"Hallmark Hall of Fame" The Borrowers (1973)

Director:

Walter C. Miller

Writers:

Mary Norton (novel)
Jay Presson Allen (written by)

TV Series:

"Hallmark Hall of Fame" (1951)

Original Air Date:

14 December 1973 (Season 23, Episode 2)

Plot:

An eight-year-old boy discovers a family of tiny people, only a few inches tall, living beneath the floorboards of a Victorian country home. |

Plot Keywords:

Aunt Nephew Relationship | 19th Century | Little People | Based On Novel | Anthology

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 4 nominations

Cast

Eddie Albert	...	Pod Clock
Tammy Grimes	...	Homily Clock
Judith Anderson	...	Aunt Sophy (as Dame Judith Anderson)
Beatrice Straight	...	Mrs. Crampfurl
Barnard Hughes	...	Mr. Crampfurl
Dennis Larson	...	The Boy
Karen Pearson	...	Arrietty Clock
Murray Westgate	...	Ernie
Dan McIlravey	...	Tom

Directed by
Walter C. Miller

Writing credits
Mary Norton		(novel)
Jay Presson Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Duane Bogie	....	executive producer (as Duane C. Bogie)
Walt deFaria	....	producer (as Walt DeFaria)
Warren Lockhart	....	producer (as Warren L. Lockhart)
Frank Nesbitt	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Rod McKuen

Casting by
Karen Hazzard		(as Karen Hazard)

Art Direction by
Bill Zaharuk

Set Decoration by
Peter Razmofsky

Costume Design by
Juul Haalmeyer		(as Jule Haalmeyer)

Makeup Department
Carol Davidson	....	makeup artist
Adrian Hoffman	....	hair stylist (as Adrian Hofman)

Production Management
John Delmage	....	unit manager (as John A. Delmage)

Art Department
Elizabeth Matta	....	associate art director
John Roberts	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Larry Baker	....	sound
Wallie Harris	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Claude Lumeau	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Robert Shepherd	....	art director: miniatures

Camera and Electrical Department
Roger Lauzon	....	camera operator
Richard G. Mason	....	camera operator (as Rick Mason)
Barney Stewart	....	lighting director

Editorial Department
Ed.J. Brennan	....	editor: video tape (as Ed J. Brennan)

Music Department
Art Becker	....	music recordist
Billy Byers	....	conductor
John Caper Jr.	....	music editor

Other crew
Joan Chilcott	....	continuity
Clifton Fadiman	....	script consultant (as Clifton C. Fadiman)
Roger Humphries	....	studio coordinator
Judy Kauffman	....	assistant to producer
Peggy Knott	....	production assistant
Don MacAdam	....	video
Carol Monpere	....	script editor (as Carol Mon Pere)
Cameron Thomas	....	technical director
Cindy Turtle	....	associate director
Gerry Wilkinson	....	floor manager

Production Companies

• 20th Century Fox Television
• Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates
• Foote, Cone and Belding Productions
• Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
• Walt DeFaria Productions

Distributors

• EastWest Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1973) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (video)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Treeline Films (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Air Canada  transportation
• Glen Warren Productions  production facilities
• Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions  sponsoring

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U | South Korea:All | USA:Unrated

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Movie Connections:

Version of "The Borrowers" (1992)

Soundtrack:

Isn't It Something

Very nicely done indeed

Saw this Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation growing up, don't know if it's available on video but it absolutely should be. Fine performances all round, with a nice tight script that does full justice to the really important things in the book: the details of how the Clock family live, the amusing relationships between Pod and Aunt Sophy and Arietty and the boy.

Definitely one of the better films for children of the past 30 years. Literate and never condescends. And never falls into the trap of making any of the characters too cute.