The Box of Delights (1984) User Reviews

Effects-fuelled magical adventure for kids

[Leofwine_draca · 8/10 · 20 May 2016]

THE BOX OF DELIGHTS is another fine example of BBC children's drama of the 1980s. This six-part series is an adaptation of the John Masefield novel and features the adventures of a young boy, Kay, who comes into possession of the titular device and must use it to evade and outwit the forces of evil.

You know you're in for something special from the very first scenes in which Kay finds himself encountering a pair of creepy priests in a train carriage. From there on in THE BOX OF DELIGHTS barely pauses for breath as it carries the viewer along on a magical adventure involving trips to the historic part, the machinations of a sinister schemer, half-human half-rat creatures, a kindly and magical stranger, and shape-changing. All in the run-up to a snowy Christmas Eve!

It's fair to say that this is a show which has dated since release. Not so much the trappings - it was set in the historical past of the 1930s after all - but rather the quality of the special effects. They're not so special anymore, but I still find them infinitely more enjoyable than your average CGI effect just because of the effort that has gone into their making. I also love the use of hand-drawn animation when needed and the effects on a whole bring to mind the KNIGHTMARE TV gameshow.

Cast-wise, the viewer is in for a treat with Patrick Troughton on fine and friendly form as the mysterious stranger (sadly, he's given way too little screen time) and Robert Stephens as the scheming master villain. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW's Patricia Quinn also appears in support, and even child star Devin Stanfield isn't too shabby. Altogether THE BOX OF DELIGHTS is a delightful slice of children's television and up there with the exemplary likes of other BBC fare such as THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and MOONDIAL.

Christmas in a box set.

[adamraud-1 · 9/10 · 16 November 2007]

If you're feeling jaded about the whole concept of Christmas then this would be a great tonic. The innocence and wonder of the fantastic storyline and themes are a perfect counterbalance to today's commercial festival.

There's some wonderful acting (especially from the older cast members) and some classic set pieces (Herne The Hunter was the coolest when i watched this first time round as a youngster).

Take the 80s special effects with a pinch of salt (they're still not completely awful despite the budget/technology of the time) and prepare for a journey that will make you feel like a kid again, in the best possible way.

BBC Children's classic

[chilla-black · 7/10 · 2 April 2010]

this was originally aired in 1988 on the BBC. At the time it was very well received and had another run the following year but unlike the BBC's Narnia adaptations of the same period, this particular Christmas programme has been long forgotten. At the time, positive reception was for the effects and animation and the performance of Patrick Troughton in what was one of his last roles. Watching it today, it is kind of like Railway Children meets Narnia, but it still does a good job. The Edwardian setting is in keeping with the two aforementioned series and the set is well done to make it look realistic. The story itself shows much promise to start with, but does slightly go off tangent at times, for example it is never clearly explained what the phrase "the wolfs are running" actually means, despite it being a phrase that is used a lot in the opening parts of the storyline. It also does not really explain as to why the villain is going to painstaking lengths to capture the Box of Delights. However a word on the villain - played by Robert Stephens - for a children's series, that is a convincing villain. Perhaps the storyline is slightly overdone and runs out of steam once the villain Abner is out of the picture, however this is a classic 1980's BBC special that can still be enjoyed today.

The essence of magic

[youbigbluemonkey · 10/10 · 19 October 2010]

I was fortunate enough to be a child when this first appeared on BBC and for the life of me i cant understand why it isn't repeated around the festive season.

I lived in a house in Scotland, we had snow knee deep, a coal fire to keep me warm and while we had no wolves to worry about we did have the occasional nosey fox or foraging badger to add to the mix of realism this gem of a classic children's drams. Every night myself and my two sisters who despite being ten years older than me would sit all snug and toasty and be transported away by what can only be described as the closest you will come to believing in magic as you ever will in your life.

While the pace of this can be charmingly laid back there are enough moments of wonder and tension to make you wonder where those 30 minutes went.

I wont go into the story as so many others already have and lets face it, this has dropped of the radar of television so only those that watched it or even just caught a glimpse of it know about it already.

Im thirtymumblemumblemumblemumblefour now and like others i watch this every year. Because of its setting, a kind of famous five version of england that really only existed in literature the box of delights doesn't age as it was already in that in-between place of time so viewers of all ages can enjoy this.

