The Water Babies
- 1978
- 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
This children's fantasy tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who discovers a complex underwater world where young children are held prisoner by an evil shark and an eel.This children's fantasy tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who discovers a complex underwater world where young children are held prisoner by an evil shark and an eel.This children's fantasy tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who discovers a complex underwater world where young children are held prisoner by an evil shark and an eel.
- Awards
- 1 win
Photos
Jon Pertwee
- Salmon
- (voice)
- …
David Jason
- Cyril the Walrus
- (voice)
Ignacy Machowski
- Grimes
- (polish version)
- (voice)
Tadeusz Plucinski
- Foreman
- (polish version)
- (voice)
Jerzy Tkaczyk
- Sir John
- (polish version)
- (voice)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film was released about 115 years after Charles Kingsley's source novel of the same name, first published in 1863.
- GoofsWhen Tom and the lobster are singing "High Cockalorum" for the first time, Tom's mouth is opening and closing when he is not actually saying anything. Likewise, his mouth is shut when he is saying something.
- Crazy creditsThe movie's opening credits summarizes in illustrations of "A Story of a Little Chimney Sweep in the Year 1850". While the chimney sweeper is climbing:
- The live-action cast members is portrayed in oval picture frames.
- For the "animated sequences" credits, it shows the design of Tom ( Tommy Pender ), in his underwater design, and the design of the Otter.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Featured review
Good on the most part, but the film itself looks dated!
The 1978 adaptation had all the ingredients of a potentially wonderful film. It is based on an absolutely charming book by Charles Kingsley. It has a truly talented cast from the likes of James Mason, Bernard Cribbons and David Tomblinson, not to mention the vocal talents of David Jason and Jon Pertwee. There is also Lionel Jeffries, the director of wonderful classics such as The Railway Children and the Amazing Mr Blunden, and while the film is good on the most part, it was also a little disappointing. I had no problem with the performances, particularly those of Mason and Tomblinson as Grimes and Sir John Harriet respectively, and Tommy Pender and Samantha Gates are believable as Tom and Ellie. Billie Whitelaw is also intriguing in numerous roles, even if one or two of them are quite bizarre. The voice cast is also commendable, especially Jon Pertwee, voicing charming characters in their own right. I also liked the incidental music it is so haunting and beautiful, and the script was fairly faithful and in general well-written, particularly at the beginning. The characters, especially the Water Babies are very charming, and the villains are sinister and funny at the same time, I loved the part when Tom and his friends help the Water Babies escape, seeing the shark chasing the electric eel with an axe was very funny. However, I will say the film does look dated, especially the animation sequences, the live action parts weren't so bad, if you forgive the rather dark camera-work. The character animation was rather flat, and the backgrounds sometimes were a little dull, though there were some nice moments, like the scene with the Krakon and of course the first meeting with the Water Babies. I also had mixed feelings about the songs, the Water Babies's song was beautiful, but I found the first song forgettable, when Tom ends up underwater. Hi-Cockallorum is an example of a song, that is like marmite, you either love it or hate it. I personally don't know what to make of this song, it was fun to listen to at first, but once it's in your head, it is perhaps annoying. As much as I like Lionel Jeffries and his films, his direction just lacked the wonder and the magic it usually does. All in all, certainly not a terrible film, but could have been better artistically. 7/10 Bethany Cox.
helpful•51
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jun 29, 2009
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Der kleine Schornsteinfeger auf dem Meeresgrund
- Filming locations
- River Wharfe, Yorkshire, England, UK(on location)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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