) proudly presents Vol 6 and once again, this 3-DVD box set is crammed full with gems from yesteryear, starting with feature-length vintage adventures from 1954 up to 1980! Those of a certain age will appreciate the nostalgic trip back to their childhood, while younger audiences will no doubt be astonished at the innocent and, compared with nowadays standards, rather twee nature of it all.

DISC 1 kicks off with ‘Mystery on Bird Island’ from 1954, in which two youngsters who are on holiday on the Channel Islands (Alderney to be precise) and make friends with two local siblings. While out and about, they become aware of some dodgy men stealing bird eggs from the uninhabited island of Burhou and before they know it, our youngsters are embroiled in an adventure which adds considerable spice to their vacation. That said, it’s a spice which may well prove too hot to handle… John Haggarty directed this hugely picturesque adventure.

Next up is ‘One Wish Too Many’ from 1956, directed by John Durst. This truly magical and award-winning delight revolves around a boy called Peter Brown (Anthony Richmond), who one day finds a glass marble but it’s no ordinary marble. It has magical powers, as Peter soon finds out, and it grants him any wish he wants! For starters, he makes good use of the marble by taking revenge on those classmates who up until now, did bully him. He also tries to surprise his Mum (Bay White) by turning their little flat into something much grander though unfortunately, Mum isn’t best pleased with the results and takes the marble away from Peter. Not for long though and Peter manages to pocket the wondrous marble again, this time playing shenanigans at school by stopping time and causing his fellow pupils and teachers, including the pompous headmaster (Arthur Howard) to freeze in time as well. One of his best friends and fellow playmates Nancy (Rosalind Gourgey) is over the moon when Peter conjures up a doll which she wanted but couldn’t afford, while he himself is pleased about a toy-steam roller. When one day, he wishes for the toy-steamroller to ‘grow’ to a real size, so he and his friends can go for a ride, the ensuing ride ends in mayhem and chaos, with the steam-rollers break not working and the streets of East London getting trashed in the process! It’s down to Peter’s dad (Frank Hayden) to save the day… This is a real caper and it’s interesting to see some of the old East End locations - all since changed beyond recognition. And gosh, both kids and adults - despite the story being set in ‘Cockney-land’ - are ever so well spoken!

‘The Cat Gang’ from 1958 (directed by Darrell Catling) features a teenage Francesca Annis who, together with a small group of other youngsters, is part of the so-called Cat Gang and they like nothing better than spending time together at their local harbour. They might have fun, but they get on the nerves of the Customs Officers. Until one day and by coincidence, the cat gang spots another gang, namely a gang of smugglers and well, these are not kids! Before they know it, the cat gang are in it knee-deep…

DISC 2 begins with the charming and somewhat whimsical ‘Rockets in the Dunes’ (1960; directed by William C. Hammond), in which a group of young friends delight in sand yacht racing and are dismayed upon learning that the Army has decided to use the kids’ beloved stretch of Devon beach for training purposes. It goes without saying that the kids won’t have any of this nonsense at start scheming how to best put off the Army from carrying out their plans but it’s easier said than done when old war mines are discovered in the dunes! Once again, the children are ever so well spoken in that upper crust English way (“Jolly good, this feels absolutely smashing”). What would nowadays kids say? “Awesome”…

‘Davy Jones Locker’ from 1965 (directed by Frederic Goode) sees a group of youngsters, among them a then 15-year old Susan George (as Susan Haddock) on holiday in Malta where they take aqua-lung diving classes. When Spike (Michael Wennink), who happens to be Susan’s obnoxious brother, discovers a wreck and disobeys instructions to carry out investigations on his own, his selfishness leads to an almost fatal accident. This is the first vintage adventure in this set which had been filmed in colour and consequently, all the following films are also in colour.

Animal lovers will delight in ‘Lionheart’ from 1969 (directed by Michael Forlong) in which a young lad named Andrew Fowler (James Forlong, who died young age 44) tries to save an escaped circus lion named Simba from being shot by the authorities. Together with his friends, he hides Simba, who happens to stroll into the Fowler’s massive garden, in their barn but for how long can the kids hide Simba not only from the authorities but from Andrew’s parents? Watch out lion tamer Nyoka, who owns Simba, and Irene Handl as his wife Lil.

On to DISC 3, which starts with ‘Smokey Joe’s Revenge’ (1974; directed by Ronald Spencer). The Smokey Joe in question is an old traction engine and when after the original owner junked it, a group of kids rejuvenate it and enter it for the County Championship - not an easy task, seeing how due to their young age, they can’t obtain a driving license.

‘Black Island’ from 1978 (directed by Ben Bolt) takes on a decidedly darker note when two teenagers, Joe (Michael Salmon) and Michael (Martin Murphy) become separated from their teacher and other classmates during a field trip and end up marooned on the Black Island of the title. Initially assuming that they are alone, they soon discover that two criminals, Jack Daker (Michael Elphick) and George Moody (Allan Surtees) are hiding out on the island and are taken hostage by them. Joe and Michael must use wit and courage to come up with a fool-proof escape plan…

Finally, ‘Danger on Dartmoor’ (1980; directed by David Edy) sees two little brothers, Robin (Marcus Evans) and Jonathan (Simon Henderson) getting worked up over the arrival of their cousin Louise (Debby Salter), whom for one reason or another, they both dislike. But when escaped convict Green (Barry Foster) roams the Dartmoor Moors, the trio of youngsters happen to get lost in the fog and whaddya know, stumble upon the convict and also upon an allegedly dangerous German Shepherd dog, who doesn’t turn out to be so dangerous after all and leads the kids to safety though the treacherous marshes. Watch out for Patricia Hayes and Mrs. Green, the escaped convict’s well-meaning mother.

Also included is the usual generous bonus material courtesy of BFI, for example the hilarious sketch ‘5 O’Clock Finish’ with Peter Butterworth as a bumbling car mechanic and ‘The Chiffy Kids’, with Alfie Bass as a tramp. Furthermore we are treated to ‘The Magnificent Six’, ‘Forest Pony’, ‘Our Magazine No. 6’ and a production short on another CFF favourite, ‘Johnny on the Run’ from 1953. The set, with all the wonderfully restored films and shorts, is rounded up with the inclusion of an illustrated booklet.