This is a fine tribute to those actors sadly no longer with us who gave this story life and gravitas and a true sense of magic.

very exciting

[cows_and_pigs · 22 November 2004]

I have not been quite so excited watching a series in a long time, thanks to the bbc wanting re-releasing of all their best children's drama this delight is now on DVD.

Its very hard to think of things that haven't been said about this brilliant drama but i'll try.

As we are coming closer to Christmas i would urge anybody who loves to get into the festive mood to buy this as everything that you'd associate with xmas is here and yes it is slightly intimidating if you weren't born into a middle class background as all the children go to boarding school and speak in possibly dated plummy tones but the story is what counts and it's a cracker.

It's adventurous, fun and a little scary (with wolves howls in the air). The acting in the principal actors is spot on and the thing thats so great about it all is you never feel like you're being talked down to as a child, this explains why it's so popular with nostalgic adults Ed Trotter

Superb!

[Pheebs-2 · 10/10 · 3 October 2000]

The Box of Delights has been one of my favorites since it was first televised. At the time I was less than five years old... since then I have watched it at least once every year... it has never lost it's magic, and I am sure never will. The only worry I have is that the video tape may soon wear out!

If you get the opportunity watch it, it will be worth your while.

Fantastic in every way!

[andyetris · 10/10 · 8 September 2003]

This has been one of my favorite Christmas movies since I ran across it on the PBS "Wonder Works" series almost two decades ago. I was fortunate enough to have taped it at the time and I've watched it every Christmas since!

Devin Stansfield is Kay Harker, a young Briton from an affluent family who is travelling by train to spend the Christmas holiday with relatives. Taking a nap in an empty compartment, he unexpectedly finds himself in the company of two apparent clergymen (Jonathan Stevens & Geoffrey Larder) who cheat him out of a shilling and then steal his wallet! Appearances continue to prove deceiving as an old tramp (Patrick Troughton) turns out to be the ancient alchemist Raymond Lully, and Kay plunges into a wonderful adventure of magic and mystery.

The acting (mostly perfect) is occasionally a little wooden, and the special effects are a tribute to the demands a limited budget makes on the imagination. However the cinematography is superb and the screenplay does justice to the rich novel by Mansfield. The plot is excellent and the story taps a rich vein of English mythology.

It's unfortunate that this video is apparently only available from England, where it is only for sale in British video format - which is not compatible with U.S. machines! I hope that "The Box of Delights" will soon make its debut on DVD.

Enchanting!

[beebee-4 · 10/10 · 18 September 1999]

How could you not like a story where the villain - and an evil and odious villain he is - is a Methodist Bishop? Where little boys turn into mice and run through the walls to spy on the bad guys?

This is a thoroughly charming Christmas fantasy, wonderfully made by the BBC in the mid-80's, based on a children's book by John Masefield. Set in England in the 1930's, it tells the adventures of Kay Hawker as he returns home from school for Christmas. On the train he meets a mysterious but kindly old man who gives him the Box of Delights, a magical box which gives the holder the powers of flight, physical transformation, and the ability to travel through time. Of course, the forces of evil, led by the aforementioned Bishop, are out to steal the Box, and its up to Kay and his friends to stop them.

This is an absolutely first rate BBC production. Patrick Troughton of Dr. Who fame is the mysterious old man and Robert Stephens is the Bishop. The story, the visual effects, and the music are all enthralling.

Actually, its somewhat of a fluke that I have seen this program since it has - to my knowledge - never been shown in the United States. In the mid-80's I was living in Cleveland, Ohio, and we could pick up Canadian TV from across the Lake. One day I happened to turn on the television and this was on; I was instantly captivated. Ever since then I have tried to find tapes of this show but, unfortunately, they are not available in the U.S.

As traditional at Christmas as The Wizard of Oz

[chrisbarlow50 · 10/10 · 7 September 2001]

The Box of Delights to my brother and I is as traditional at Christmas as The Wizard of Oz or indeed The Queens speach!! Every year since 1984 we have "delighted" in watching The Box armed with sweets in our formative years and beer in our latter. Even now as grown men missing The Box for 1 year would be regarded as sacrilige. To us The Box epitimises Christmas with its magic and mayhem,villains and heroes and ultimately allround Christmassy feel. The casting is outstanding, try to read the book after watching the show and you can't imagine anyone else in the roles. Devin Stansfield is excellent as Kay,unfortunately it appears it was the pinnacle of his career as he doesn't appear to have acted since. The late great Patrick Traughton and Robert Stephens excell in their roles and it is in The Box I'll remember them not Dr Who or Shakespeare. The musical score is fantastic the composer has captured the spirit of a pre-war Christmas amazingly well, the version of The first Noel is magical. We love The Box because it enables us to hang onto our childhood.As there are 2 of us it enables us to protect each other from the mockery of our respective spouses who believe we're like a couple of kids.Both have tried and failed to take our one and only recording to tape over it with Coronation Street. Now wouldn't that be the Purple Pim........

