The Flying Liftboy

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The Flying Liftboy
Abeltjedutchposter.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Ben Sombogaart
Screenplay by Burny Bos
Based on Abeltje
by Annie M. G. Schmidt
Produced byBurny Bos
Starring
CinematographyReinier van Brummelen
Edited byHerman P. Koerts
Music by Henny Vrienten
Production
companies
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release dates
Running time
110 minutes
CountryNetherlands
Languages
  • Dutch
  • English
  • Spanish
  • German
Budgetƒ9.2 million [2] [3]

The Flying Liftboy (Dutch : Abeltje) is a 1998 Dutch family adventure film directed by Ben Sombogaart and written and produced by Burny Bos, [4] [5] based on the 1953 Dutch children's book Abeltje by Annie M. G. Schmidt. It stars Rick van Gastel, Soraya Smith, Frits Lambrechts, Marisa van Eyle and Annet Malherbe. It is the first feature film to be adapted from Schmidt's books.

Contents

Development began in 1994, when Bos acquired the rights to the book from Schmidt. However, various issues such as the budget delayed production of the film. It was filmed in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain and New York.

The film was released on 26 November 1998 in the Netherlands by Warner Bros. under their Family Entertainment label. The film received positive reviews and became a major success in the country. [6] It won the Golden Calf for Best Feature Film. [7] The film was later re-edited into a seven-episode miniseries for television by AVRO in 2000. [8]

Plot

After a humiliating incident involving his girlfriend Laura, Mother Roef takes her son Abeltje away from school and gets him a job as a lift boy at department store KNOTS. After a tour of the job, his manager Schraap tells him not to push the green button under any circumstances, under pressure, Abeltje pushes the green button and the lift takes off. This to the horror of Roef, the management, and the other inhabitants of the lift, Soon after the lift flies out of the department store, Abeltje finds out how to steer the lift.

His traveling companions - Laura, mothball salesman Jozias Tump, and singing teacher Miss Klaterhoen - are also embroiled in his adventure. Abeltje manages to land the lift on a New York parking lot. There Abeltje sets off to look for work. Millionaire Mrs. Cockle-Smith thinks he is her long-lost son Johnny and kidnaps him.

Locked up in the luxury penthouse of his 'second' mother, Abeltje finds out that he does bear an uncanny resemblance to Johnny, this makes his next destination clear: he wants to find Johnny. Mr Tump helps Abeltje to escape and immediately after they reach the lift they set off at top speed for Perugona in South America, the spot where Johnny disappeared.

In Perugona, their visit happens to coincide with a coup. they end up in the hands of the guerrillas who appoint the vain Mr Tump as President. Everyone knows that Tump is only a puppet, Mr Tump himself is convinced that this career leap is a justified confirmation of his personality. Mr Tump's position makes it possible for Abeltje to set off with Laura in search of Johnny. In The Netherlands and New York, it has become clear that the lift and its inhabitants are in Perugona and the mothers of Abeltje and Johnny set off to look for their offspring. The exciting hunt for Abeltje has started. The hunt gets even more exciting when Abeltje does indeed manage to find Johnny.

Roef arrives in Perugona and accidentally takes Johnny back in her plane and sets off to The Netherlands. When Mr Tump is then deposed, it's high time for the lift travellers to set off for the safety of their own home. But then in front of the eyes of Mother Roef, Mrs. Cockle Smith and the guerrillas the lift disappears into the volcano Quoquapepapetl. During the memorial service in the department store, the lift pops up in the elevator shaft and everyone is reunited.

Cast

Production

Development

Olivier Tuinier, who starred in Sombogaart's The Pocket-knife was originally cast as Abeltje Roef, but following production delays, he grew out of the role and was replaced with Ricky van Gastel. [9]

During filming, Burny Bos was in negotiations with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Buena Vista International and Warner Bros. over the distribution rights for the Benelux. [10] Warner Bros. eventually acquired the rights of the film on 24 November 1997. [11]

Filming

Principal photography took place in the Noordoostpolder, Hilversum, Luxembourg, Seville and New York. [3]

Effects

Lukkien Digital Film Facilities provided the effects for the film. [12]

Music

Henny Vrienten composed the score for the film. [13] Trijntje Oosterhuis wrote the song Vlieg met me mee (het avontuur) for the film.

Release

Critical response

Dana Linssen of NRC Handelsblad wrote a positive review and states that the film "offers great entertainment for Schmidt purists" and that "every joke and every storyline is catchy on several levels, including the art direction full of searching pictures and unexpected discoveries." She concluded her review saying that the film "is more intelligent and witty than many of its American counterparts and the film should definitely be able to win the race with the traditional Christmas Disney releases." [14]

Home media

The film was released on VHS and DVD by Warner Home Video on 19 May 1999. The DVD release is presented in a 1.33:1 format, while the bonus materials included on the disc are three music videos from the film. [15] It was later re-issued on 25 April 2007 as part of De Annie M.G. Schmidt Collectie 2 DVD set that includes Miss Minoes and Otje. [16]

Accolades

Accolades received by The Flying Liftboy
YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
1999 Netherlands Film Festival Golden Calf for Best Feature Film Burny Bos Won [7]
Golden Calf for Best Actress Annet Malherbe Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Sande, Monique van de (25 November 1998). "Ook Annie heeft gelachen om Abeltje". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 25 August 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025– via Delpher.
  2. ↑ van Gelder, Henk (19 June 1999). "Abeltje". Filmjaarboek 1998. By Hans Beerekamp. International Theatre & Film books. p. 31. ISBN   9064035415.
  3. 1 2 Schöttelndreier, Mirjam (20 May 1998). "Het Annie-virus steekt nu de kop op". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Bots, Pieter (December 1998). "Abeltje, James Bond voor kinderen". Filmkrant; nr. 195 (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  5. ↑ Stienen, François (November 1998). "Burny Bos, Iedereen heeft het over Abeltje". Filmkrant; nr. 194 (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  6. ↑ van de Kamp, Miriam (25 June 2009). "Where Corporate Culture and Local Markets Meet. Music and Film Majors in the Netherlands, 1990-2005" (PDF). Erasmus University Rotterdam. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 May 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  7. 1 2 "NFF Archief - Abeltje". Netherlands Film Festival (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  8. ↑ "Abeltje (2000)". KinderTV Geheugen (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 25 June 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  9. ↑ Zagt, Ab (19 November 1998). "Abeltje: Een eigenwijze belhamel". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 August 2025– via Delpher.
  10. ↑ Schenkius, Michiel (June 1998). "De "B" van Abeltje". Holland Film Nieuws, nr. 22 (in Dutch). p. 19. Archived from the original on 9 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "Bos Bros en Warner Bros. (Holland) sluiten distributie-over-eenkomst voor Abeltje". Holland Film Nieuws, nr. 19 (in Dutch). December 1997. p. 19. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  12. ↑ Ekker, Jan Pieter (26 November 1998). "'De spontaniteit van de kinderen stond voorop'". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  13. ↑ Schenkius, Michiel (June 1998). "De "B" van Abeltje". Holland Film Nieuws, nr. 22 (in Dutch). p. 18. Archived from the original on 9 June 2025. Retrieved 10 June 2025.
  14. ↑ Linssen, Dana (25 November 1998). "Abeltje: van een verlegen ventje tot bedeesde skater". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 13 October 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  15. ↑ Rogiers, Dieter (13 May 2007). "ABELTJE". DVDinfo.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 25 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  16. ↑ van Oostrum, Arnold (30 March 2007). "Warner releases in april en mei". AllesOverFilm. Archived from the original on 6 March 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
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