When the Wind Blows (1986)

A naive elderly British rural couple survive the initial onslaught of a nuclear war.

Director:

Jimmy T. Murakami

Writers:

Raymond Briggs (book), Raymond Briggs (script)

Stars:

Peggy Ashcroft, John Mills, Robin Houston

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peggy Ashcroft	...	Hilda Bloggs (voice)
John Mills	...	Jim (voice)
Robin Houston	...	Announcer (voice)
James Russell	...	(voice)
David Dundas	...	(voice)
Matt Irving	...	(voice)

Storyline

With the help of government-issued pamphlets, an elderly British couple build a shelter and prepare for an impending nuclear attack, unaware that times and the nature of war have changed from their romantic memories of World War II.

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Plot Keywords:

tragedy | adult animation | nuclear war | nuclear fallout | black comedy | 

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Taglines:

...It's No Fairy Tale

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Drama | War

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Details

Official Sites:

At Entertainment [Japan]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Quando o Vento Sopra

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,597, 13 March 1988

Gross USA:

$5,274

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,274

Company Credits

Production Co:

Meltdown Productions, British Screen Productions, Film Four International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Bowie was originally slated to record several songs for the film but was only able to contribute the title song due to time constraints regarding his then-upcoming album "Never Let Me Down." Roger Waters contributed to most of the film's songs instead.

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Goofs

Jim needs glasses to read but doesn't wear them when reading the newspapers in the library at the beginning of the film.

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Quotes

Hilda: Ooh, it's stuffy in these bags.
Jim: Now you know what it feels like to be a potato.
Hilda: [chuckles] I should hate that, being buried in the ground.
Jim: Oh yes, so would I, give me cremation every time.
Hilda: Oh me too.

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Crazy Credits

After the end credits, Morse code can be heard in the background. The code, when translated, means "MAD". MAD is an abbreviation for the term "Mutually Assured Destruction".

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Connections

Referenced in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005)

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Soundtracks

When the Wind Blows
Lyrics Written and Performed by David Bowie
Music Composed and Performed by David Bowie and Erdal Kizilcay
Produced by David Bowie and David Richards

User Reviews

A classic little cartoon of hugely disturbing proportions

I remember when this was released in the cinemas in 1986 in the UK. It had a fairly small release, yet attracted a lot of publicity. I didn't see it till it was on TV one Christmas - not the right time to show such a film. I was still only eleven or twelve and found it far more disturbing than any Nightmare On Elm Street, Poltergeist or American Werewolf that I'd seen. The fact that the couple are so naive and innocent along with the sweet, old-fashioned comic-book style animation really manipulates the viewer so cleverly, that when the bomb hits and the true tone of the film reveals itself, the viewer is caught off guard just like the innocent couple are. You are plunged into the dark, deathly tone of the storyline and compelled to watch in the hope that this sweet couple will survive, whilst at the back of your mind, always knowing that they have little time left. It still has the same effect now on a third or fourth watching. It's so disturbing to see, yet something so compelling that you cannot turn away or turn off. As an historical piece of eighties cold war/anti-nuclear protest filmmaking, this is a timeless film that should be studied as part of history education when it comes to the 2080's and the world looks back a hundred years on a part of the 1980's that weren't so optimistic. This is a unique film that stands alone in terms of animation and stands out from all the typically optimistic, big and bright blockbusters of the eighties.