Hello everyone - I'm in desperate need of your help. I'm searching for 2 movie titles; and seeing as how I watched them when i was younger believe them to be 80's films. (they could be early 90's)
First Film: A young girl goes to live with an aunt (or grandma - or female guardian) in a town where there aren't many children. This young girl can see these lost - or ghost, or phantom - children and they dance around a maypole. She has to go to where they are and save them - or do something - and then at the end she comes back on a boat either through a tunnel or under a bridge. The guardian might be obssesed with clocks, and there might be strange markings on trees or rocks.
Second Film: A princess is "cursed" with weightlessness (or something) because she likes spending all her time in a lake. and this guy - could be her tutor - spends all day in a row boat next to her and he ends up breaking the curse.
Please help! Thank you.
Posted by oneyedwilly (Member # 8730) on :
i can only think of animated movies which fit the second description sorry - The Swan Princess 1994 at best sorry. Maybe you think of a movie with tom cruise and mia sara called legend but i seriously doubt it.
the first film sounds familiar, ill ask a friend about it.
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
oneyedwilly - Thank You. After much internet searching I discovered that the 2nd film I was remembering is called "The Light Princess" and was made in 1978 (it is part animated) - it is based on a fairytale of the same name by MacDonald.
However I am still unable to locate any information on the first film. Again I think it was from the 80s (but seeing as how the second film was from the late 70s might need to broaden my search). Any help you can provide is appreciated. Please don't limit the search to movies - this could have been a made for tv film; or an extended episode of something. I vaugely remember it being British (or set in England) and the guardian being strict - didn't want the little girl playing outside.
Again, Thank You for your help.
Posted by oneyedwilly (Member # 8730) on :
could the first movie be ghost story 1974 - which was named madhouse mansion in the U.S. it was released on dvd in october last yr.
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
no - the main character was young - maybe preteen. Thanks for the suggestion though.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
These are just some guesses, but who knows, one might be right:
Logan5 - Thank you for the suggestions. I do not think "They" is it, but would need to watch "Moondial" and "Come Back, Lucy" I am ruling out "The Children of the Green Knowe" only because the main character appears to be a boy and I know the main in the film I'm looking for is a girl. Any other suggestions that you want to toss my way are appreciated. I really want to find this thing.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
You've asked this in a few places, so I know you're serious!
Ok, do you have any more info? When (as close as you can get) do you think you saw it? TV or video? Did it 'feel' new or older? English language or dubbed? Where was it set? It had a maypole - is that something common in the US - it is (was) common in England. Did you watch it in the US or somewhere else? What 'type' of film was it - children's adventure / creepy horror? Any other details at all?
Are you certain it was a film, and not an episode of a TV series?
Both "Moondial" and "Come Back, Lucy" are BBC (British TV) productions. Some BBC stuff gets shown on US TV, so I thought it was worth a shot.
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
logan5-
I watched it in USA (Dayton, Ohio to be exact) both my older sister and I remeber it (vaugely) so probably around 1992-1994. I don't remember if it was on TV or a video (I don't remember renting it from the library - where we got most of our videos - so I'm leaning towads tv) It wasn't scary (that i remember) definately adventure (kind of fantasy) probably rated around a PG to PG13 (so children's film?) Maypoles are not common in America. There was a maypole in the movie (that is the one thing i definately remember) It was english (no subtitles, if i had to read subtitles at 9 years old i wouldn't remember any of it.) It seemed set in the british countryside, but was filmed in color and seemed a "new" filming set in an "old" time. I want to say the time it was set was world war 1 (?) there was electricity and cars but it was a rural village. I vaugely remember that at the end when she came back on the boat under the bridge there is a man (or boy) with her. - while hunting for this film i found someone else looking for it; they remembered the clocks and the markings on the trees (or rocks) and said the place the girl goes is underground. Th eonly scene i remember is the maypole one - The girl and her feme guardian are walking and the girl looks over into this field and sees the children dancing around the maypole and hesitates and then is told to hurry up.
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
I happened to think of something else... I'm not sure if it would help. When discussing the "old" movies with my sister - when this one came up and we couldn't remember the title - she had mentioned a scene where there was a girl in a cottage and a unicorn comes up and puts his/her head through the open top half of the door. I couldn't place it in any other film and had initally thought that it might be "Bridge to Terabithia" (original) or "Legend" but on second thought it could very well be from this lost movie.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
Grrr... this actually rings a bell! Not so sure about the Unicorn though.
again I'm going to have to lean towards no. Without seeing it (and no plot description given) all I have to go on is the cast list. It lists boys in the lead role. Thanks for trying but I'm about 90% certain that the lead in what i'm looking for was a preteen (11 or 12) brunette girl.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
The lead is definitely a girl. There are some boys that she gets together with as the story progresses. Do you know if the girl in the story you're looking for does everything alone, or if she gets help?
