![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The book is The Wind in the Willows, which I recently read for the first time. The adaptations are the 1983 stop-motion animated film produced by Cosgrove Hall, and the 1995 2D animated film produced by TVC. I'd seen both of them when I was a kid, but not for a very long time, and I'm going to evaluate them in comparison to each other.
Story Structure: The book of The Wind in the Willows tends to alternate between the growing relationship of Mole & Rat and their friendship with Badger, and the adventures of Toad as he gallivants across the land in motorcars, gets locked up for it, and makes his daring escape. It was interesting to see how both movies reconciled the plotlines. I liked in the Cosgrove Hall version how Mole's motivation for seeking out Badger was to see if he could help with Toad, but overall I think I liked the way the TVC version was structured better, with a closer following of the changing seasons. It also felt more right to have Mole seek out his home on the way back from Badger's (like in the book), instead of while trying to find Toad.
Music: This deserves its own bullet point because The Wind in the Willows is a surprisingly musical book. Lyrics are provided several times for different songs that the characters write/perform, such as the Rat's "Duck's Ditty," or the Toad's last song, or the carol of the field mice... "Duck's Ditty" was performed in both versions, although it received a full musical number in the Cosgrove Hall production, and was merely sung straight through in the TVC version. Therefore, I like it better in the Cosgrove Hall version (and Ian Carmichael has a surprisingly beautiful voice). The Toad's last song was rendered VERY similarly in both versions, so that I almost feel they were both copying from a different source (the stage play, perhaps?). The field mice carol was only present in the Cosgrove Hall version, as was the other boastful song Toad sings, and I loved both of them (although the Christmas episode of the Cosgrove Hall TV series arranges the carol much better than in the movie). Both movies had a beautiful main theme, with the smooth saxophone of the TVC version reminding me a lot of the heartstring-tugging theme from Cinema Paradiso (composed by Ennio Morricone), and the Cosgrove Hall version bringing a massive wave of nostalgia. In both films, the music was very familiar to me, especially in the Cosgrove Hall version- the "joy shall be yours in the morning" part of the field mouse carol and the "when the Toad came home!" part were things that I felt probably got inside my head and stayed there for years. I swear, the music you hear in films as a kid really imprints itself into your soul. For the fact that there's more songs in it, and all songs are well-rendered, I'm giving this one to Cosgrove Hall.
Animation: Cosgrove Hall would get the edge for being such an impressive achievement (stop motion always makes me drop my jaw), but... I just love the way the TVC version was animated. The characters are SO much more fluid and animate and expressive, for one thing (I understand why though, since it's easier to draw facial expressions than to mold them), with Toad being a major highlight- his gibbering and fainting on the stand at the trial was such a pleasure to watch. The Water Rat also looked cute and cuddly and I loved his rapid movements, and Portly (the Otter's son) was adorable.
Additions to the Plot: The Cosgrove Hall version used the ending that I always thought was canon until I read the book- with Toad taking up piloting after his motorcar troubles. The TVC version did not do this, which I thought was strange because I could have distinctly remembered it doing that. I did like the Cosgrove Hall addition of the montage of Toad driving his motorcars- it was very funny- but I thought it was unnecessary to show Toad mouthing off to the policeman, as it's sort of more funny when you don't know what it is he said. (Although I did laugh when they kept making a big deal at the trial over the cop being called "fat face." Toad said fuck the police.) The TVC version didn't really add much, except for a few lines of dialogue here and there that were seamless and fit well. (Oh yeah, and the framing device, but that wasn't very necessary.) My least favorite addition was in the Cosgrove Hall production, which like I said, added a dance number to "Duck's Ditty." It felt very pointless except to show off the animation.
