Whistle Down the Wind
Bryan Forbes, 1961, bw (8.5*)
This beautiful story shot in black and white is actually from a novel by star Hayley Mills' mother, Mary Hayley Bell. Injured convict Alan Bates hides out in a farmer’s barn; when his kids discover him, he gasps “Jesus Christ” just before passing out, so the kids assume he’s Jesus, after all, he’s in a stable when they find him. They hide and take care of him, and so the story takes on the perfect holiday message of innocence, non-judgment, and caring. A rare film that should be known better and seen more often.
This beautiful story shot in black and white is actually from a novel by star Hayley Mills' mother, Mary Hayley Bell. Injured convict Alan Bates hides out in a farmer’s barn; when his kids discover him, he gasps “Jesus Christ” just before passing out, so the kids assume he’s Jesus, after all, he’s in a stable when they find him. They hide and take care of him, and so the story takes on the perfect holiday message of innocence, non-judgment, and caring. A rare film that should be known better and seen more often.
1 comments:
I first WDTW on Norwegian TV in the 60s. A favorite ever since, one of the first VHS tapes I bought. It's the Salvation Army lass's assurance that Christ will take care of the sick kitten that predisposes them to believe that he's in their barn.
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