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Reviews
The London Connection (1979)
A Great Fun Action Romp from the Vaults of Disney
May Contain Spoilers A missing formula, a defecting Eastern European scientist kidnapped on his arrival in London, car chases, foot chases, air chases, British secret service and a couple of American tourist caught in the middle.
This is one of the superb Disney live action films which played on a Sunday during the 80s and left such an impression that I have been hunting for it for years...thank god for e-bay.
This film grabs your attention from the very start with a robbery and follows with plenty of car chases and espionage antics. It's nicely paced and non patronising which means older children and adults will also be entertained.
There's many recognisable British faces, from classic TV and film including Roy Kinnear and David Battley as the bumbling British Secret Service agents, who bear much similarity to the Jasper Carrot and Robert Powell 'Detectives' series.
It's a great shame that this and other Disney Live action films from the 60s, 70s and 80s will never see the light of day on DVD, or re-surface in the Sunday afternoon slot which had me captivated as a child. If you look hard enoughs copies do exist, though they can leave a rather large dent in your wallet...certainly worth it for entertainment.
4D Special Agents (1981)
Remember the 4D's.....
Jane and fellow 4D agents Tricia and Olly, along with their dog, hang out in an old canal boat club house in a disused area of the Thames River. Disused that is until a gang of jewel thieves hide their spoils nearby ready to be transported by boat to the buyer.
Steve, a young Dexter Fletcher, and Danny find the boat and scupper the thieves plans by making off with the jewels to hand into Janes dad, who just happens to be a policeman. Then things for the 4D agents go wrong when the thieves catch up with them.
It's a fun 'scooby doo' like affair with an underlying message of 'don't mess with strangers kiddies'. Kind of an hour long public information film, also popular in the 80s. But with a boat and helicopter chase at it finale.
It's a little dated by todays standards but still enjoyable.
And just what were the 4D's....don't accept sweets from strangers, don't get into a car with strangers, phone the police if you see something suspicious and...er...some other such stranger related nonsense.
Haunters of the Deep (1984)
An atmospheric ghost tale for children and adults alike
I remember watching this as a child as part of the Children;s Film Foundations Friday Film Specials on CBBC and have recently happened upon a copy.
In the twenty or so years since my last viewing this film has lost nothing.
It is an atmospheric tale which entices with Cornish folklore and adds elements of truly creepy imagery of the ghost of the young miner Billy.
Shot in the wonderfully scenic Port Loe area of Cornwall the film utilises the mixture of rugged coastline and abandoned tin mines to make the setting truly believable.
There is much packed into this CFF drama, something long since lost from Children's television today and well worth a look if you can track down a copy.
Breakout (1984)
A fun Children's Adventure
The film involves two boys, Nash and Haslar, who unwittingly witness two prison escapees while bird watching in the woods. They are caught and forced to aid the convicts escape and find Donny's hidden loot.
It's a nicely paced kids adventure film, one of the many fondly remembered Children's Film Foundation productions and the parts are well acted by both the child and adult actors, though on occasion David Jackson's tough 'hulk' like portrayal is a little grinding for adult viewing.
It was perhaps traditional adventure fair of its time, but there is no reason, if you can find a copy, that children today shouldn't enjoy this film either.