The Box of Delights
As he travels home on the train for the Christmas holidays, Kay Harker has the strangest feeling something mysterious is about to happen... there is snow on the wind and wild dogs are roaming the countryside. Then a chance meeting with an old 'Punch and Judy' man, Cole Hawlins, the guardian of the elixir of life and a shabby box of powers, pulls Kay into an array of fantastic worlds where he encounters ancient heroes, wolves, Romans, rats, flashing rings and flying ponies. Based on the classic book by John Masefield, this memorable production was first shown in the run up to Christmas in 1984. The enchanting adventures and magical atmosphere hold fond memories for many, and are sure to delight a new generation of children.
Kay Harker's life changes forever when an old Punch and Judy man warns him of a powerful evil. There's snow on the wind and wild dogs roaming the countryside. Something mysterious is about to happen.
Fearing that the forces of evil with take the box of Delights from him, Punch and Judy man, Cole Hawlings entrusts Kay Harker with the magical box for safe keeping.
Having escaped the henchmen of Abner Brown the children return home to discover false messages have been sent to confuse them. Brown and Sylvia Daisy Pouncer release Maria and more clergymen disappear. Kay learns the true identity of Cole Hawlings.
Having discovered the history about the box , an image of Kay that casts no shadow uses the box to travel into the past and search for Arnold of Todi. The police are now guarding the Cathedral to protect the clergy.
Abner Brown's powers become apparent as he tries to prevent clergy from getting to Tatchester Cathedral. His gang rebel against him and Kay and Cole Hawlings escape the flooding and burning castle as a raging Brown discovers the the box was under his own hand yet he did not realise it.
|
Robert Stephens | Abner Brown |
|
Geoffrey Larder | Foxy Faced Charles |
|
Jonathan Stephens | Chubby Joe |
|
Joanna Dukes | Maria |
|
Devin Stanfield | Kay Harker |
|
Heidi Burton | Jemima |
|
Flora Page | Susan |
|
James Grout | Inspector |
|
Glyn Baker | Herne the Hunter |
|
Carol Frazer | Caroline Louisa |
|
Crispin Mair | Peter |
|
Patricia Quinn | Sylvia Daisy Pouncer |
|
Helen Fraser | Ellen |
|
John Horsley | Bishop of Tatchester |
|
Patrick Troughton | Cole Hawlings |
|
Anne Dyson | The Old Lady |
|
Stewart Harwood | Pirate Rat |
|
Nick Berry | Pirate Rat |
|
Bill Wallis | Rat |
|
John Styles | Puppeteer |
|
Charles Pemberton | Chief Constable |
|
Jason Kemp | Waterfall Boy |
|
Johnny Casino | Old Jim |
|
Simon Barry | Mouse |
|
Julian Sands | Greek Soldier |
| Director | Renny Rye |
|
| Writer | John Masefield, Alan Seymour | |
| Producer | John Bird, Paul Stone | |
| Musician | Roger Limb | |
| Photography | Colin Reid | |
| Packaging | Keep Case |
|---|---|
| Nr Discs | 1 |
| Screen Ratios | Fullscreen (4:3) |
| Distributor | Paramount |
| Regions | Region 2 |