A special 40th Anniversary remastered edition of one of the BBC’s most beloved broadcasts, The Box of Delights, starring Patrick Troughton, is out now on Blu-Ray, accompanied by a host of brand-new special features. But that’s not the only celebration of this children’s classic you can acquire this Christmas…
An adaptation of John Masefield‘s children’s fantasy novel, The Box of Delights is brought to life in a magical, fantastical and delightful production also stars Devin Stanfield and Robert Stephens.
The special features include an all-new documentary, Time And Tide – Making The Box of Delights, starring Devin Stanfield, director Renny Rye and many others. This very special “making of” documentary, which runs to one hour 41 minutes, is the work of BAFTA-nominated, six-time RTS award-winning Producer Director Chris Chapman.
The Wolves are Running…
The Box of Delights is based on the children’s fantasy novel by John Masefield, also known as When The Wolves Were Running, first published in 1935, a sequel to The Midnight Folk.
When Kay Harker (Devin Stanfield) meets a mysterious Punch and Judy man, Cole Hawlings (Patrick Troughton), on his way home for Christmas, he little realises that he is about to be plunged into adventure. The old man entrusts Kay with a strange puzzle box – the Box of Delights – before suddenly disappearing.
Kay soon discovers two things: the box can transport him through time and space, and there is a plot to steal it. He must battle heroically against terrifying forces of evil in order to win the day…
First broadcast in 1984, the drama was one of the most expensive children’s series the BBC had produced, an innovative mix of live action and animation that won deserved critical acclaim and three BAFTA awards – and is still fondly remembered to this day.
An enduring Christmas classic, The Box of Delights has a unique place in children’s literature and continues to inspire and engage modern readers with its timeless adventure of ancient magic, good vanquishing evil, and Christmas miracles. For many, watching the 1984 BBC TV adaptation is a Christmas tradition and The Box of Delights Appreciation Society has over 2000 members on Facebook.
• The Box of Delights is available now from all good Blu-Ray outlets (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
Special Feaures
• Time And Tide – Making The Box of Delights (New)
• Trails & Continuity (New)
• 2004 Kay Harker & Director Interview
• Blue Peter, Take Two and Pebble Mill Clips
Anniversary screening on BBC4
Those of you who might not own a Blu-Ray player wil, be delighted to hear BBC4 will be screening the six episode fantasy adventure next month, a repeat launching with a double-bill of episodes One and Two on Saturday 7th December from 7.10pm.
The first episode will be preceded by a new introduction from director Renny Rye, which will air from 7.00pm.
Opening The Box of Delights gets new edition
A substantial new edition of the popular Opening the Box of Delights by Philip W. Errington, with a foreword by award-winning children’s author Piers Torday, has also just been released to mark the 40th anniversary of the first broadcast of the BBC’s children’s television adventure. Accompanied by specially-commissioned new wraparound cover artwork by Andrew Skilleter, it offers 32 additional pages of brand-new material, including the first ever reproduction of the rehearsal script of Episode One of the 1984 BBC TV serial; full colour illustrated spreads, providing detailed accounts of John Masefield’s visit to Australia in 1934 that inspired many plot points in the story, background on the abandoned feature film, and much, much more.
This visual celebration of The Box of Delights showcases fascinating illustrations, photographs, letters, manuscripts and designs from John Masefield’s life and across all of the story’s many manifestations – through the different editions of the book (whose illustrators included Quentin Blake), and adaptations on television, radio and stage.
Philip W. Errington is widely acknowledged as the world expert on John Masefield. He has edited The Box of Delights for editions published by Egmont, Farshore, New York Review of Books and the Folio Society. He is a research associate of the Department of English, University College London, a senior specialist at Peter Harrington Books, and the archivist of The John Masefield Society.
Roleplaying Game in the works
You can still place a Late Pledge to the recently-funded The Box of Delights – The Roleplaying Game Kickstarter, by heading to this post on the blog of author Jonathan Green. Simply select the reward you would like from those listed below and then click on the appropriate ‘Buy Now’ button.
The Box of Delights – The Roleplaying Game is an adaptation of John Masefield’s Christmas children’s classic, written by Jonathan Green and illustrated by Tony Hough – the creators of ‘TWAS – The Roleplaying Game Before Christmas – and licensed through The Society of Authors, the Literary Representative of the Estate of John Masefield.
It’s a “rules light” Roleplaying Game, designed to be picked up and played with minimal preparation. Players take on the roles of Kay Harker and the Jones children as they experience the events of the book first-hand, encountering the mysterious Punch-and-Judy Man and becoming embroiled in the sinister plot being perpetrated by the wizard Abner Brown and his coven of wolf-worshipping witches around the Winter Solstice in the run up to Christmas.
Further Watching – and Reading…
• The Box of Delights is available now from all good Blu-Ray outlets (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
• The Midnight Folk by John Masefield (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
• The Box of Delights by John Masefield (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
Illustrated by former Children’s Laureate, Quentin Blake
• Opening the Box of Delights by Philip W. Errington (AmazonUK Affiliate Link) | ISBN: 978-1915412751 | Published by Darton, Longman and Todd, an internationally-respected publisher of brave, ground-breaking, independent books and eBooks on matters of the heart, mind and soul that meet the needs and interests of ordinary people
Web Links
• The Box of Delights Archives
The Box Of Delights Archives is the world’s largest fan site about book by John Masefield, adaptations for radio, television, theatre, music, film, information, photos and trivia and more
• The Box of Delights Appreciation Society
Members of this Facebook group share a diverse enthusiasm for the book, the radio and TV adaptations, the theatre, dance versions and Big Finish productions – and all the delights that have sprung from it. What goes in the Appreciation Society? Nothing is ‘off topic’ as long as there is a link to the Box of Delights! It could be about the author, or the cast, crew, composers, writers etc of the various adaptations. You can post academic stuff about Masefield’s poetry or a pic of you watching your favourite episode. Posts can be serious, charming, moving or jokey. All are welcome!
An occasional podcast about John Masefield’s classic children’s book and the 1984 BBC TV adaption. Paul Emmines chats with the cast and fans of the show, who celebrate it every Christmas and keep the enchanting tale alive for future generations.
• The Box Of Delights Locations Google Map
• Tyger Tale: The Box of Delights – A Glossary
Broadcaster and author Jake Hayes delves into the language of The Box of Delights. Jake’s working life has been spent researching, producing and developing documentaries for the BBC, including Picture Book – An Illustrated History of Children’s Books on BBC Four
• Haunted Generations – Musty Books: “The Box of Delights” by John Masefield (1935)
“Don’t dwell on the past,” Bob Fischer opens, “It’s addictive and corrosive.
“It’s perhaps ironic that such a sentiment should be the underlying moral message of a tale that has become such a totemic symbol of the 1980s childhood Christmas, due almost entirely to the superlative TV adaptation broadcast on BBC1 throughout November and December 1984…”
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Books, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, Television
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