Was It a Dream...?

[NY Whovian · 10/10 · 17 January 2005]

I, too, came across this film on PBS' 'Wonderworks'. I watched it mostly for Patrick Troughton, who I knew from 'Doctor Who', and wound up falling in love with the story. My family watches it every Christmas, as well. The juxtaposition of magic and Christmas makes for a wonderful holiday treat. All in all, a satisfying adaptation of a wonderful novel.

'The Box of Delights' *is* available on video in NTSC format. I got mine through eBay, if I recall correctly. Be careful, though. There are two versions: a two-hour version and a three-hour version. Do *not* get the two-hour version; it cuts out every mention of the police, which leaves Peter's line (What? The bloodhounds of the law?) making no sense.

A little disappointing..

[anxietyresister · 6/10 · 21 June 2006]

As he travels home on the train for the Christmas holidays Kay has the strangest feeling something very mysterious is about to happen... there is snow on the wind and wild dogs are roaming the countryside. The 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.

This kid's TV series is obviously the work of a very overactive imagination. I couldn't even begin to describe the weird and wonderful things which occur in it, most of which is completely irrelevant to the plot. So, while it's all well and good being transported back in time to ancient Rome and transforming into a stag while running through a forest, they don't necessarily justify these sequences by what has gone before. The end result is a mish-mash of styles than occasionally are magical and captivating, but will leave the viewer rather confused more often than not.

Another small problem is the characters.. there's too many of them. five children, half a dozen bad guys (and one girl), and more useless grown-ups than you can shake a stick at. I felt rather dizzy as they tried to flit through everyone, and a lack of screen time to some is unfortunate as there's a few I'd like to see more of (like the tomboy Maria and the idiotic Chief Inspector). Also noticeable is the fact that there isn't enough dramatic tension between the young lead and the evil-doers.. they barely meet at all, as it happens. You feel as though it isn't much effort for him to keep the box safe. Besides, the puppet master is so powerful, couldn't he do it himself? That lazy..

The special effects are a little cheap, but that adds to its charm because this was probably state of the art stuff for a 1984 TV drama. The acting is strong across the board, with everyone from the lowly Rat to the young hero Kay putting in performances that fit their roles perfectly. I'm sure children 12 and under will lap it up, especially during Christmas time. For adults though, the unclear plot direction and the unsuspensful proceedings might stop it from being essential viewing.

Before I go, I must mention the ending. Yep, it's a deux ex machina of the worst kind, something totally clichéd after all the originality that proceeded it. Very disappointing, and its niggles like this stop 'The Box Of Delights' from being a classic. Like say, 'Five Children And It'. Agree or disagree?! Get in touch! 6/10

Just found out this is on DVD

[AlbusDumbledore · 10/10 · 18 April 2005]

Wow! One of the greatest shows from my childhood on DVD finally! I have as much feeling for this story as the Harry Potter saga has for the children of the present.

Actually some very interesting parallels with Harry Potter - a flying car, public schoolchildren, a wise old mentor. I wonder if Ms Rowling took some notes here?

Very clever use of clergymen as villains, somewhat terrifying as I was a choirboy at the time!

A great Christmas classic, I will be purchasing this very soon! It's £11.99 from play.com. Just FYI!

Amazing!

[dvdxyz · 4 March 2001]

I first watched this film when I was 5 or 6 (1984/1985), on TV Ontario (TVO), here in Canada.

Over the years I have only remembered vague details about it, including that one of the words in the title was "Box". However I did remember certain characters and the basic plot, surrounding a "magic" box and knew that I really enjoyed it.

A few weeks ago I decided to do a title search here on the IMDB using "Box" as a keyword, sure enough about 20 minutes later I had found this wonderful film from my youth.

After seeing that it was not available on tape here in North America, I placed an order for a British copy and was able to watch the film for the first time last evening, it is just as wonderful as I had remembered.

