Which Famous Five TV Series?

[Moonraker]

I'll buy if off you Nigel, if you're going to part with it?

Sold to the lady in red!

[Pippa-Stef]

I'll buy if off you Nigel, if you're going to part with it?

Sold to the lady in red!

I wasn't wearing Red!

[Anne's Father]

This is a most interesting question because on sheer production value and and atmosphere the 90s series is by far superior. However, I had never heard of the Famous Five before 1978 and the show became the most awesome program to a curly haired nine year old boy. I was amazed to learn books had been written to go with the show. (a 9 year old perspective) I loved the books even though the writer had got it wrong because Timmy was a Border Collie not a mongrel a rather silly mistake i thought since the author could see photos of Timmy on the cover!! lol. I digress... Being also hoplessly in love with Anne (Jennifer Thanish - who i'd love to know what she looks like now) my life revolved around the Famous Five show. Sadly I grew older and Anne never did so my childhood plans to marry her never came to pass.

Of course I became addicted to Blyton books and went on to read Secret Seven, Mystery, Adventurous Four, Malory Towers...

So the 70's show has that special place in my heart and that theme song still gives me a buzz!! We are the Famous Five... I still have the single they released in the attic back in my folks place in UK. (now live in USA where very few folk have heard of The FF...). However I have the complete Jan Francis readings to entertain as i go about my life

David

[Nick]

This is a most interesting question because on sheer production value and and atmosphere the 90s series is by far superior. However, I had never heard of the Famous Five before 1978 and the show became the most awesome program to a curly haired nine year old boy. I was amazed to learn books had been written to go with the show. (a 9 year old perspective) I loved the books even though the writer had got it wrong because Timmy was a Border Collie not a mongrel a rather silly mistake i thought since the author could see photos of Timmy on the cover!! lol. I digress... Being also hoplessly in love with Anne (Jennifer Thanish - who i'd love to know what she looks like now) my life revolved around the Famous Five show. Sadly I grew older and Anne never did so my childhood plans to marry her never came to pass.

Of course I became addicted to Blyton books and went on to read Secret Seven, Mystery, Adventurous Four, Malory Towers...

So the 70's show has that special place in my heart and that theme song still gives me a buzz!! We are the Famous Five... I still have the single they released in the attic back in my folks place in UK. (now live in USA where very few folk have heard of The FF...). However I have the complete Jan Francis readings to entertain as i go about my life

David

Hi David,

I believe there is some footage on youtube of Jennifer at a famous five reunion just a couple of years back.

Nick

[Dick Kirrin]

I believe there is some footage on youtube of Jennifer at a famous five reunion just a couple of years back.

You are perfectly right :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv8NWAGPehg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just in case the link doesn't work: enter Famous Five revisited in the search box.

Cheers

Dick Kirrin

[Lucky Star]

The link works fine Dick. Thanks, I'd seen it before but didn't know where to find it again. Its a pity that Jennifer seems to have very little interest in the series now. She hasn't watched it since it was first broadcast and her children know nothing about it. I wonder if the new DVD edition will encourage her to look back at it a bit more.

[Dick Kirrin]

I may be wrong at that, but I remember Marcus Harris aka Julian Kirrin saying something on the Eb Day about not having watched the series too often, too. So it might be that some actors don't want to see their younger self smiling back at them from the screem. Btw, it has been a while since I last flicked through the photo album with pics from my childhood days... .

Cheers

Dick Kirrin

PS: Glad the link worked.

[Francis]

I've got the 1990s series on DVD (minus Smugglers Top) and have been impressed. George is an
excellent portrayal and Ann and Dick are both sympathetically done. The Julian character is
much more pompous than the books. I am awaiting the DVDs of the 1970's series so am unable
to judge them but having seen Marcus and Gary at the last E.B. Day I am really looking forward
to seeing them. Judging by the many favourable comments on the earlier series I am in for a treat!

[Anne's Father]

I've got the 1990s series on DVD (minus Smugglers Top) and have been impressed. George is an
excellent portrayal and Ann and Dick are both sympathetically done. The Julian character is
much more pompous than the books. I am awaiting the DVDs of the 1970's series so am unable
to judge them but having seen Marcus and Gary at the last E.B. Day I am really looking forward
to seeing them. Judging by the many favourable comments on the earlier series I am in for a treat!

Why was Smuggler's Top missing? That one is in my my top 21 favourite Famous Five stories?

David
Formally UncleQuentin

[Moonraker]

Anne's father - formerly Uncle Quentin? Hmm, have you bee a naughty boy?

[Anne's Father]

Anne's father - formerly Uncle Quentin? Hmm, have you bee a naughty boy?

legal adoption!! I sent Julian and Dick to the workhouse!

[Francis]

I've got the 1990s series on DVD (minus Smugglers Top) and have been impressed. George is an
excellent portrayal and Ann and Dick are both sympathetically done. The Julian character is
much more pompous than the books. I am awaiting the DVDs of the 1970's series so am unable
to judge them but having seen Marcus and Gary at the last E.B. Day I am really looking forward
to seeing them. Judging by the many favourable comments on the earlier series I am in for a treat!

Why was Smuggler's Top missing? That one is in my my top 21 favourite Famous Five stories?

David
Formally UncleQuentin

I don't know! It is very frustrating especially, as you say, it was one of the best of the F.F. stories. At least the 1970's series on DVD should have their version of the book.

Francis

[Anne's Father]

I've got the 1990s series on DVD (minus Smugglers Top) and have been impressed. George is an
excellent portrayal and Ann and Dick are both sympathetically done. The Julian character is
much more pompous than the books. I am awaiting the DVDs of the 1970's series so am unable
to judge them but having seen Marcus and Gary at the last E.B. Day I am really looking forward
to seeing them. Judging by the many favourable comments on the earlier series I am in for a treat!

Why was Smuggler's Top missing? That one is in my my top 21 favourite Famous Five stories?

David
Formally UncleQuentin

I don't know! It is very frustrating especially, as you say, it was one of the best of the F.F. stories. At least the 1970's series on DVD should have their version of the book.

That is just plain wrong... It is one of the best stories and it is a 2 parter I recall.

[Tilda]

I find it very difficult to answer, as both of these adaptations were so different.

The theme tune to the 1978 version is catchy and exciting, and it immediately gets you in the mood for Famous Five- especially alongside the brilliant film clips (at the start when the film pauses with their names). This version created a modernised Famous Five- for the 70s- and still kept the characters, plots etc, and welcoming mood.

The 1990s version was truer to the books, with better production and drama. The theme tune was still exciting, and more like readers might have imagined, but less personal perhaps. As others have said, I found Anne quite irritating, and George exactly as I imagined, but the 1970s George added some extra personality too.

Both adaptations did their jobs really well, but their jobs were slightly different, I think.

[Moonraker]

but the 1970s George added some extra personality too.

Nah! No-one, but no-one could ever top Jemima Rooper as George!