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
honestly I can't remeber. I want to say by herself, but the phantom children might have been helping (or mythical creatures) and again if at the end there is a boy in the boat he had to get there somehow. I'm trying to get another pow wow session with my sister about this. Perhaps she'll remember something helpful.
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
... if it helps narrow your search, the most likely channels we would have caught a movie on as children would have been the Hallmark channel or the Lifetime Movie Channel (possibly but not likely TMC)
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
Good move. Anything at all will help.
Hmm... don't Hallmark and Lifetime have a list of the movies they've shown?
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
Not one that i've been able to track down and use. But yes, somewhere someone might be better at googling for it than me and able to get it.
I talked to my sister. She was of limited help. She said that the little girl had help doing whatever it was she was doing and mentioned leprechauns. Here's where it gets - complicated? She said that there was fog throughout the movie and this was bad fog, she also said that the girl had to go to an ilsand and dig someone up in a graveyard. She again mentioned the treehouse and unicorn. I don't remeber anyone being dug up from a graveyard. The mist (or fog) and island are all possibilities. She then said it was possible we are all just remembering different snippets of different movies and putting them together. Someone once suggested (on a different message board) that this was an episode of the twighlight zone. to put things in better understanding when this movie first came up we were discussing old movies such as: The Last Unicorn Labrynth Dark Crystal Never Ending Story
then she asks "what one is the one where the town only comes around like every 100 years?" and i said Brigadoon and then she asked about the maypole children dancing. She is under the impression that the maypole children only come with the fog every 100 years.
So now that you are on information overload. Hopefully something was helpful. Posted by oneyedwilly (Member # 8730) on :
im really trying to get what this is too now and its now become an obsession for me. there was an episode of the twilight zone from what youve described.
Posted by oneyedwilly (Member # 8730) on :
the only movie i can think of with a maypole in it is the wicker man
Posted by Pyromantic (Member # 7658) on :
hmmmmm....
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
oneyedwilly - what episode of the twighlight zone? if I could watch it that might be it.
one more thing.... my sis says there was this tree that the girl (or magical friends) carved a symbol on and when she came back from her quest/journey thing the tree had aged (a LOT) it was huge and stuff.
and yes, the wicker man has been suggested several times (on other message boards) so I rented it - and what i'm looking for is definately not the wicker man.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:and i said Brigadoon
"I saw the rain-dirty valley... you saw Brigadoon."
quote:and yes, the wicker man has been suggested several times (on other message boards) so I rented it - and what i'm looking for is definately not the wicker man.
I did some more searching last night, but had no luck. Have you asked on the IMDB yet?
Posted by saturnchick (Member # 7524) on :
The movie you are looking for may be Return of the Native. If this is the movie you are looking for, then some of your "memories" of the film are skewed.
The movie is actually an adaptation of a the Thomas Hardy classic novel, and it takes place on the moors in England. It was a Hallmark presentation made in the early 90's, I believe, and it starred Catherine Zeta Jones and Clive Owen. There are some scenes similar to what you describe - with the bridge and the water. No unicorn though, but there is a scene with a lot of fog and a white horse. Zeta-Jones' character is accused of being a witch, and there are some scences with villagers dancing around the maypole.
I hope that helps...I know it doesn't quite fit your description, but I've found that sometimes our memories of a film are really an amalgamation of more than one film, or a bit distorted from the reality.
[ 01. May 2010, 21:32: Message edited by: saturnchick ]
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
... and she returns from Saturn with a gleaming suggestion!
I really hope this is it. It would be nice for someone on the Rewind to have identified the movie.
quote:I hope that helps...I know it doesn't quite fit your description, but I've found that sometimes our memories of a film are really an amalgamation of more than one film, or a bit distorted from the reality.
This is very very true.
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
I watched the clip of "Return of the Native" where as it might be the "unicorn" scene my sister is remembering the bridge scene is wrong.
I mentioned that in my searching i found someone else looking. here is that post:
I must know the name of this movie it had a girl who went to live with her aunt or something in a house with a ton of clocks, and there was a maypole that these ghost like people would dance around from an underground world. I think I remember their being british accents. Um... there was also a boat she rode to go back in time as she passed through a tunnel. There was a tree carving... I must know the name of this movie its driving me crazy. Anyone know? email me mnirj
thanks for the help and suggestion. it was nice to see Clive Owen in soething a little less... shoot'em up.
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
I watched the clip of "Return of the Native" where as it might be the "unicorn" scene my sister is remembering the bridge scene is wrong.