Subtractions from the Plot: The Cosgrove Hall version cut out a lot in comparison to the TVC version (and the book). The TVC version at least attempted to adapt "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" and "Wayfarers All," although I didn't particularly care for how they did either of them- "Wayfarers All" makes NO sense without the presence of the Sea Rat (side note, does anyone think that the Sea Rat was one of the rats who carried the plague?), and "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" was too rushed to make much of an impact, plus I thought it was weird that this was Ratty's thing all of a sudden- in the book, both Mole and Rat heard the Piper and worshipped at his hooves. Both chapters are adapted better in the TV series. The Cosgrove Hall production also cut the sequence with the barge woman, which I didn't mind as Toad was never my favorite and it always felt like a slog to get through that part. I didn't like how the TVC version cut Toad's escape from "house arrest"- in the book and in the Cosgrove Hall film, he managed to trick Ratty by pretending to be sick and asking for a lawyer to write his will, while the TVC version made him look stupid by sneaking out mere seconds after being locked up, right as the other three are discussing how he must be guarded at all times. I was also disappointed with the TVC version for cutting out the choir of field mice who visit Mole's home.
Voice Acting: Here's a rundown of which film's actor I felt did a better job with each role.
Mole: Tie between Alan Bennett (TVC) and Richard Pearson (Cosgrove Hall)- they both nail the mild-mannered, cautious sensitivity of Mole quite well.
Rat: Michael Palin (TVC), but only because I'm so used to Peter Sallis as the voice actor for the Cosgrove Hall TV series and Ian Carmichael just didn't do it for me in comparison. He does have a lovely singing voice, though. If Sallis had voiced Rat in the movie as well as the series, he'd run away with it, though I do like Palin's performance.
Toad: David Jason (Cosgrove Hall) all the way. You can HEAR how much fun he's having with that role. No slight on Rik Mayall at all, but I think Jason did a better job with the childlike exuberance Toad has towards his various pursuits.
Badger: Sir Michael Hordern (Cosgrove Hall)- I just felt like he has more of a grumpy quality to his voice that suits Badger wel.
Overall: I think I prefer the TVC version, although there are a couple things the Cosgrove Hall version does better, because I felt more emotion and was more connected to the story. This might have to do with the animation being more expressive, or the musical score being more prominent- I don't know.
Story Structure: The book of The Wind in the Willows tends to alternate between the growing relationship of Mole & Rat and their friendship with Badger, and the adventures of Toad as he gallivants across the land in motorcars, gets locked up for it, and makes his daring escape. It was interesting to see how both movies reconciled the plotlines. I liked in the Cosgrove Hall version how Mole's motivation for seeking out Badger was to see if he could help with Toad, but overall I think I liked the way the TVC version was structured better, with a closer following of the changing seasons. It also felt more right to have Mole seek out his home on the way back from Badger's (like in the book), instead of while trying to find Toad.
Music: This deserves its own bullet point because The Wind in the Willows is a surprisingly musical book. Lyrics are provided several times for different songs that the characters write/perform, such as the Rat's "Duck's Ditty," or the Toad's last song, or the carol of the field mice... "Duck's Ditty" was performed in both versions, although it received a full musical number in the Cosgrove Hall production, and was merely sung straight through in the TVC version. Therefore, I like it better in the Cosgrove Hall version (and Ian Carmichael has a surprisingly beautiful voice). The Toad's last song was rendered VERY similarly in both versions, so that I almost feel they were both copying from a different source (the stage play, perhaps?). The field mice carol was only present in the Cosgrove Hall version, as was the other boastful song Toad sings, and I loved both of them (although the Christmas episode of the Cosgrove Hall TV series arranges the carol much better than in the movie). Both movies had a beautiful main theme, with the smooth saxophone of the TVC version reminding me a lot of the heartstring-tugging theme from Cinema Paradiso (composed by Ennio Morricone), and the Cosgrove Hall version bringing a massive wave of nostalgia. In both films, the music was very familiar to me, especially in the Cosgrove Hall version- the "joy shall be yours in the morning" part of the field mouse carol and the "when the Toad came home!" part were things that I felt probably got inside my head and stayed there for years. I swear, the music you hear in films as a kid really imprints itself into your soul. For the fact that there's more songs in it, and all songs are well-rendered, I'm giving this one to Cosgrove Hall.
