"The Silver Chair" (1990) TV series 1990-

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

18 November 1990 (UK)

Genre:

Fantasy | Family | Adventure

Plot:

Eustace, along with a new companion named Jill Pole, is brought back to Narnia. The pair are told by Aslan they must search for King Caspian's missing son, Prince Rillian.

Plot Keywords:

King | Narnia | Prince | Giant | Cannibal

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Camilla Power	...	Jill Pole (6 episodes, 1990)
David Thwaites	...	Eustace Clarence Scrubb (4 episodes, 1990)
Ailsa Berk	...	Aslan / ... (4 episodes, 1990)
Richard Henders	...	Black Knight / ... (3 episodes, 1990)
Tom Baker	...	Puddleglum (3 episodes, 1990)
William Todd-Jones	...	Aslan / ... (3 episodes, 1990)
Ronald Pickup	...	Aslan (3 episodes, 1990)
Warwick Davis	...	Glimfeather (2 episodes, 1990)
Barbara Kellerman	...	Green Lady (2 episodes, 1990)
Geoffrey Russell	...	King Caspian (2 episodes, 1990)
Nick Brimble	...	Giant Porter (2 episodes, 1990)
Stephen Reynolds	...	Giant King / ... (2 episodes, 1990)
Lesley Nicol	...	Giant Queen (2 episodes, 1990)
Patsy Byrne	...	Giant Nanny (2 episodes, 1990)

Series Directed by
Alex Kirby		(4 episodes, 1990)

Series Writing credits
C.S. Lewis		(4 episodes, 1990)
Alan Seymour		(4 episodes, 1990)

Series Produced by
Paul Stone	....	producer (4 episodes, 1990)
Colin Shindler	....	executive producer: WonderWorks (3 episodes, 1990)
Dale Bell	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Jay Rayvid	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Geoffrey Burgon		(4 episodes, 1990)

Series Film Editing by
Malcolm Banthorpe		(4 episodes, 1990)

Series Production Design by
Sarah Greenwood		(4 episodes, 1990)
Alan Spalding		(4 episodes, 1990)
Adrian Uwalaka		(4 episodes, 1990)

Series Costume Design by
Rosalind Little		(4 episodes, 1990)
Judy Pepperdine		(4 episodes, 1990)

Series Makeup Department
Denise Baron	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1990)
Mark Phillips	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1990)
Jane Walker	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1990)

Series Production Management
Gilly Hayward	....	production manager (4 episodes, 1990)
Philip Lewis	....	production manager (4 episodes, 1990)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Philip Lewis	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Vin Burnham	....	designer: Aslan / creature design and construction / ... (4 episodes, 1990)
Barbara Horne	....	properties buyer / property buyer (4 episodes, 1990)

Series Sound Department
John Downes	....	dubbing mixer (4 episodes, 1990)
Brian Robinson	....	sound (4 episodes, 1990)

Series Visual Effects by
Mickey Edwards	....	visual effects designer (4 episodes, 1990)
Tony Harding	....	visual effects designer (4 episodes, 1990)
Robin Lobb	....	video effects designer (4 episodes, 1990)

Series Stunts
Terry Walsh	....	stunt arranger (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John Mason	....	lighting / lighting technician (4 episodes, 1990)
Trevor Wimlett	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1990)

Series Music Department
Geoffrey Burgon	....	conductor (1 episode, 1990)

Series Other crew
Sally Blake	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1990)
Jim Daniels	....	vision (4 episodes, 1990)
Nick Jowitt	....	production associate (4 episodes, 1990)
Southan Morris	....	assistant floor manager (4 episodes, 1990)
Sue Palmer	....	assistant floor manager (4 episodes, 1990)
Sam Heaphy	....	flying sequences (2 episodes, 1990)
Wayne Docksey	....	animal master (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Morningstar Entertainment
• WonderWorks

Distributors

• Home Vision Entertainment (HVE) (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• WonderWorks

Special Effects

• Animation City

Also Known As:

Runtime:

UK:30 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G | Denmark:7 (2003) | UK:U | USA:Unrated | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Castleton, Derbyshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Rilian wears a mask over his face in this film, a device which does not appear in the novel. This was added to the story to keep the audience from immediately recognizing him, as Richard Henders also plays the part in a flashback earlier in the film.

Quotes:

Puddleglum:What's food for wiggles may be poison for humans, I shouldn't wonder.
Puddleglum:We must be merry and bright. You two youngsters aren't always in high spirits you know, you must watch me. I'll be ever so merry.
[attempts to grin]
Puddleglum:Merry and frolicsome.
[jumps half-heartedly]
Puddleglum:They think I'm a funny fellow already in there.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)

"The other Marshwiggles say I'm too flighty"

The Silver Chair is perhaps the most consistent of the commendable trilogy of BBC Narnia adaptations of the late 80's, back in those dim distant days when the BBC was committed to quality children's drama. Revisiting the production Ten years after first viewing I found myself warmed anew by the charm of Narnia, which the trilogy more than adequately conveys, and am quite frankly saddened by some of the cynicism of some reviewers towards the economical budgeting. The acting is excellent throughout, Tom Baker much deserving of praise for is simply superb performance as the perennial pessimist 'Puddleglum'; a truly crafted and nuanced portrayal of one C.S Lewis' most endearing characters. Equally the respective child actors put in commendable performances, I much liked the slightly more forceful interpretation of the character of Jill, and Ronald Pickup's Aslan remains resplendent. Perhaps Kellerman's Green Lady is a little OTT for any mature viewer, but the younger viewer will revel in her pantominesque acting.

The atmosphere of the TSC is altogether more dark than some of the earlier outings, Richard Henders manic performance as the crazed Rillian as his the child actors almost visibly reeling in horror, and the scene where Kellerman's Green Lady bewitches the children, "There never was a Narnia", is seditiously sinister. What a shame the tension of the scene was somewhat dispelled when Kellerman transforms into a very unthreatening rubber snake which, despite my defence of the budgeting, really was palpably absurd.

The Chronicles of Narnia really are crying for a modern adaption, to captivate a whole new generation of children bored into catalepsy by inane 'S-Club 7' type melodrama. Indeed, I'm heard whisperings of a Movie production of 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe', inspired perhaps by the movie success of Tolkien. A Hollywood Narnia would indeed by very interesting, perhaps at last Aslan will bound across the screen to remedy my memories of the all to static Aslan of the BBC productions, and the Green Lady will actually turn into a serpent! I only hope the casting and acting is as good as is in these BBC classics!