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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

The story of the Bloggs and the Bomb

---

Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Drama | War

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

When this movie opened in Denmark, the voices of Hilda and Jim were re-dubbed by Ghita Nørby and Ove Sprogøe.

---

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

Jim: Old Joe Stalin.
Hilda: He was a nice chap. I liked him. Like an uncle, he was.

---

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

Referenced in Nostalgia Critic: Santa Claus: The Movie (2012)

---

Soundtracks

When the Wind Blows
Written by David Bowie and Erdal Kizilcay
Performed by David Bowie
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.

Details

Official Sites:

At Entertainment [Japan]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

When the Wind Blows

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