I'm quite stunned that they did that as far back as the 1950s - and couldn't they have at least changed her to Aunt Frannie (as with the updated Faraway Tree character) or to something else that at least sounded reasonably like the original??Moonraker wrote: Personally, I found it pretty dire, not helped by Aunt Fanny becoming Aunt Margaret. Who said updates are something new?
Famous Five 90s Series
- Courtenay
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Re: Famous Five 90s Series
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Famous Five 90s Series
I'm sure Enid Blyton must have received letters from children asking why Aunt Fanny's name was changed for the film. I wonder how she replied!
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"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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Re: Famous Five 90s Series
Yeah, like Aunt Frances in the 90s series; Fanny is a variation/short version of Frances anyway, so, to me, Frances would be the obvious choice for a rename if they really thought a rename was necessary.Courtenay wrote:couldn't they have at least changed her to Aunt Frannie (as with the updated Faraway Tree character) or to something else that at least sounded reasonably like the original??
That way, she would still be keeping her original name because Aunt Fanny would just be an affectionate shortened version.
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Re: Famous Five 90s Series
"dick" became a slang word for a man's um Johnson because it was a popular nickname for Richard. It's only since Dick has gone out of fashion as a name that the rude meaning has supplanted the neutral one.
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Re: Famous Five 90s Series
'dick' was actually being used as the slang term as early as 1891 (British army slang)...but considering that Enid had to be told about the term 'spend a penny' in a Noddy book where (supposedly) Noddy was telling everyone he wanted to spend a penny (is this true!?) and she wrote a story called 'Mr Widdle on the Train' I'm guessing Enid didn't know the connotations of the word 'dick' even in the 1950s...
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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Re: Famous Five 90s Series
I'm so glad to have found a thread discussing the 90's series, I absolutely love it! It was such a big part of my childhood
- Chrissie777
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Re: Famous Five 90s Series
Yes, it was a great adaptation of the FF books, true to the decades in which the FF adventures took place.
Chrissie
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
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Famous Five 1995ish TV series
Merged with an older topic.
Sorry if this has been covered before but I have just been watching these on youtube, and wonder what people think of the plots and characterisation, given that each episode had to be squeezed into 25 mins?
I thought they kept fairly well to the plots. One or two things were changed, such as Guy's twin in Secret Trail, and Sniffer helping the Five out in Wonderful Time, rather than Jo.
I expected George to be much more tomboyish then she was portrayed by Jemima Rooper. Also Berta didn't really look like a boy, and I had expected Henry in Mystery Moor and Harriet in Finiston Farm to look like boys rather then girls with their hair tied back !!
I haven't been able to find the Smugglers Top episode- has anyone seen it?
What do you think of these programmes?
Sorry if this has been covered before but I have just been watching these on youtube, and wonder what people think of the plots and characterisation, given that each episode had to be squeezed into 25 mins?
I thought they kept fairly well to the plots. One or two things were changed, such as Guy's twin in Secret Trail, and Sniffer helping the Five out in Wonderful Time, rather than Jo.
I expected George to be much more tomboyish then she was portrayed by Jemima Rooper. Also Berta didn't really look like a boy, and I had expected Henry in Mystery Moor and Harriet in Finiston Farm to look like boys rather then girls with their hair tied back !!
I haven't been able to find the Smugglers Top episode- has anyone seen it?
What do you think of these programmes?
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Re: Famous Five 1995ish TV series
You should have a look at this thread, Mary Mouse, where you will find a lot of discussion about the 1990s Famous Five series.
Now merged.
Now merged.
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Poppy's Best of Books
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Pat, Holiday House
Poppy's Best of Books
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- Rob Houghton
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Re: Famous Five 90s Series
I think the Smuggler's Top version from the 90's is one of the best in the series - a two parter - 50 minutes rather than 25.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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Re: Famous Five 90s Series
I believe it was producer John Price who was the main man behind this series. I don't suppose anyone knows what he is up to now and where he is at?
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- Chrissie777
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Re: Famous Five 90s Series
Robert, could you tell me where it has been filmed? I enjoyed it very much.Robert Houghton wrote:I think the Smuggler's Top version from the 90's is one of the best in the series - a two parter - 50 minutes rather than 25.
Chrissie
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
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"For me, the cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake."
Alfred Hitchcock
- Rob Houghton
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Re: Famous Five 90s Series
I'm not really sure where it was filmed unfortunately. I looked it up on Google but still didn't find anything.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
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hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'
(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)
Society Member
Re: Famous Five 90s Series
I believe Stef is still on friendly terms with Marco and Jemima, if so, maybe she could ask him.
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