The BBC adaptation of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" is a television series based on the popular book series written by C.S. Lewis. It follows the story of four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, who stumble upon a magical wardrobe that leads them to the enchanted land of Narnia. The series is set during World War II, and the children are sent to the countryside to stay with a professor. It is there that they discover the wardrobe and their adventure begins.
H.R. Pufnstuf - Mix in one part crazy singing English Kid Jimmy played by Jack Wild, one part Golden Flute, sprinkle in one Evil Witchiepoo (Billie Hayes) who wants to steal said flute, and top the whole thing off with Pufnstuf, the Mayor of Living Island who wears cowboy duds, and you have one run on sentence and a description of the first Krofft TV show H.R. Pufnstuf.
Pufnstuf - Mix in one part crazy singing English Kid Jimmy played by Jack Wild, one part Golden Flute, sprinkle in one Evil Witchiepoo Billie Hayes who wants to steal said flute, and top the whole thing off with Pufnstuf, the Mayor of Living Island who wears cowboy duds, and you have one run on sentence and a description of the first Krofft TV show H. Pufnstuf , series creators and producers Sid and Marty Krofft teamed with Universal Pictures to produce Pufnstuf , a feature film prequel to the series released theatrically in 1970, focusing on the events that led Jimmy to find Freddy and end up on Living Island.
It is there that they discover the wardrobe and their adventure begins. They enter Narnia, a land frozen in perpetual winter by the evil White Witch Jadis. They soon learn that they are part of a prophecy and are destined to save Narnia by defeating the White Witch with the help of Aslan, the noble lion.
H.R. Pufnstuf
Between 1969 and 1977, Sid and Marty Krofft produced seventeen live-action series for their own production company, spanning from Saturday morning children's shows to prime time variety programs, and in doing so left an indelible impression on an entire generation. One of the mostly fondly remembered was a story about a boy, a magic flute, a witch, and a big orange mayor.
“Once upon a summertime
Just a dream from yesterday
A boy and his magic golden flute
Heard a boat from off the bay.”
H.R. Pufnstuf began when young English boy Jimmy, out playing his flute Freddie, was beckoned out to sea in a colorful boat bound for Living Island. As it drifted toward the island, the boat turned out to be a trap set by the evil Witchiepoo, who wanted to add Freddie to her collection of magical belongings.
Jimmy narrowly escaped his fate by jumping overboard, only to wash up on the beach of an enchanted isle, unconscious. The boy was promptly rescued by the local mayor, H.R. Pufnstuf, a giant orange and green cowboy/dragon. Jimmy and Freddie the Flute found themselves stranded on Living Island, where everything was alive with its own personality: books, candles, and mushrooms all talked, some houses had hay fever, and money was measured in buttons.
“Alarm, alarm, Witchiepoo is coming, Witchiepoo is coming!”
Each week, the evil Witchiepoo, along with her henchmen—vulture Orson, hapless orange spider Seymour, and the aptly named Stupid Bat—would hatch a plan to steal Freddie from Jimmy and keep them both trapped on Living Island.
“You’ve got someone who loves you
You’ve got someone who cares
You’ve got someone to fix you up
If ever you need a repair…”
Seventeen thirty-minute episodes of H.R. Pufnstuf were produced, most featuring original compositions sung by the talented cast, which included Billie Hayes, Jack Wild, and a host of Krofft regulars. Among the more memorable tunes were “I’m a Mechanical Boy,” “Oranges-Poranges,” and “The Pronoun Song” (“…but ‘ours’ is the nicest word of all!”)
“We can’t tell you how it all turns out
But if there’s any doubt
You’d better stick around…baby!”
Other memorable characters included Pufnstuf’s deputies Cling and Clang, sister Shirley Pufnstuf, Lady Boyd, Judy Frog, and Ludicrous Lion (“Buttons, buttons, who’s got the buttons?”)
In 1970, the Kroffts released a major motion picture based on the TV series, titled simply Pufnstuf. The film featured all of the original cast, with some very campy guest appearances by Martha Raye, Mama Cass, and Billy Barty.
"H.R. Pufnstuf,
He's your friend when things get rough,
H.R. Pufnstuf,
Can't do a little 'cause you can't do enough."
Release History
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KrofftTelevision Cast
Jimmy Jack Wild
Witchiepoo Billie Hayes
Freddy the Flute Joan Gerber (voice)
H.R. Pufnstuf Lennie Weinrib (voice)
Jimmy Jack Wild
Witchiepoo Billie Hayes
Freddy the Flute Joan Gerber (voice)
H.R. Pufnstuf Lennie Weinrib (voice)
The BBC adaptation stays true to the original story, capturing the magic and wonder of Narnia. The production design and costumes are beautifully done, recreating the world of Narnia with attention to detail. The performances by the actors, especially the child actors playing the Pevensie siblings, are convincing and bring the characters to life. One of the strengths of the BBC adaptation is its ability to maintain the heart and themes of the original story. It explores themes of bravery, sacrifice, and the battle between good and evil. The series does not shy away from exploring the darker moments of the story, such as the betrayal of Edmund and the sacrifices made by the characters. This adds depth to the story and makes it more than just a simple children's adventure. Overall, the BBC adaptation of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" is a wonderful retelling of a beloved story. It captures the spirit of the original book and brings it to life on screen. Whether you are a fan of the book or new to the story, this adaptation is definitely worth watching..
Reviews for "The Impact of World War II on C.S. Lewis and BBC's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"
1. John - 2 stars:
I was really disappointed with the BBC adaptation of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". The acting seemed wooden and lacked any real emotion. The special effects were also quite underwhelming, especially when it came to bringing the magical elements of Narnia to life. Overall, it fell short of capturing the enchanting and immersive world that C.S. Lewis created in his book.
2. Sarah - 1 star:
I struggled to connect with the characters in the BBC's version of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". The casting choices didn't seem to do justice to the original characters from the book. The pacing of the story felt rushed, and many important details and character development were left out. It simply didn't capture the depth and magic I expected from one of my favorite childhood books.
3. Mike - 2 stars:
For me, the BBC adaptation of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" lacked the epicness and grandeur of the story. The production value seemed low and the sets and costumes appeared cheaply made. As a result, the movie failed to fully transport me into the captivating world of Narnia. Additionally, the dialogues felt forced and lacked the impact and depth that I hoped to see in this beloved tale.
4. Anna - 3 stars:
While the BBC version of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" had certain redeeming qualities, I couldn't help but feel that it fell short in certain areas. The performances were a bit mediocre, with some of the child actors lacking the necessary charm and charisma to truly bring their characters to life. The visual effects were also a bit dated, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the fantasy world. Overall, it was a decent attempt, but it didn't quite capture the magic of the original story.