THE HOLLOW WIND OF SLEEPY WILLOWS (THAT'LL DO, IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH)...

Images copyright DISNEY

I've related before about how, in 1970, I spent my last primary school afternoon at my local cinema, which was hosting a prize-giving ceremony for the winners of an inter-school art contest that had taken place in Glasgow Art Gallery some months before.  As I'd been a participant - without being informed I was in a contest (I just thought it was a special treat for 'arty' pupils) - I was therefore also at the presentation.  (And no, I wasn't a winner.  I don't think my picture of a battling pair of GIGANTOR-style robots was what the judges were looking for.)

At the cinema, WALT DISNEY's cartoon short of The WIND In The WILLOWS was screened, though I no longer recall if it was before or after the prize-giving.  One thing I do remember was turning around in my chair at some point during the 'ceremony' and being surprised to see a fellow pupil called ROBERT (or ROBIN) GOLDIE who'd been in my class when I first started at that particular primary five years before.  (And afterwards too.)

What surprised me was that he was wearing the uniform of another school, and it was only then that I realised I hadn't seen him around for a while.  Months?  A year, maybe two?  Couldn't have said at the time, nor can I now, but I obviously must've assumed he was still a pupil at my school (but in another class), for me to have been surprised to discover he wasn't.  I seem to have a vague recollection of seeing him again at secondary school a year or two later, but I might be imagining that.

Anyway, this isn't about him, but about the film.  21 years later (1991), I saw it was available on VHS and I immediately purchased a copy, along with The LEGEND Of SLEEPY HOLLOW, also by Disney.  Although I didn't know it at the time, both shorts had originally been released as one feature in 1949, under the name of The ADVENTURES Of ICHABOD And Mr. TOAD.  The Ichabod segment was narrated by BING CROSBY (who also sang), and the Mr. Toad one by BASIL RATHBONE (who didn't sing).  Incidentally, if you look it up on WIKIPEDIA, the article is riddled with inaccuracies.

I only bought them together because they were clearly complementary in style and substance.  In the original version, the first segment segues into the second, but later on, they were divided into two separate shorts and shown on US TV, and eventually made available to cinemas.  That's not to say they were both screened together though, only that they were no longer 'joined at the hip'.  New titles were created bearing the original literary names of the books, and some slight editing was seamlessly performed to remove any references at the end of the first part to the second, and also at the beginning of the second part to the first.

Several years back, I bought the DVD of the original 1949 feature, as I quite fancied the superior quality that the format provides, but I also wanted separate discs of the two segments, though I don't think they were available in the UK at that time.  Well, they are now (and have been for a while, apparently), so I recently bought them, and I'm delighted to be able to watch The Wind In The Willows as I first experienced it, a kick in the pants short of 50 years ago.  Just think, if I hadn't seen the cartoon, I may never have picked up the book upon seeing it in my secondary school library around a year later, having recognised the title from the short.

What amazes me is that it took me 21 years to obtain a video of the film after first seeing it as a primary school pupil, and 28 years to finally obtain that separate version on DVD.  Strangely, the latter (and longer) period of time seems less than the former (and shorter) period that preceded it.  However, I've dragged you all down that road many a time before, so I'll spare you on this occasion.  My consideration for others is as renowned as my modesty.  And let me tell you, I've got a lot to be modest about.

So what's the point of this post?  Well, aside from reliving a particular part of my past for my own indulgence, it also serves to give you something to read during an idle moment, and to help fill your otherwise dull and dreary day.  (Or is it just me that has those?)  I'm thoughtful that way.  And it should also go without saying that I heartily recommend both films (in whatever version) to all Criv-ites everywhere.

Posted in: Cartoons