The Magic Roundabout - Ermintrude's Folly

Ermintrude's been at the poppies again, but it's Dougal who ends up high as a kite!

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Magic Roundabout
• Original
• Eric Thompson

[minimguinness]

right, it says that there is no drug refrences, but its says that ermintrude is affected in a bad way by poppies? (poppies associated with heroin) and then she ends up 'flying a kite' (metaphorically=getting high) 

[nickhirst999]

@minimguinness

Well, yes! Though to be fair, the video description is entirely mine and that is exactly what I was implying. I still think that there are blatant drug references in it but they are suggestive rather than specific. Eric Thompson definitely crossed boundaries in the Magic Roundabout. Whether the drug references were intentional or not are a matter of opinion. Either way, I shouldn't think Thompson was a druggy. He may have known people who were, though. It was the 60s/70s

[gibboj94]

@nickhirst999 I would have to disagree with you, there. A child watching this isn't going to assosiate it with drugs; they will simply see the innocence of flying a kite and getting ill from eating things they shouldn't. It teaches kids that 'eating poppies are bad', which shows that they shouldn't eat unfamilliar items. So, I would say that he didn't come close to crossing any boundaries, as you put it. However as a 16 year old watching this video again, you can clearly see the references. :)

[nickhirst999]

@gibboj94

Well, I think we agree then! I was a child when I first saw this and when Eric Thompson died in 1982, the BBC repeated them. I had just gone up to secondary school in 1982 (age 13) and immediately saw references which had not registered before. At this age I was growing a cannabis plant in my parents' back garden!

Thompson was definitely crossing boundaries and making clear "adult" references! That's why he's one of my all-time heroes!

but I think you know what I mean!

:)

[bornphoenix]

"ermintrude, im afraid shes been affected by all those poppies shes been eating"

"poppies?" said florence

"well its either that or the pansies, I dont know which is worse. but whatever it is, the poor old things in a very bad way, i think her moon jumping days are over anyway, if she ever did it, which i doubt, it always seemed a very unlikely story to me, very unlikely.

[nickhirst999]

@bornphoenix

I'm surprised I didn't reply to that one earlier! I actually wrote out the entire script of this episode some time ago.

That little interchange is another Eric Thompson classic! Thompson was a genius!

Thanks for posting it word perfect, bornphoenix!

[anniemal08]

A kite. A C-I-T-E. Kite! I love Dougal, but more specifically I love Eric Thompson for writing these genius scripts.

[BagiClaymations]

I remember watching this very early in morning before school, i used to get up super early to catch bagpuss and magic roundabout :)

[Kevin107ish]

Next up - the 5.40 news, read by Kenneth Kendall.

[aquacandyman3000]

I'm loving the metaphor of Dougal getting high and then having an epic comedown!

[roblox184]

wow its diferent than than 3D one

[anonymous19841]

@barbieorochimaru

"Time for bed!" said Zebedee was only used very rarely, and not in this one.

[barbieorochimaru]

Where is the 'Time for bed!' line? :(