Swallows & Amazons (1974)

Enchanting adaptation of Arthur Ransome’s classic novel about four young siblings from the Walker family on holiday in the Lake District. They sail a small boat to an island to camp out and seek adventure. They encounter two girls (the Blackett sisters) doing much the same and – after some initial friction – they team up. Remarkably, their mother doesn’t seem the slightest bit worried about them disappearing for days at a time, entirely out of contact and in various dangerous situations (deep water, cliff edges, talking to strange adults, and so on), but then it is presented from the childrens’ point of view (allowing safety concerns to be ignored). Plus, kids were tougher in those days. They never argue among themselves and they never come to any harm, but they do have a lot of fun.

It’s an innocent story from a more innocent time – jolly japes for posh people with fathers in the navy and an early induction into sailing techniques. The story does develop to an exciting climax involving petty theft, but mostly it’s just about the children playing – and that’s enough. It’s so sweet and endearing that it doesn’t require any further drama. The 2016 remake, while also entertaining, felt the need to introduce an unnecessary plot about a secret agent.

All four child actors are excellent. Not sure what happened to the other three, but in a fairly extreme shift of roles Suzanna Hamilton went on to play Julia in 1984.

1984 (1984)

Grim, grey, grisly retelling of the George Orwell novel. John Hurt is Winston Smith. Suzanna Hamilton plays his illicit lover Julia. And Richard Burton is the sinister O’Brien.

While it’s expertly done, it’s difficult to appreciate something so unrelentingly pessimistic – especially during a global crisis. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to take away from it. Yes, totalitarianism is bad. And yes, there are many parallels with the modern world – especially in these dark days of Donald Trump, when “truth” has been devalued.

The Eurythmics recorded the soundtrack, but hardly any of that music is in the film.