The animated film really unnerved/ scared me as a young child. Haven’t seen it since, but now I want to watch it again and see if I like it any better!
My dad was diagnosed with incurable cancer and said he wanted the song Bright Eyes from the Watership Down movie played at his funeral. Even his big rugby mates were in tears when it came on...
My papa said the animated film made him cry as a child. We watched it together a few years ago, for him, it was his first time seeing it again after about forty years. I saw tears running down his face, the poor fellow!
Fantastic novel, and a wonderful location where the boundaries between fiction and reality are rather blurred. Happily, the places depicted in the novel have scarcely changed in the half century or so since the book was published - it's still a special area of beauty and tranquillity. ♥
I read it when I was about the same age as the kids in this clip. I think my first copy was the same paperback edition seen in the clip too. It's one of those books that stays with you for a long time. I lost my tatty old paperback years ago but I still have a copy of the book on my bookcase. May Lord Frith bestow his blessings on all 🐰
I remember Richard Adams appearing on Terry Wogan's chat show in the 1980s when he came across as an angry old man - I can't remember what Wogan said that annoyed him so much. Even here, while speaking so engagingly, he seems like a man on a hair-trigger (no pun intended), like one of those teachers I remember from the 1970s who, when his authority was challenged, would lose his temper spectacularly, and start walloping the misbehaving pupils in a puce-faced rage.
Wonderful book and strangely beautiful in its savagery animated film. Read the book and saw the film very young. Maybe not for everybody, but try it out.
Adams wrote the introduction to The Private Life of the Rabbit (American edition) by RM Lockley. In it, he credited Lockley's book and research for insight into the real life of the rabbit. On my bookshelf sit both books, together, as they should, and have for these many years.
I didn't read the book until a couple of years ago (mid 50s) and it totally blew me away - one of the best books I've ever read and I include the great Russian classics in that company. I'm amazed to learn it's > 400pages as I read it on Kindle and I flew through it - didn't feel long at all to me.
11.12.24 0845am how many kids boarding the bus, after seeing the watership down film, clenched teeth fighting back the tears thought i'm not watching that again.... after which they then went to watch ET?
Close friends of my late parents knew Richard Adams. Apparently he was a cantankerous chap who had no sense of humour. He hated the film adaptation of his book but was happy to receive the royalties which made him a very rich man. He moved to the Isle of Man to avoid tax.
Oh, please do. I haver read it many times as both a child and an adult, and each time the escape from every-day life is just as wonderful. You will not regret reading it for one moment and, I really would urge you to read it, put it away for a few months, and then re-read it at least once. If you have children, and as the long winter nights start drawing in, it is the perfect time to read it to them as a bedtime story, but do watch out for the slightly more scary bits! Please, do read it and remember it not just as a story about rabbits, but read it also for the message within about what we are doing to the landscape.
1974: WATERSHIP DOWN - Why is it so SUCCESSFUL? | Midweek | Writers and Wordsmiths | BBC Archive 0846am 11.12.24 a herbivore with a tendency to eat their young or the young of another. excellent beasts... An excellent film. never read the book... though i did watch donnie darko and contemplated the cellar door juxtaposition.
It is a wonderful book and film for that matter, but looking at it from 2024 it is a told from a very masculine viewpoint in my opinion, and it seems to me that the author's remark "a pretty girl wants admirers" perhaps goes some way to explain this. It's easy to say in 2024 so not a criticism necessarily.
Cheap reality TV, social media shortening the attention span, exam obsessed education neglecting critical thinking and admiration of experts replaced by a fandom of stupidity has done the damage. I'm afraid we didn't need any outside help.
@@davy_K As a child who went to a multicultural school, I can tell you first hand, it was the immigrant children who broke the discipline of the class, inspiring native kids to also do similar. The music they brought, the attitude to conflict, it made the whole culture rotten.
American children have similarly declined in articulacy. Every other word is "um" or "like." Getting a fluent sentence out of them is impossible. Blaming immigrants is oversimplifying the cause of this phenomenon.
@raijinenel I know plenty of well mannered articulate children of different races (but also unfortunately a similar number of the total opposite) - it just comes down to the effort the parents place on providing a good role model and encouraging and supporting their children’s education. You certainly display a high level of ignorance to hold such views.
The animated film really unnerved/ scared me as a young child. Haven’t seen it since, but now I want to watch it again and see if I like it any better!
My dad was diagnosed with incurable cancer and said he wanted the song Bright Eyes from the Watership Down movie played at his funeral. Even his big rugby mates were in tears when it came on...
A wonderful book. And the first film adaptation in the 1970s was a masterpiece.
Did they do more than two?😮
@@BeesWaxMinder I don't think there has been another cinema movie, but there was a TV spin-off series and a CGI TV adaptation.
Just remembered something my mother used to say when I looked miserable: "You're like a wet weekend on Watership Down."
My papa said the animated film made him cry as a child. We watched it together a few years ago, for him, it was his first time seeing it again after about forty years. I saw tears running down his face, the poor fellow!
One day you will understand. One day.
Our local Butcher had a sign outside his shop, "You've seen the film, heard the song, now come and eat the cast."
Karma will guarantee that he is reincarnated as a rabbit.
I loved the animated film growing up. Marvellous story.
Yes, the cartoon was fab...... A cinema classic. Bright Eyes by Garfunkel still sounds great.