Animation: Cosgrove Hall would get the edge for being such an impressive achievement (stop motion always makes me drop my jaw), but... I just love the way the TVC version was animated. The characters are SO much more fluid and animate and expressive, for one thing (I understand why though, since it's easier to draw facial expressions than to mold them), with Toad being a major highlight- his gibbering and fainting on the stand at the trial was such a pleasure to watch. The Water Rat also looked cute and cuddly and I loved his rapid movements, and Portly (the Otter's son) was adorable.
Additions to the Plot: The Cosgrove Hall version used the ending that I always thought was canon until I read the book- with Toad taking up piloting after his motorcar troubles. The TVC version did not do this, which I thought was strange because I could have distinctly remembered it doing that. I did like the Cosgrove Hall addition of the montage of Toad driving his motorcars- it was very funny- but I thought it was unnecessary to show Toad mouthing off to the policeman, as it's sort of more funny when you don't know what it is he said. (Although I did laugh when they kept making a big deal at the trial over the cop being called "fat face." Toad said fuck the police.) The TVC version didn't really add much, except for a few lines of dialogue here and there that were seamless and fit well. (Oh yeah, and the framing device, but that wasn't very necessary.) My least favorite addition was in the Cosgrove Hall production, which like I said, added a dance number to "Duck's Ditty." It felt very pointless except to show off the animation.
Subtractions from the Plot: The Cosgrove Hall version cut out a lot in comparison to the TVC version (and the book). The TVC version at least attempted to adapt "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" and "Wayfarers All," although I didn't particularly care for how they did either of them- "Wayfarers All" makes NO sense without the presence of the Sea Rat (side note, does anyone think that the Sea Rat was one of the rats who carried the plague?), and "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" was too rushed to make much of an impact, plus I thought it was weird that this was Ratty's thing all of a sudden- in the book, both Mole and Rat heard the Piper and worshipped at his hooves. Both chapters are adapted better in the TV series. The Cosgrove Hall production also cut the sequence with the barge woman, which I didn't mind as Toad was never my favorite and it always felt like a slog to get through that part. I didn't like how the TVC version cut Toad's escape from "house arrest"- in the book and in the Cosgrove Hall film, he managed to trick Ratty by pretending to be sick and asking for a lawyer to write his will, while the TVC version made him look stupid by sneaking out mere seconds after being locked up, right as the other three are discussing how he must be guarded at all times. I was also disappointed with the TVC version for cutting out the choir of field mice who visit Mole's home.
Voice Acting: Here's a rundown of which film's actor I felt did a better job with each role.
Mole: Tie between Alan Bennett (TVC) and Richard Pearson (Cosgrove Hall)- they both nail the mild-mannered, cautious sensitivity of Mole quite well.
Rat: Michael Palin (TVC), but only because I'm so used to Peter Sallis as the voice actor for the Cosgrove Hall TV series and Ian Carmichael just didn't do it for me in comparison. He does have a lovely singing voice, though. If Sallis had voiced Rat in the movie as well as the series, he'd run away with it, though I do like Palin's performance.
Toad: David Jason (Cosgrove Hall) all the way. You can HEAR how much fun he's having with that role. No slight on Rik Mayall at all, but I think Jason did a better job with the childlike exuberance Toad has towards his various pursuits.
Badger: Sir Michael Hordern (Cosgrove Hall)- I just felt like he has more of a grumpy quality to his voice that suits Badger wel.
Overall: I think I prefer the TVC version, although there are a couple things the Cosgrove Hall version does better, because I felt more emotion and was more connected to the story. This might have to do with the animation being more expressive, or the musical score being more prominent- I don't know.
