From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (TV 1995)

Two runaway kids hide in a museum. Once they are locked inside overnight, they try to solve a mystery about a statue supposedly carved by Michaelangelo, known as "The Angel". Will they solve the mystery in time?

Director:

Marcus Cole

Writers:

E.L. Konigsburg (novel), Betty Goldberg (teleplay)

Stars:

Lauren Bacall, Jean Marie Barnwell, Jesse Lee Soffer

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lauren Bacall	...	Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Jean Marie Barnwell	...	Claudia Kincaid
Jesse Lee Soffer	...	Jamie Kincaid (as Jesse Lee)
Miriam Flynn	...	Evelyn Kincaid
Mark L. Taylor	...	Ralph Kincaid
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Morris
Devon Gummersall	...	Steve Kincaid
Del Hunter-White	...	Cora
Warren Munson	...	Mr. Jordan
Everett Wong	...	Bruce
Tim Haldeman	...	Herbert

Storyline

Two runaway kids hide in a museum. Once they are locked inside overnight, they try to solve a mystery about a statue supposedly carved by Michaelangelo, known as "The Angel". Will they solve the mystery in time?

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Plot Keywords:

angel | museum | runaway | statue | michelangelo | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 June 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Claudia und das Geheimnis des Engels

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Museum of Art - 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Signboard Hill Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The film purports to be set in NYC, and its primary setting is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Yet, it is clearly set in southern CA, and the museum, surrounded by palm trees, is not the Met.

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Connections

Version of The Hideaways (1973)

User Reviews

See the 1973 version, or, better yet, read the book!

I heartily recommend E.L. Konigsberg's book. I also liked the 1973 movie version (also known as "The Hideaways") with Ingrid Bergman. The '73 actors looked and acted much more like the book's characters.

This version kept the interesting concept of kids hiding out in the Metropolitan Museum, but lost most of the wonder and sweetness that made the book the sort of children's classic that adults can enjoy. The characters became annoying, and a lot of interesting subplots were cast aside. Also, for some reason, Claudia wears glasses in this version, and bathes in them, keeps them on in bed, and generally acts like someone who's never truly worn glasses in her life. Just one more roadblock on the trip to suspension of disbelief.

This version completely lost the character of Saxonburg, Mrs. Frankweiler's accountant and the children's grandfather. Instead, they added a lot of cutesy dialog about "Poppa Kincaid" saying that Jamie is older sister Claudia's "good luck charm". It just doesn't capture the complex relationship between the children, and Mrs. Frankweiler becomes more a fairy godmother than an interesting 3-D character.