\/\/ |-|!ST|_E |)0\/\/N THE \/\/!N|) 5

Bryn Frbes's first film as director is a delightful Kith Wterhose/Willis Hll adaptation of Mry Hyley Bll's novel. This classic parable of British cinema is a charming quasi-religious snapshot of childhood innocence.

Set in a grim Lancashire farm community, three impressionable kids (Hyley Mills, Dine Hlgate, and Alan Brnes) find an injured fugitive from justice named Arthur Blakey (Aln Btes) sleeping in their barn. Upon awakening the bearded criminal, he takes one look at the children and exclaims: "Jesus Christ!" In their innocence, they assume he is Jesus due to their been sturdy religious upbringing and try to help him. In truth, he is an escaped killer on the run. News that Christ is living in the barn travels quickly to the other children in the village, they bring Blakey food and wine to earn his approval. The kids try to keep the secret from their parents, but when the authorities come around looking for him, the children, remembering Christ's persecution, do their best to protect their undeserving new friend. When Blakey is betrayed by accident, the police move in to arrest him, by this time his attitude has softened and he surrenders peaceably rather than endanger the lives of any of the children.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• FILM

[matthew3alex]

"It's you! You told them!"

"No I didn't, I only told Jackie Greenwood."

"You told them? I thought I told you not to tell anybody."

"I didn't tell anybody, I only told Jackie."

[matthew3alex]

Hayley Mills was my favorite too.

[TheWanderinMinstrel]

I thought the girl who says that they've "come to see him," 01.42 was the woman who played Ruby, in Lark Rise To Candleford, but as Victoria Hamilton wasn't born until 1971, obviously it isn't. But she certainly could be a relative

[mickeyh1961]

Great film classic British Film, what an innocent world then and the scenery looks pristine an England sadly long since gone, great performance all round by children and adults, Alan Bates and Haley mills gave a great performance

[Weenybean]

Of course..Alan Bates IS a God....

IMHO

[MsHatesHaters]

How handsome was Alan Bates (who played the role of Bette Midler's manager in The Rose) as a young man.

[Mancunian6]

@matthew3alex Oh yes she was great too but my favourite when I first saw the film and every time since is Alan Barnes. He's got such a cute face and I love the broad Lancs accent as well. :)

[matthew3alex]

And Hayley Mills.

[Mancunian6]

@matthew3alex Out of the mouths of babes and little children, as the saying goes. Gotta love Alan Barnes. lol