For those who remember Tottie when it was first shown, these films made quite an impression, not only because they have gone down in history as the first childrens' programme to include a murder, but for the enormous skill in animation, voice, and editing which Oliver brought to Rumer Godden's haunting story. Although deceptively simple, Oliver conveyed subtleties of expression with the wooden and porcelain dolls, highlighting thereby the economy of movement needed to tell a good story well. And this is a good story. It does not shy away from a philosophy of playmaking that honours children as the active participants in a doll's world. It was Oliver's intelligence and instinct that persuaded Rumer Godden, the author of the stories to let him make them into small films, and it a pleasure to restore the first series, twenty five years after they were first shown. Contains the 5 Episodes.
L**S
Wonderful - but be careful!
I bought this DVD for my 4-year-old grandaughter who lives in the US and loves dolls. I did remember a little of the story by Rumer Godden when my own daughter was about 9 years old and read the book and saw the televised version - and there was something about a fire... So I decided to watch the DVD first before sending it off.Glad I did because one of the scenes near the end of the story is really not suitable for a 4-year-old. A child who loves dolls would be distressed when one of the main character dolls goes up in a ball of flame because she stepped too close to a candle!Otherwise, the story is utterly charming and old-fashioned and would delight every little girl who loves dolls. But do be warned about the graphic content. I just wish there was an edited version!
F**Y
The name Marchpane will send shivers up our spines for the rest of our lives
I remember me and my sister being haunted by this when we saw it in our early teens. At first we started watching it because it was obviously by the same people who created Bagpuss, which we adored as children, and was narrated by Oliver Postgate who was the reassuring voice of of our childhood. It seemed like a run of the mill story at first but then one of the Dolls got murdered and our jaws have been close to our feet ever since. We hoped watching it again would return our jaws to their rightful place but from the second we heard the haunting music at the start we new that wasn't going to happen. The name Marchpane will send shivers up our spines for the rest of our lives, Simply superb.
T**E
The Dolls House was my favourite book and I have recently read it again
When I was a little girl, The Dolls House was my favourite book and I have recently read it again. This little series is an asset to the book. All the characters are exactly how I imagined them and I found my heart was still n my mouth when the sweet little doll Birdie lost her life due to that nasty piece of work Marchpane. I can heartily recommend this DVD which came promptly and well packaged
R**T
.
We read the book first with my daughter. At beginning this book did not make much sense for her because lots of words she did not understand. But we checked from google all this old fashioned words, looked at pictures, discussed characters. And soon she liked this story very much. So I bought this DVD for her after we finished book. She has been watching it many times since.
R**H
If you can remember it....BUY IT!!
Oliver Postgates best work in my opinion. If you can remember it then you will no doubt feel a bit dull buying it now you are near 40 years old. But as soon as I saw a short clip on Youtube I rushed here to buy it. It reeks of nostalgia for me...and many.
D**C
Five Stars
Lovely story that has a other worldly feel to it
A**R
Five Stars
So glad this is on the market now.
K**L
brilliant.
Oh wow,just as i rememberd ,got it for my daughter and she loves it too she's 5,brilliant.
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