FLIGHT OF THE DOVES

UK, 1971, 106 minutes, Colour.
Jack Wild, Ron Moody, Dorothy Mc Guire, Stanley Holloway, Will Rushton.
Directed by Ralph Nelson.

Flight of the Doves is a delightful family film that capitalises very entertainingly on the talents of Jack Wild (Oliver, Pufnstuf) and Ron Moody (Oliver, The Twelve Chairs). In fact, Moody's performance as the bunglingly sinister master of disguise, Hawk Dove, is good entertainment for adults. Dorothy Mc Guire and Stanley Holloway make welcome appearances. Director Ralph Nelson made this film between the western violence of Soldier Blue and The Wrath of God. It is a pleasant diversion and could provide a good discussion starter for young children.

1. Even though the children's surname was 'Dove', wasn't there something more than mere facts in the name of the film? What was it?

2. Did you like the children? What kind of boy was Finn? What kind of little girl was Derval?

3. Why were the children unhappy with their stepfather? Was he cruel to them? How? Why was he cruel? Did he mean to be? What kind of man was he? Did he love the children?

4. Did you like Uncle Hawk Dove? What was the meaning behind his name? Were you sorry for him when you first saw him and people took no notice of his performance?

5. Did he really dislike the children or did he just want the money? Were you frightened of him?

6. Did you like Uncle Hawk's disguises? Was he clever at his disguises? Did he make many mistakes with his disguises ?e.g. his moustache?

7. Did you like the children's granny and her home in Ireland? Can you see why the children wanted to run away to Ireland? Did you think they would really get there?

8. Did you like Ireland and its people? What about the police whom Uncle Hawk kept saying were very inefficient (and who were shown as inefficient ? e.g. the policeman with the pushbike)?

9. Did you like the Irish Jews in the synagogue? Why?

10. Did the Irish people appear happy ? for instance at the procession and the song "You Don't Have to be Irish"? (How does this tie in with all the troubles in Ireland this century and, especially, in recent years?).

11. Were the gypsies friendly? Did you blame the father for trying to get the reward?

12. Did you think the stepfather was really interested in finding the children or did the press and TX. blow the
thing up to be more important than it really was? What about Sammy? Did he want the children?

13. Was the sequence where Uncle Hawk was the lady journalist and tried to kill the children very frightening? Why?

14. Did all end as you would have liked? What about Uncle Hawk getting away?

15. Was this a happy film?

16. Did the director help make the film happy by his use of colour, chases, sons (e.g. the gypsy girl), the markets? The humour? What else?