Looking for something really interesting to read? Then, to be honest, this post probably ain't it, Charlie. Nevertheless, I shall persevere in the hope that at least some of the
In Britain, the above-mentioned 1957 German movie for children was first shown, split into three weekly episodes, on BBC 1 on November 19th 1964 (as part of their 'Tales From Europe' series), and this immediately creates a problem for me, memory-wise. You see, for years, I was sure I'd first watched this programme while living in the house prior to the one I was actually living in when I saw it. (We'd moved only around four months before.) However, the two houses were only minutes apart, and my brother (with me in tow) occasionally called upon friends in our old house's street before going to school in the mornings. (Since the last three fourths of our route to school was the same from the second house as it was from the first, this has probably added to my confusion.)
Anyway, the most obvious explanation is that, the morning after The Singing Ringing Tree made its debut, we likely trekked up to our old street, and then, in the company of my brother's pals, traversed the same route to school as formerly, excitedly talking about the programme on the way. (It made quite an impression back in the day, and was voted the 20th spookiest show ever in a 2004 readers' poll in The RADIO TIMES.) It's probably the fact of being in our old street that day which formed the association of the programme in my mind with my previous house, even though we were ensconced in another abode at the time.
But that's enough of my self-indulgent reminiscences you'll be glad to hear. A few years ago, I bought the DVD of the film, which is in colour and runs for around 71 minutes. Fortunately it includes the British narration used by the BBC, but I wish it had also included the option of watching it in three instalments, as it had originally been show in the UK in 1964. Still, being able to hear and see it again is a great experience, and if you saw this programme as a kid, I'm sure you'd enjoy reliving part of your youth as you enter the autumn of your years. I saw The Singing Ringing Tree again, two or three times over the years (before I acquired the DVD) in two other houses, but it's still the house I wasn't living in with which I mainly associate it. Funny that, eh?
Enjoy the screen grabs from the DVD, which should still be available on the NETWORK, digitally-remastered release - 7952133.
I remember being terrified of that TV programme as a kid when I first saw this on TV (in black and white) in the late 60's as a 7 year old. I remember the man turning into what I thought at the time (as a child) was a terrifying hairy monster and being really freaked out by that (as it turns out he was more like a hairy teddy bear) and the little man - still I remember loving it at the time despite that. This was one of the few programmes I remember my late brother and myself discussing several years later when were in our teens as it obviously stuck in both our minds - Having seen it in colour a few years later it was pretty tame but still had that other worldly feel to it (imho at least)
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely not the slightest bit scary looked at through older eyes, but back in 1964 it was almost the equivalent of a modern horror movie - it really caused a stir amongst kids of the day. I too originally saw it in b&w (though I think I saw it again in colour in the '70s), which I think added to the mood in which it was originally perceived. However, PM, as you say, it still has an 'other-worldly' feel about it. I think I'll do a post on Robinson Crusoe next - remember that one?
ReplyDeleteIs that the Robinson Crusoe series from the mid 60s then I loved that it was an amazing TV programme one of the very best (and it had a great if slightly out of tune theme tune iirc)- I remember as a 13 / 14 yer old it was repeated during the School summer holidays just after Herges Adventures of Tin Tin. Was that version of RC a French series?
ReplyDeleteThat's the one, PM. I think it was a German/French co-production, but I'll have to check. A CD of the soundtrack was released a few years back and it's a great listen. Apparently, the TV show was shot in colour (but shown in b&w), though only a b&w version survives and that's the one on a DVD that came out a few years ago. Maybe they'll get around to colourising it some day. Whenever I watch it or hear the theme tune I'm just a schoolboy again. Incidentally, there's a couple of tracks on the From Russia With Love soundtrack that almost sound as if they've been lifted from RC (or maybe the other way around).
ReplyDeleteJust checked - forget Germany, it was a Franco London Films production (which was, strangely enough, a French company).
ReplyDeleteUpdate: Oops, scratch that - there's a reference on Wikipedia to the French/German original so I was right the first time - I think.
Is The Robinson Crusoe you fellows are talking about the B/W version French made i recall Starring Robert Hoffmann. It came on TV around 1966 in 10 episodes . It was great back then.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for being scared I remember in 1964 a Russian made puppet series called Aurora Borealis being shown...The evil creature what ever it was scared the hell out of me..Anyone remember that show.
ReplyDeleteActually it was 13 episodes, LH, and it was 1965 it first appeared on UK TV - but yeah, that's the one. The post is already written, I've just to add the screen grabs before publishing it. Don't remember Aurora Borealis.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of The Singing Ringing Tree but I've never seen it. But I definitely remember Robinson Crusoe which must have been repeated around the mid-Seventies - the opening credits and theme tune are on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteIt's in my computer as well at the moment, CJ, while I try to capture some screen grabs.
ReplyDelete