The Wind in the Willows

This is a TV movie of the children's novel, "The Wind and the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932). From that book, another British author wrote a play that made Toad Hall well known in England. Alan A. Mile's (1882-1956) "Toad of Toad Hall" was first staged in London in 1929. From then on, the characters of "Willows" became household names in the U.K. Milne, of course, wrote his own children's' books and created Winnie the Pooh.

Grahame's fairy tale about four animals who became friends was soon a favorite of school children in the U.K. Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad entertain adults as well. Their animal lives are similar to those of humans. They talk and do just about everything that humans do. A cup of tea is as natural to them as it is to the citizenry of England

Toad's fascinations, first with a horse and wagon to explore the world, and then with racy automobiles, that lead to trouble. His friends have to keep him under lock and key to "dry" him out - that is, until he goes through withdrawal and gets over his craze. Anyone with alcohol or drug addiction experiences will recognize this aspect of the film right away.

Toad and his friends never became as popular in America (where other cartoon characters did, i.e. Winnie the Pooh, the "Peanuts" characters of Charles Schulz and other cartoon characters). Still, the fable is a classic that may amuse and delight young and old for generations. This film is made with stop-action animation.