Fantastic novel, and a wonderful location where the boundaries between fiction and reality are rather blurred. Happily, the places depicted in the novel have scarcely changed in the half century or so since the book was published - it's still a special area of beauty and tranquillity. ♥
Though Nuthanger Farm is looking a lot better and less neglected than when this film was made!
I read it when I was about the same age as the kids in this clip. I think my first copy was the same paperback edition seen in the clip too. It's one of those books that stays with you for a long time. I lost my tatty old paperback years ago but I still have a copy of the book on my bookcase. May Lord Frith bestow his blessings on all 🐰
This was my first ever novel length story.
I remember Richard Adams appearing on Terry Wogan's chat show in the 1980s when he came across as an angry old man - I can't remember what Wogan said that annoyed him so much. Even here, while speaking so engagingly, he seems like a man on a hair-trigger (no pun intended), like one of those teachers I remember from the 1970s who, when his authority was challenged, would lose his temper spectacularly, and start walloping the misbehaving pupils in a puce-faced rage.
Wonderful book and strangely beautiful in its savagery animated film. Read the book and saw the film very young. Maybe not for everybody, but try it out.
Adams wrote the introduction to The Private Life of the Rabbit (American edition) by RM Lockley. In it, he credited Lockley's book and research for insight into the real life of the rabbit. On my bookshelf sit both books, together, as they should, and have for these many years.
I didn't read the book until a couple of years ago (mid 50s) and it totally blew me away - one of the best books I've ever read and I include the great Russian classics in that company. I'm amazed to learn it's > 400pages as I read it on Kindle and I flew through it - didn't feel long at all to me.
jeez the BBC has gone downhill. An intelligent and interesting piece.
Another BBC bashing troll. Let's hear your long well thought through argument on why that is then!
@@andrewcalladine2507 Have you seen The One Show?
@@andrewcalladine2507 Have you seen The One Show?
I think Art Garfunkel took it all too seriously.
11.12.24 0845am how many kids boarding the bus, after seeing the watership down film, clenched teeth fighting back the tears thought i'm not watching that again.... after which they then went to watch ET?
Close friends of my late parents knew Richard Adams. Apparently he was a cantankerous chap who had no sense of humour. He hated the film adaptation of his book but was happy to receive the royalties which made him a very rich man. He moved to the Isle of Man to avoid tax.
If you liked WD then check out ‘The Plague Dogs’ (both the film and the book).
"Sh*t in the sky, give me patience!" has become one of my favourite profanities when stressed out, AthiestOrphan! 😉
You got more Rabbit than Sainsbury's 🎵🎵🎵
good old england and how it used to be, my english heart breaks.
mine too
Karma got you lot in the end didnt it? 😁
I have never read the book , but loved the film . After watching this I feel inspired to do that.
Oh, please do. I haver read it many times as both a child and an adult, and each time the escape from every-day life is just as wonderful. You will not regret reading it for one moment and, I really would urge you to read it, put it away for a few months, and then re-read it at least once. If you have children, and as the long winter nights start drawing in, it is the perfect time to read it to them as a bedtime story, but do watch out for the slightly more scary bits! Please, do read it and remember it not just as a story about rabbits, but read it also for the message within about what we are doing to the landscape.
Bright Eyes.
I didn't like it, was mocked by older siblings when I said it was sad. late 80s
What someone wrote a popular book before J K Rowling?
Come come now. The history of the world is full of classic books
Richard Adams is a living Harry Enfield impression.
Adams is dead.
@@BadgerBotherer1 He wasn't then
1974: WATERSHIP DOWN - Why is it so SUCCESSFUL? | Midweek | Writers and Wordsmiths | BBC Archive 0846am 11.12.24 a herbivore with a tendency to eat their young or the young of another. excellent beasts... An excellent film. never read the book... though i did watch donnie darko and contemplated the cellar door juxtaposition.
It is a wonderful book and film for that matter, but looking at it from 2024 it is a told from a very masculine viewpoint in my opinion, and it seems to me that the author's remark "a pretty girl wants admirers" perhaps goes some way to explain this. It's easy to say in 2024 so not a criticism necessarily.
The author is masculine, and women caked in makeup want attention.
Well I am glad I have not been brainwashed by the woke agenda as you have. Then again I don't watch the BBC in its current guise.
Looks how well spoken the children are. Immigrant children have ruined the English discipline.
Cheap reality TV, social media shortening the attention span, exam obsessed education neglecting critical thinking and admiration of experts replaced by a fandom of stupidity has done the damage. I'm afraid we didn't need any outside help.
@@davy_K As a child who went to a multicultural school, I can tell you first hand, it was the immigrant children who broke the discipline of the class, inspiring native kids to also do similar. The music they brought, the attitude to conflict, it made the whole culture rotten.
American children have similarly declined in articulacy. Every other word is "um" or "like." Getting a fluent sentence out of them is impossible. Blaming immigrants is oversimplifying the cause of this phenomenon.
That comment tells us FAR more about the sort of person that you are than the people you are criticising.
@raijinenel I know plenty of well mannered articulate children of different races (but also unfortunately a similar number of the total opposite) - it just comes down to the effort the parents place on providing a good role model and encouraging and supporting their children’s education. You certainly display a high level of ignorance to hold such views.