Famous Five 90s Series

[Rob Houghton]

I can remember my disappointment when I watched that particular episode, as it's one of my favourite Five's books and the plot is very clever. I guess, as well as health and safety, the whole plot would also have taken too long to film and would never have fitted into the 25 minute episode time.

[sayantani]

Great to see this thread still running. When we grew up there was no TV, TV only got big in India in the 80s and 90s. Oddly enough therefore like those growing up in the 50s and earlier one views the series with lack of baggage. The 90s series was far superior to the 70s. Wish some sort of full length movie was done as the 90s series was very brief, and changed the plot in several places. I think Secret Trail and Caravan were particularly ludicrous in not sticking to the book!
Sayantani

[IceMaiden]

I loved this series, I though George was perfect! I do wish they had all been two partners though, as the ones that were felt less rushed and had less cut out. Five on a hike together particularly felt too hurried, though perhaps that's because they just found the loot rather than diving for it.

[sayantani]

By the way I found the 50s film on Treasure Island incredibly good. Fine attention to detail and meticulously shot with authenticity as well. Far better than the 90s series in the detailing and certainly much more believable than the 70s series. I think it's a tad unfair to criticise it for minor blips like changing auntt's names and the villain identities when we have tolerated much more in the later series. In a way perhaps the best Ff For me!!

[Rob Houghton]

Completely agree about the '50's Treasure Island - really well made - great music, which is very Blytonesque, and great setting too. The 'home counties' accents also add to the authenticity.

[Chrissie777]

By the way I found the 50s film on Treasure Island incredibly good. Fine attention to detail and meticulously shot with authenticity as well. Far better than the 90s series in the detailing and certainly much more believable than the 70s series. I think it's a tad unfair to criticise it for minor blips like changing auntt's names and the villain identities when we have tolerated much more in the later series. In a way perhaps the best Ff For me!!

The British CFF (Children's Film Foundation) produced countless suspenseful movies with great soundtracks/scores for children in the 1940's (Bush Christmas, The Secret Tunnel, The Little Ballerina), especially in the 1950's (Treasure at the Mill, Five Clues to Fortune aka Treasure at Woburn Abbey (David Hemmings), Mystery in the Mine, The Carringford School Mystery, Mystery on Bird Island, Secret of the Forest, The Stolen Plans, The Clue of the Missing Ape, The Flying Eye, Johnny on the Run, The Kid from Canada, The Dog and the Diamonds, Adventure in the Hopfields (Mona Washbourne), Heights of Danger, Peril for the Guy) and still in the 1960's (The Piper's Tune, The Young Jacobites (Francesca Annis), Dead End Creek, The Flood, The Ghost of Monk's Island, Caught in the Net, Hunted in Holland, Countdown to Danger, Wings of Mystery (Judy Geeson), Davey Jones' Locker, Treasure in Malta, The Christmas Tree, Beware of the Dog, Valley of the Kings, The Missing Note (John Moulder-Brown), River Rivals) which are almost as good as "Five on a Treasure Island".

Many of them are still available on DVD. Most people who were born before 1960 still remember them fondly.
I can highly recommend "Treasure at the Mill" which you can get from amazon.co.uk. It's based on Malcolm Saville's book.

[sayantani]

Thanks for this information Chrissie. I will search on You Tube. Were there any more Blyton story movies like Treasure Island from the 50s or earlier? I know there were radio shows but how about films?

[Chrissie777]

Only one more in 1964, "Five have a Mystery to solve", but it doesn't even come close to the quality of the 1957 "Five on a Treasure Island" movie.
However, the many titles that I've listed for you were all about adventures, treasure hunt, secret passages etc.
All very Blytonian (especially "Treasure at the Mill").
I doubt you'll be able to watch them on Youtube as they are still getting sold on DVD's.

[Moonraker]

Only one more in 1964, "Five have a Mystery to solve", but it doesn't even come close to the quality of the 1957 "Five on a Treasure Island" movie.

And I didn't reckon much of that.

[Rob Houghton]

I found it rather Nostalgic!

[Chrissie777]

It's not bad, but compared to the other CFF movies from my list it's rather tame and not nearly as suspenseful.

[Rob Houghton]

I think I mainly enjoy it because it was set in the 50's, and is therefore more genuine than the TV series...and I also love that it was filmed around Corfe and the castle and had Enid's personal input, plus it's the most complete version of Five On A Treasure Island.

[Chrissie777]

Sorry about the misunderstanding, Robert. I meant "Five have a Mystery to solve" (1964), not the wonderful FOATI movie from 1957.

[Rob Houghton]

I think Nigel was talking about the 1957 Five On A Treasure Island movie, which he doesn't rate much, rather than the Five Have A Mystery To Solve movie...which I'm presuming he also doesn't rate much!

I agree with you, Chrissie - I love the 1957 FOATI movie!

[Moonraker]

As Treasure was written as books were still being written, I couldn't forgive Fanny's name change. Why change it to Margaret???? Why not call Dick, Matthew? How on earth did Enid sanction this?

I couldn't watch an Agatha Christie film where the detective was called Henry Poirot. As for Mystery to Solve, I could only stick around 20 minutes of that tosh.

I found it rather Nostalgic!

All I can say to that is nostalgia ain't what it used to be!