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IMDbPro

When the Wind Blows

  • 19861986
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
11K
YOUR RATING
When the Wind Blows (1986)
  • Animation
  • Comedy
  • Drama
A naive elderly British rural couple survive the initial onslaught of a nuclear war.A naive elderly British rural couple survive the initial onslaught of a nuclear war.A naive elderly British rural couple survive the initial onslaught of a nuclear war.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jimmy T. Murakami
  • Writer
    • Raymond Briggs(book)
  • Stars
    • Peggy Ashcroft(voice)
    • John Mills(voice)
    • Robin Houston(voice)
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jimmy T. Murakami
  • Writer
    • Raymond Briggs(book)
  • Stars
    • Peggy Ashcroft(voice)
    • John Mills(voice)
    • Robin Houston(voice)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 73User reviews
    • 47Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos58

    When the Wind Blows (1986)
    When the Wind Blows (1986)
    When the Wind Blows (1986)
    When the Wind Blows (1986)
    When the Wind Blows (1986)
    When the Wind Blows (1986)
    When the Wind Blows (1986)
    When the Wind Blows (1986)
    When the Wind Blows (1986)
    When the Wind Blows (1986)
    When the Wind Blows (1986)
    When the Wind Blows (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peggy Ashcroft
    Peggy Ashcroft
    • Hilda Bloggsas Hilda Bloggs
    • (voice)
    John Mills
    John Mills
    • Jimas Jim
    • (voice)
    Robin Houston
    • Announceras Announcer
    • (voice)
    James Russell
      David Dundas
        Matt Irving
          Winston Churchill
          Winston Churchill
          • Selfas Self
          • (archive footage)
          • (uncredited)
          Bernard L. Montgomery
          Bernard L. Montgomery
          • Selfas Self
          • (archive footage)
          • (uncredited)
          Iosif Stalin
          Iosif Stalin
          • Selfas Self
          • (archive footage)
          • (uncredited)
          Harry S. Truman
          Harry S. Truman
          • Selfas Self
          • (archive footage)
          • (uncredited)
          • Director
            • Jimmy T. Murakami
          • Writer
            • Raymond Briggs(book) (script)
          • All cast & crew
          • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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          Storyline

          Edit

          Did you know

          Edit
          • 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.
          • Goofs
            At the beginning of the scene in which Jim and Hilda are bedridden, Hilda's feet are missing for a few frames as the camera pans across.
          • Quotes

            Announcer: We are now interrupting this broadcast for an official government announcement. An enemy missile attack has been launched against this country. It is estimated that the missiles will arrive in approximately three minutes. Three minutes...

            Jim: God almighty, Ducks! There's only three minutes to go!

            Hilda: Oh dear! I'll just get the wash in.

            Jim: [panicked] COME BACK YOU STUPID BITCH, AND GET IN THE SHELTER!

            Hilda: How dare you talk to me like that, James!

            Jim: Shut up and get in!

            Hilda: There's no need to forget your manners just because there's a war on.

            Jim: Shut up, I'm trying to listen!

            Announcer: Take shelter immediately...

            [an air raid siren sounds throughout the countryside]

            Hilda: I've never heard such language in all my life.

            [Jim grabs Hilda and runs with her to the shelter]

            Jim: For God's sake, shut up!

            Hilda: Oh dear! I've left the oven on...

            Jim: [forces her in] GET IN! GET IN! GET IN!

            Hilda: The cake will be burned!

            Announcer: Lie down. Keep away from windows. Cover your head and eyes. Do not look at the sky or through windows. Take shelter immediately. Repeat: stay indoors. Do not leave your home.

            [the missiles arrive]

          • 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".
          • Alternate versions
            From the Castilian Spanish dubbing, Fernando Rey and Irene Gutiérrez Caba were cast to be the voices of the main characters.
          • Connections
            Featured in Years Ahead: Episode #5.1 (1986)
          • Soundtracks
            When the Wind Blows
            Written by David Bowie and Erdal Kizilcay

            Performed by David Bowie

            Produced by David Bowie and David Richards

          User reviews73

          Review
          Top review
          9/10
          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.
          helpful•98
          4
          • theojhyman
          • Sep 26, 2002

          Details

          Edit
          • Release date
            • March 11, 1988 (United States)
          • Country of origin
            • United Kingdom
          • Official site
            • At Entertainment (Japan)
          • Language
            • English
          • Also known as
            • Wenn der Wind weht
          • Production companies
            • Meltdown Productions
            • British Screen Productions
            • Film Four International
          • See more company credits at IMDbPro

          Box office

          Edit
          • Gross US & Canada
            • $5,274
          • Opening weekend US & Canada
            • $3,597
            • Mar 13, 1988
          • Gross worldwide
            • $5,274
          See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

          Technical specs

          Edit
          • Runtime
            1 hour 24 minutes
          • Color
            • Color
          • Sound mix
            • Dolby Stereo
          • Aspect ratio
            • 1.33 : 1

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