Thanks IMDB for helping me to re-visit the amazing box of delights!

Magical, memorable and wonderful!

[tracy-132 · 10/10 · 26 February 2005]

If you want to get in the Christmas spirit then watch this in the run up to Christmas every year, now it is out on DVD i will be! I loved the book and used to read it on the train home from work every year just before Christmas, Kay and Cole Hawlings are such wonderful characters, the whole story is a classic tale of magic, wonder, fantasy and a bit of danger, set amongst snow covered country fields with hidden camps, and upper class children who have buttered eggs for supper! I think that the fact the children are slightly upper class makes the whole movie more nostalgic and old fashioned, the setting in the British countryside is just perfect and when you hear that 'the Wolves are running' you actually feel a bit scared! I think this has to be one of the best magical, memorable fantasy story's ever written and will never go out of fashion, it will always remind us of old fashioned Christmas traditions, the innocence of being a child and everything that is magical and comforting that we sometimes lose touch with when we grow up!!

The best kids serial the BBC have ever made, bar none

[stebsmeister · 10/10 · 22 December 2020]

Despite the many cracking kids programmes the BBC have made, nothing stands comparison with this.

I remember watching it as a kid in 1984, and when it ended on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day felt something of an anticlimax.

Where to begin with the praise? Simply the title itself sends a shiver of expectant delight down the spine. Kay Harker is a great, pluck protagonist, well played by Devin Stanfield, and Cole Hawkins is marvellously mysterious - but what else would one expect from Patrick Troughton? And who but Robert Stephens could have portrayed Abner Brown with such gleeful malevolence?

Yes, of course the effects, amazing at the time, have dated now - but oddly, it adds charm to the piece as a whole.

If the BBC were to repeat this, or make it available on iplayer, it would make a lot of big kids very happy, and easily win a new audience.

Watched every Christmas in our family !

[erictech-54140 · 10/10 · 9 December 2018]

We watch this every Christmas with the run up to Christmas Day sure the effects look dated but it was the 80s , it has magic and good acting performances by all the main characters, definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it

We watch it every Christmas

[uberjeanie · 10/10 · 22 October 1998]

The Box of Delights is a movie my husband and I enjoy every Christmas. It's great to watch with hot chocolate and popcorn.

At Christmas the "Wolves are running!"

[VikiLauda · 10/10 · 15 March 2021]

I must admit I was 17 when this utter delight was first aired in 1984 & I absolutely adored it! This has everything you could possibly want from a fantasy Christmas childrens story. It's charm is matched by it's magic & there is some wonderful acting by the late Patrick Troughton as Cole Hawlins. Mr Hawlins is posing as a scruffy old Punch & Judy when he first meets a young boy called Kay Harker at a railway station. But Hawlins is not all that he seems to be. He is in fact an ancient wizard alchemist who carries his small "Box of Delights" which has the power to transform the owner, make them fly & even time travel. Who needs a Tardis eh?!

That is all I will say about the story, as this really needs to be enjoyed by today's younger generation. Children will adore it & adults will enjoy its charm & escapism. It simply ozzes an innocent, fantastical story that weaves a magical tale of Kay's adventures with the "Box" with a little something for everyone. When watched today some of the effects can look rather dated & the BBC electronic workshop music is very 80's, even Dr Whoish. But the main theme "The First Noel" is perfectly gorgeous. The effects for the time were cutting edge & the BBC spent well over a million pounds on this production, which was very unusual for the time. It was filmed over the summer & early autumn in 1984, but you would have no idea of this because the sets with snow & 1930's Christmas themes were perfectly done. So I will end by admitting my biggest guilty pleasure as I watch this every year on Christmas eve with my husband, by candle light. Cosey by a roaring fire sipping a large Port. I never miss it! Who said this was just for kids!? It is well worth finding this on DVD, but as I understand it is now quite rare. Good luck!

The wolves are running! Hurry...Lets GO SWIFT!

The Best Christmas TV series

[supervaniman · 10/10 · 26 November 2020]

This TV series is one that i watch every year and there is a special way to watch it which i will explain There a six episodes and you watch one every week and watch the final one on Christmas eve Even though its special effects are dated this show is incredible and you should definitely watch it

Classic, perhaps the best Christmas story ever

[Linda_S · 10/10 · 17 November 2008]

I saw this many years ago on PBS' WONDERWORKS. Rarely have I been so captivated by a work intended for the juvenile audience.