I mentioned that in my searching i found someone else looking. here is that post:
I must know the name of this movie it had a girl who went to live with her aunt or something in a house with a ton of clocks, and there was a maypole that these ghost like people would dance around from an underground world. I think I remember their being british accents. Um... there was also a boat she rode to go back in time as she passed through a tunnel. There was a tree carving... I must know the name of this movie its driving me crazy. Anyone know? email me mnirj
thanks for the help and suggestion. it was nice to see Clive Owen in soething a little less... shoot'em up.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
Ah, Saturnchick... we're following the same trails!
I looked over all of those; the first and third are BBC TV series'. No time-travel canal, no ghosts around the maypole, etc. The second one has truncated versions of stories which didn't sound right. But who knows! Fingers crossed a bell might ring!
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
logan5 - checked out the link to "The Great Land of Small" it has the boat, it has the magic and it has a lead girl... but the time period seems wrong. However if Netflix has it I will rent it for a good time.
Saturnchick- I must rule out "Children of the Stones" for it has male leads and I'm looking for a girl lead (who goes to live with her aunt). And "Once Upon a Midnight Dreary" because it doesn't deem correct. However, "Into the Labyrinth" Intrigues me and I now need to locate a place to watch it. I'm not sure it is correct, but I know as a child I liked the movie Labyrinth with David Bowie and so might have watched this because the title is similar.
Thanks for the help and any more suggestions you have are welcomed.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:checked out the link to "The Great Land of Small" it has the boat, it has the magic and it has a lead girl... but the time period seems wrong.
I noticed that, but it was the closest so far.
quote:However, "Into the Labyrinth" Intrigues me and I now need to locate a place to watch it. I'm not sure it is correct, but I know as a child I liked the movie Labyrinth with David Bowie and so might have watched this because the title is similar.
quote:Thanks for the help and any more suggestions you have are welcomed.
We must find the truth!
Posted by saturnchick (Member # 7524) on :
Logan...I can't take too much credit for my 3 most recent suggestions. After racking my brain for a while, I'm certain that I've seen the movie Beth is talking about (or at least something very similar). I consulted a friend who is pretty good with these types of things, and he was the one who offered up "Children of the Stones" (which I had never heard of - but he spent some years in England), and "Once Upon a Midnight Dreary" (which I vaguely remember).
As far as "Into the Labyrinth" is concerned, I do remember that one with some clarity. Again, not sure if it quite fits the bill. Nonetheless, I'm a stubborn sort. I will find out the name of this movie.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:Logan...I can't take too much credit for my 3 most recent suggestions.
Take it!
quote:After racking my brain for a while, I'm certain that I've seen the movie Beth is talking about (or at least something very similar).
Me too. It's killing me (ok, maybe not killing but irritating). I know I know it!
quote:Nonetheless, I'm a stubborn sort. I will find out the name of this movie.
I hope one of us does! We must prevail!
Posted by amaranth (Member # 8882) on :
Been trying remeber the title for years think it was late 80s about some teenagers go swimming in an old church and a cross falls of someones neck awakening some creature mabe vampire from under the water then it goes about killing virgins i remember mabe main charater loses virginity to stay alive???
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
quote:Originally posted by saturnchick: I'm certain that I've seen the movie Beth is talking about (or at least something very similar).
That seems to be the trend Saturnchick. Everyone remembers it or something similar and yet no one can remember what it is. I find it amusing now. Glad I have a good message board to help me look. oh; "Into the Labyrinth" is interesting, but not it. Thanks for all the help. I've rented some of the old movies (Legend, Willow, etc) to see if maybe watching them jogs my brain.
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
I watched "Legend" (for the first time) and it is - unique. Did not contain anything that I was looking for.
Watched "Labyrinth" for the umpteenth time (still LOVE that movie) and it did not help me remember the one I'm looking for. It did however give me a good laugh (dance the magic dance!).
*sigh* I don't want to give up hope that someone somewhere knows what I'm looking for - but it's getting harder.
Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:Watched "Labyrinth" for the umpteenth time (still LOVE that movie) and it did not help me remember the one I'm looking for. It did however give me a good laugh (dance the magic dance!).
You were just focusing on Bowie's trouser python.
quote:*sigh* I don't want to give up hope that someone somewhere knows what I'm looking for - but it's getting harder.
Don't give up! I'll keep looking and if I have any ideas (or find it) I'll post updates here.
logan5 - it is funny how when you're 8 and watch the Labyrinth Bowie's tights aren't that big of a deal. Yet you watch it in your 20s and all of a sudden you're only interested in the "trouser python" instead of that stellar plot and special effects and those adorable Jim Henson puppets. What would Sarah have done without Hoggle and Ludo? oh Ludo...
and just for you, I'll keep the faith. Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
I always liked Sir Didimus!
