DVD Release of the '57 and '64 Famous Five Serials

[Moonraker]

I've not managed to watch both my DVD's as yet. I do have a copy of Island, so I'll probably start off with Mystery to Solve!

I wouldn't get too excited, Julie!

[Lucky Star]

Have you watched the whole thing yet Nigel? Just wondering if you thought i improved any.

[Moonraker]

No, I haven't John - I will do though!

I have just watched the Basil Rathbone film, The Hound of the Baskervilles, as I had photographed Lustleigh railway station whilst on holiday. It is reported that Lustleigh became Baskerville Station in the film. To my dismay, there was no sight of it in the film. Has it been cut from my DVD?

"The station was renamed 'Baskerville' and used for the film The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1931. It was rumoured that this was one of the first 'talkie' films featuring a train in motion."

There was a shot of Holmes and Watson inside a train, en route to Okehampton, but no shot of the station.

[Rob Houghton]

Don't know if this has been mentioned elsewhere, but there is a rather nice article on the famous Five DVD's and how they came about, in 'The Best of British' magazine for October. It is written by Norman Wright, and includes some lovely black and white photos of the films - worth having whether you like the films or not, in my opinion!


From what Nigel says, I'm not sure about buying 'Five have a Mystery to Solve', but I will, because I have everything I can that's connected to EB! I actually quite like 'Five on a Treasure Island', which I've owned for several years, due mainly to the setting, which I love, if not for the actors, changes in the plot or the endless running round the castle scenes!

[Ed Fulcrum]

I bought both episodes of the BFI episodes and while I did think myself that they were a bit ropey I just want to say that I showed then to my sister's three children who are 5, 4 and 2 and they absolutely loved them!!

They loved the 'well' scenes in 'Mystery to Solve' especially and asked me for weeks afterwards could I put back on the DVDs with the 'boys in the well' and the 'badgers'!
Sometimes we need to remember who they were actually targeted at, (although I suppose 2 might have been a bit on the lower side of the target audience:-))
I thought myself the funniest bit was the boatman's total lack of responsibility in letting the children take the boat out when a storm was imminent!!!!!

[Moonraker]

Why is this thread called DVD Release of the '57 and '64 Adventure Serials?

[Anita Bensoussane]

Why is this thread called DVD Release of the '57 and '64 Adventure Serials?

I've wondered that from time to time, but as no one else ever said anything I thought it was just me missing something! But I think I'll change it now to "Famous Five Serials"!

[Moonraker]

I'd never noticed it before! Thanks, Anita!

[Francis]

Have watched the first 4 parts of the Five on a Treasure Island serial and I
have to admit that I rather like it, especially as George seems to look like
a younger version of Enid Blyton - I wander what Enid thought of her casting!
I also recognise the boy playing Julian which makes me think that I must have
watched some of the episodes in the 1950s. I certainly used to go to see the
Saturday morning children's films at the cinema - how spooky is that!

Did anybody else like it or am I on my own?

Francis

[Anita Bensoussane]

I enjoy it too, Francis, despite the fact that the plot has been altered a little. It's a nicely-paced, atmospheric serial, and I like the casting. Some parts are unintentionally funny, but that adds to the entertainment!

[Tony Summerfield]

I also recognise the boy playing Julian which makes me think that I must have
watched some of the episodes in the 1950s.
Francis

Richard Palmer who played Julian was a busy boy in the later 50s. He appeared in a number of Children's TV series including, Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School as Harry Wharton, Jo's Boys as Emil and The Fifth Form at St. Dominic's as Wraysford. Before playing Julian he appeared in the Children's Film Foundation version of Malcolm Saville's Treasure at the Mill. The Saville Society traced him to a Greek Island where he now lives and someone went and did a video interview with him. They wouldn't give me his email address, but said that they would give mine to him as they were sure he would want to get in touch. I heard no more so I am not even sure that he ever got my email address.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Richard Palmer who played Julian was a busy boy in the later 50s. He appeared in a number of Children's TV series including, Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School as Harry Wharton, Jo's Boys as Emil and The Fifth Form at St. Dominic's as Wraysford.

Gosh, I hadn't known that there had ever been a film of The Fifth Form at St. Dominic's. That's interesting. I like the book by Talbot Baines Reed, which I read some years ago.

[Katharine]

Guess what Father Christmas brought me for Christmas

Only problem is, I haven't been able to get near the DVD player to watch them. Still, only a week before everyone goes back to school/work. Better give the house a good clean up over the weekend, as I won't have any time to do any housework until I've finished watching them.

[Kristina]

I really loved the Five on A Treasure Island - I don't have Five have a mystery to solve yet. The only thing is that they seemed to do an awful lot of running around But I think it really conveyed the spirit of the books.

[Tilda]

Could somebody put more clips of Five On A Treasure Island on the Internet, please? I haven't got a copy, and I'd be interested to see more of it than to two short YouTube videos I've found. I hope this is possible.