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During the 1970s, Christmas meant ghost stories. The BBC produced a number of one-off adaptations of classic ghost stories, mostly by M.R. James, while for younger viewers, the 1972 film The Amazing Mr. Blunden seemed to be an annual event. At least where I lived as HTV seemed to roll it out in an afternoon slot sometime between the schools breaking up and Christmas Day itself. The film begins just before Christmas 1918 as solicitor Mr. Blunden (Naismith) pays a call on the recently widowed Mrs. Allen (Dorothy Allison) and her young children in their Camden Town home. Blunden offers her a job as housekeeper of a derelict mansion but when she's out of the room asks children Lucy (Frederick) and Jamie (Miller) whether they believe in ghosts. Ghosts, that he has on good authority, who will appear to be children of their own age. Hardly normal behaviour from a solicitor, but it turns out that Blunden isn't your average solicitor. Visiting the firm's offices to follow up the job offer, the children point out a portrait of the Blunden who visited them, only to be told that he died a hundred years earlier. The promised ghosts soon materialise in the form of Sara (Roslyn Landor) and her brother Georgie (Marc Granger), who lived in the mansion a century earlier. Orphaned by a coach accident, the pair are now the wards of the family solicitor (the Blunden from Camden Town) and their uncle Bertie (James Villiers). Marrying "ballerina" Bella (Madeleine Smith), Bertie embarks on an economy drive, dismissing most of the servants and installing his mother-in-law Mrs. Wickens (Diana Dors) as housekeeper. With Georgie the only one in the family with any money, Mrs. Wickens then decides that an accident must befall the two children so that her daughter can live in the life to which she could easily become accustomed. Sara and Georgie appeal to Blunden for help, but he dismises their pleas. Then, with Mrs. Wickens determined that they should "snuff it", they find the instructions for a portion to "move the wheel of time" in the house's library. The Amazing Mr. Blunden is a story with a wide appeal. For younger members of the family it is a cracking children's ghost story with an element of time travel and a great villain in the form of Diana Dors' marvellous performance as Mrs. Wickens. Older viewers will also appreciate James Villiers' delightfully foppish performance as Bertie, some subtle humour (Sara fills in Lucy and Jamie but the accompanying flashbacks tell a somewhat different truth) and several recognisable faces (including Graham Crowden, Eric Chitty and David Lodge) in supporting roles. Even an old cynic like me enjoyed it, although it is a bit soppy. Then again, it does have Maddy Smith looking as lovely as ever as the child-like Bella and the disturbingly attractive Lynne Frederick (although unlike Roslyn Landor, she's at least of legal age) as Lucy, which gives it that something extra which it didn't have when you were ten. The film is presented in anamorphic 16:9, and the picture is largely free from dirt and sparkles, although some smearing is present. For a film of this nature, Anchor Bay deserve praise for the disc's presentation and for including some interesting extras. Admittedly, the biographies and stills gallery are nothing particularly special, but are nonetheless still good to have. More interesting is a c. 1980 Parkinson interview with Lionel Jeffries, although Blunden isn't referred to. It also ends abruptly, presumably to avoid rights problems with music played at that point in the show. Jeffries is an excellent raconteur, and it's just a shame that Anchor Bay didn't interview him specifically for this disc. The Amazing Mr. Blunden is an enjoyable film, perfect for occasions when you're after something a bit sentimental. Just don't let the appalling cover put you off. back to the top |
THE AMAZING
MR. BLUNDEN |
