The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (1979) (TV)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Bill Melendez

Writers:

C.S. Lewis (written by)
David D. Connell (story) ...

Release Date:

1 April 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Animation | Fantasy

Plot:

Four kids travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it with the guidance of a lion messiah.

Plot Keywords:

Narnia | Wardrobe | Lion | Christmas | Animal In Title

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Simon Adams	...	Edmund (voice)
Nicholas Barnes	...	Edmund (voice)
Sheila Hancock	...	Jadis - The White Witch (voice: English version)
Arthur Lowe	...	Mr. Beaver (voice: English version)
Leo McKern	...	Professor (voice: English version)
Don Parker	...	Mr. Beaver (voice)
Leslie Phillips	...	Mr. Tumnus (voice: English version)
Beth Porter	...	Jadis, The White Witch (voice)
Liz Proud	...	Mrs. Beaver (voice)
Susan Sokol	...	Susan (voice)
Victor Spinetti	...	Mr. Tumnus (voice)
Stephen Thorne	...	Aslan (voice)
Dick Vosburgh	...	Professor (voice)
Rachel Warren	...	Lucy (voice)
June Whitfield	...	Mrs. Beaver (voice: English version)
Reg Williams	...	Peter (voice)

Also Known As:

The First Book of the Chronicles of Narnia (UK) (subtitle)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Certification:

Australia:G | Iceland:L | Finland:K-7 (2006) | UK:U

Company:

Children's Television Workshop (CTW)

Quotes:

Peter: Aslan, we've come.
Aslan: WELCOME Peter, son of Adam! Welcome Susan and Lucy, daughters of Eve! Welcome He-beaver and She-beaver! But where is the fourth?
Mr. Beaver: He has betrayed us, oh Aslan.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Young Ones: Flood (#1.6)" (1982)

Friendly version of the classic novel.

C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" will forever remain one of the most timeless allegories, and stories in fiction, and lessons ever written. It was inevitable that this gem of a story be done for the sake of media, and no better a way to have been done as so in 1979. Featuring the voices of unknowns, this animated version, done by the "Peanuts" gang, put together drawn sequences, and still frames to piece together a wonderfully told version.

The story revolves around young Lucy, who enters the land of Narnia through an old wardrobe at the house of a professor which they are staying at during the war. Naturally, she shows this world to her siblings, exciting and dangerous adventures follow. Great story kids are able to follow but even more fun for older people as well. The story is told to perfection, as most every line is directly from the book, and given in such realism, it is hard to believe you are watching a small television program, and not something more. The action scenes are just right for the kiddies and the exposition scenes are full of enough intellect for adults to boot.

Music score is beautiful, and full of life, like "Narnia." I am an adult and I still love this film, cannot get enough of it. Great especially for film buffs or those like myself who enjoy talking about films to that level.

10/10