The stunning beauty of the scenery and sets. The amazing script. Acting by children, and some of the most senior and acclaimed British actors, all working together to enable the wonder of the great poet's singular prose to come to life.

As an American I find it disturbing that such a marvelous film for children is not available, in its entirety, on DVD. This is, truly, a crime against art.

I note that the British edition (REGION 2) is now discontinued.

Is this CLASSIC to be relegated to the dustbin of history?

What was it Tolkien wrote:

Much that once was is lost. For none now live who remember it.

A wonderful piece of television magic especially at Christmas

[kkuwertz · 11 December 2005]

I loved this series and I was 25 when it was shown, I taped all episodes and watched them over and over, I can only lament the loss of the tapes but I can thoroughly recommend "The box of delights" to anyone who hasn't lost their childhood magic. Patrick Troughton is one of my favorite actors and is marvelous as is Robert Stephens in a dastardly role, the effects are very good considering the budget with the BBC and the acting is great. The story is a classic, although I had never heard of John Masefield until this series much to my chagrin. I know that children of all ages will enjoy it.I know I did and would again.

Traditional Christmas treasure

[istara · 10/10 · 31 December 2020]

We watch The Box of Delights every year at Christmas. There is nothing to match it for the atmosphere of a traditional British Christmas, winter darkness, mystery and magic.

The series is very true to the book - at least as far as the special effects of the era permitted. There are some sequences that had to be omitted or adjusted. The blending of animation and live action was cutting edge at the time, and now has vintage charm that more than compensates for any lack of modern CGI (similarly to how the original Snow White is timeless).

The Box of Delights is also very well acted and the locations are spectacular. The snow scenes were filmed in Scotland during the very cold and snowy winter of 1984, and are magical.

I would urge fans of the series to read the book, if they haven't already. There is much to enjoy. John Masefield's other children's novel, The Midnight Folk, also features Kay Harker, Abner Brown and others. It would be wonderful to see a television series of it as well in future.

Incredible

[garywrght756 · 10/10 · 12 December 2022]

I feel so sorry for children nowadays. We only had a few channels no internet or social medias but instead we had quality. TV shows that catered for all ages that never insulted the intelligence of the viewer. Excellent story telling. I loved this show and it's so good to be able to watch it again almost 40 years later. Sadly quantity has taken over from quality and it really is not a suitable replacement. I really forgot how captivating Patrick troughton was on screen. Abner brown was a seriously menacing villain. This and the children of greenknowe were two of my favourite Christmas shows made for children. I used to love the BBC Christmas panto that they used to do. Now the BBC has ruined itself with identity politics and other nonsense that they simply couldn't remake this.

Excellent, even if the effects are very dated

[hrothgar19 · 19 December 2005]

The book on which this is based is a little-known children's classic written by the 20th century British author John Masefield; a man chosen above W B Yeats and Rudyard Kipling to be Poet Laureate, so you'd expect something special.

The TV series was first shown in 1984 in six parts (during the six weeks before Christmas: the final part was shown on Christmas Eve, which is when the finale of the story takes place). It is largely faithful to the book and much of the dialogue is lifted straight from the page. The main deviation, and a peculiar one, is that the very mad Arnold of Todi is transformed into a malevolent character, which he certainly wasn't in the original story.

Robert Stephens (later "Sir Robert Stephens") hams it up beautifully as the truly evil wizard Abner Brown. All the pentagrams, demons and dark spirits such as the Waterfall Boy are still there, which is refreshing in these politically-correct times, and a whole lot nastier than the average Harry Potter flick. Some children who watched the original series acquired a lifelong fear of clergymen after watching Abner! Foxy-faced Charles "ha ha, what?" is also excellently played. The child actors make a good effort, although (perhaps surprisingly given the success of the series) none of them went on to greater things.

CGI in 1984 was in its infancy, with primitive blue-screen, Quantel effects and animation being used to recreate some of the magical scenes from the book. It was effective at the time but has dated very badly; this could be seen as period charm, but modern kids may not be impressed.

Director Renny Rye improves on the (notoriously weak) ending of the book with a wonderful conceit which makes the viewer wonder what really happened. It leaves a nice warm feeling, and after all, it will always be Christmas in Condicote. Home for the holidays indeed.