THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS

UK, 1996, 86 minutes, Colour.
Terry Jones, Eric idle, Idle, Steve Coogan, Nicol Williamson, Anthony Sher. John Cleese, Stephen Fry, Bernard Hill, Michale Palin, Nigel Planer.
Directed by Terry Jones.


They must have studied it at school (as many of us did in the good old days), because Terry Jones and the other Pythons have put a great deal of effort into this adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's classic of Toad, Ratty, Badger and the creatures who live near the river. But they have decided to go with human actors rather than with animation or the use of real animals. And it works.

With visual suggestions of the animals they portray like moustaches and hairstyles, Terry Jones becomes Toad, Nicol Williamson becomes Badger, Eric Idle becomes Ratty - and Anthony Sher becomes the most villainous of weasels. Some songs are added but most of the plot is there to offer an imaginative interpretation of a very popular story. At the end Toad is still incorrigible.

An affectionate interpretation of a classic.

1. The popularity of the novel? The familiarity of readers with the characters? The appeal to children? To adults?

2. The writing of Kenneth Grahame, his ability to create characters, creatures in themselves with their characteristics but also in the contemporary world?

3. The work of Terry Jones, the Monty Python group, their presence in this film, performance, comedy, songs? Terry Jones directing? Performing as Toad?

4. The screenplay, incorporating the characters, their adventures, Mole and the destruction of his house, his friendship with Ratty, Toad and Toad Hall? The cars? Toad and his irresponsibility? Reliance on Badger? The role of the evil weasels, especially the Chief?

5. The make up, the human actors, animal characteristics in look, voice? Toad and his green colour?

6. The performances, comic, pantomime for the animals? Pleasant exaggerations? The behaviour of the Chief? The songs and the musical interludes?

7. The focus on Mole, in his home, underground, the collapse and the destruction, his talking clock? His bewilderment? A timid character? The encounter with Ratty, the friendship, Ratty and the picnics, Toad and his cars and recklessness on the road, their being passengers and their being apprehensive? The decision to go to Badger for help? Mole and his being part of the group, lamenting the loss of his house, being lost in the woods with Ratty, the friendship of Badger and everyone offering him a home? The encounter with the weasels, in the Dog Food Factory, his attempts to help, getting his sleeves caught, throwing the spanner and saving the day? Getting a new home?

8. Toad, the focus of the story, his wealth, irresponsibility, Toad Hall? His recklessness? Getting the cars, driving badly, the crashes, the number of cars, the dealer and his six cars? And the plane at the end? Toad and his selling his home, allowing the weasels to take over, not worried about others, self-absorption? The deal with the weasels, their betraying him, his being held over the mincer, with the others? The confrontation with the Chief, the explosions? The lectures by Badger, incorrigible? Finally flying the plane?

9. Toad in court, the judge, the defence being more like the prosecutor?

10. The guest cameos, Michael Palin as the sun, Stephen Fry as the Judge, John Cleese as the lawyer…?

11. Ratty, the Eric Idle style, the look, schoolboy blazer, accent, love of picnics, on the river? Friendship with Mole, exasperation with Toad? Meeting with Badger, supporting him? In the finale, over the mincer, the song and dance routine?

12. Badger, old, wise, irascible, not afraid to rebuke Toad, using some physical violence? The advice, giving up on Toad? The mincer? The song and dance routine?

13. The weasels, their looking alike, make up, moustaches and glasses, upper-class manners and accents, the group? Their following the Chief, mischief, the reckless party, the birthday cake for the Chief? Their being attacked by Badger and co - and the mayhem and the melee of the fight?

14. The Chief, sinister, smug, his plans, treatment of his underlings, Toad and Toad Hall, his evil chuckle? The deal with Toad, betraying him, the Dog Food Factory, Toad and the mincer? His party, the exploding cake, his going to the factory, with the explosives, the challenge from Toad, Toad falling – and Ratty putting the explosives in the Factory instead of in the Hall?

15. The rabbits, subservient, the cooks…?

16. The entertaining plausibility of these animals in the English countryside, on the river, with their own homes and buildings and the threat by the weasels and the Factory?