While Bowie's pantaloons and what lied beneath were very intriguing, I could never take my eyes of Ms. Connelly's... erm... 'jiggles' when I was younger! Then again, I was slightly older than 8, so...
"Just remember... if you need us..."
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
"But I DO need you..."
ok; so doing some random word pairing in google trying to find... whatever it is. I entered; children and fog and movie. What do you know, there is a movie called "Children of the Fog" it came out in 1935 the problem is - I can't find a clip of it, or a plot summary or anything. I just know that it exists. Can you help? So we can check it off the list?
Posted by The Wizard (Member # 533) on :
quote:What do you know, there is a movie called "Children of the Fog" it came out in 1935
1935? Do you remember this movie being black and white? I think since it's British and called 'Children of the Fog' I would wager that because of the release date it refers to children in the poor parts of London.
Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
The Wizard - Yes, "Moondial" has been suggested; thanks for the link, I'll give them a watch.
logan5- The more I try to remember if it was color or b&w the more I can't. I mean, was the field really green, or did I just know it was supposed to be green and therefore remember it that way? It's frustrating trying to recall a memory from so very long ago. Thanks for the insight on "Children of The Fog" (but, I wouldn't rest unless I knew I explored every possible option.)
Trying to get a list of movies the TCM aired during 1987-97; and trying to track down a PBS list as well. hoping those might help. Posted by bethguy (Member # 8842) on :
Ok, watched the "Moondial" episodes on YouTube "Moondial" is NOT what I'm remebering. The one scene where the man with the wheelbarrow just kind of faded away gave me hope - but it is not it. There was no maypole dance, and the girl seemed a bit too old, and she didn't have to return on a boat through a tunnel (or under a bridge) and there wasn't a tree she carved a symbol on. Thanks for the help though. Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:Trying to get a list of movies the TCM aired during 1987-97; and trying to track down a PBS list as well. hoping those might help. [Smile]
That's the spirit! 'Sherlock Bethguy'! It's bound to be a TV movie for one of those channels. There are sooooo many. Lifetime? Hallmark?
Posted by Nostagliarocks (Member # 13413) on :
I realise this thread is long since dead, but I'm also looking for this film. Or as I believe it to have been a TV series.
In addition to what's already been said I also remember a family that was displaced from time. A mother, father, grandmother (who was ill) some children (which is how they met the protagonist I believe) and a baby that would cry constantly.
They were living in the woods and wanted to get back to their own time. They must have come out of the fog and got lost.
There's another person who's also displaced and he believes that by capturing them he'll find his way back, I seem to recall he had a large net.
The series definately ended with some people going on a boat under a bridge, but as I recall it it was the family AND the hunter that were going home.
I may be mixing it up with something else, but this may jog someone's memory or flag up enough keywords for someone else's Google search.
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
It sounds like Pollyanna to me but hey I could be wrong
Posted by Snoboarding (Member # 18261) on :
Ahhhhh. Like a bolt of lightning this movies memories strike my brain and I can't remember it's name. Here is certainly what I remember. Girl lead. Living with an older female. Had a younger brother who gets caught by the "watcher" or "snatcher". The people trying to go home are pretty much gypsies. They need to go under a bridge at the right time to enter the other world. The watcher at one point says something about water always finding his own level. Their is a jail in the woods the kids are afraid of. There is a maypole on the other world. The do the maypole dance. They carve their initials in the tree, and they appear in this world. It was a VHS tape. I saw it many times. Likely early 80s. Def. color. Girls name may have been Pollyanna or just Polly.
Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
It's deeply frustrating that so many people seem to be familiar with this, but none of us can ever remember the name! Not even a part of it!
Posted by Snoboarding (Member # 18261) on :
I GOT IT. My sister who is a bit older remembered it immediately. Here is a link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eabYh0e2da8 You'll know it's right from watching the intro. It shows the maypole and the bridge. The music too is unforgettable now that I've heard it again.
Posted by Stiggs (Member # 18255) on :
First off, I must give you kudos! It looks like you've solved an old mystery around here. I've never heard of The Secret World Of Polly Flint, but now that I've seen some of the 6 episodes on youtube, I will forever be haunted by that theme music, the catcher guy, and those creepy children dancing around a maypole. I'm glad I didn't grow up in England, looks like the television would have scared me to death.
Posted by Logan 5 (Member # 1467) on :
quote:I GOT IT. My sister who is a bit older remembered it immediately. Here is a link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eabYh0e2da8 You'll know it's right from watching the intro. It shows the maypole and the bridge. The music too is unforgettable now that I've heard it again.
*STAR*!
I was just going through all the UK fantasy children's TV series I could find with a fine tooth comb!
I *knew* it was a UK show - even looked up Helen Cresswell (Moondial / Demon Headmaster). There were tons of shows like this through the 70's and 80's!
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I really want to find this thing.
