Review of The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972) by Alison O — 16 Jan 2007

Best in Show: Lynne Frederick (RIP).

One for the future: n/a.

Stand-out scene: House fire.

Brainer or no-brainer: No brainer.

Stands up to one viewing or repeated?: Repeated.

DVD commentary any good?: n/a.

TV.

When this received a placing in the Channel 4 programme 100 Greatest Family Films I made a mental note to seek it out. Shown over the Christmas holiday, having watched it through I realise that it's not something I saw in my youth (or else it's completely absent from my memory). Still going strong at 89 years of age director Lionel Jeffries helmed this children's ghost story way back in 1972. Jeffries is perhaps best remembered for playing Dick Van Dyke's dad in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (despite being six months younger than the American) and for directing The Railway Children two years prior to this project. I've also discovered that he was responsible for the execrable Water Babies cartoon that marked the end of his time as a director back in 1978. He's thankfully on-form however in this cracking Quantum Leap-alike yarn. When the amazing Mr Blunden turns up at the Allen family Camden Town basement semi-hovel he invites the widowed Mrs Allen (Dorothy Alison) to apply for the position of caretaker at a leafy Bucks mansion. She and her three children, a babe-in-arms and teens Lucy (Lynne Frederick) and Jamie (Garry Miller) duly eschew city for country living and take up residence in a cottage in the grounds. With the mansion in a terrible state, Lucy and Jamie's exploration of the house is dangerous enough before they start hearing ghostly voices. It soon emerges that a terrible fate befell a young boy and girl (Marc Granger and Rosalyn Landor) at the abode a hundred years hence. By way of a time travelling tincture they are able to cross to the 'present' for a short time to implore Lucy and Jamie to make the reverse journey and come to their aid. The titular Mr Blunden also has an interest in the wrongs of the past being righted and shows up to play his part in the rescue of the youngsters. With Diana Dors also making an appearance, this is something of a curio although your enjoyment is somewhat coloured by the knowledge that the lead female, Lynne Frederick died of alcoholism before she reached 40. Worth seeking out.