The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1979 film)

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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe 1979.jpg
UK VHS cover
Based on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
by C. S. Lewis
Written byDavid D. Connell
Bill Melendez
Directed by Bill Melendez
StarringRachel Warren
Simon Adams
Nicholas Barnes
Sheila Hancock
Arthur Lowe
Leo McKern
Don Parker
Leslie Phillips
Beth Porter
Liz Proud
Susan Sokol
Stephen Thorne
Composer Michael J. Lewis
Country of originUnited Kingdom
United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes2
Production
Executive producerDavid D. Connell
Producer Steven Cuitlahuac Melendez
EditorsMichael Crane
Mick Manning
José Pallejá
Running time95 minutes
Production companies Children's Television Workshop
Bill Melendez Productions
Episcopal Radio-TV Foundation
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseApril 1 (1979-04-01) 
April 2, 1979 (1979-04-02)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is an animated television program that was broadcast in two parts on CBS on April 1 and 2, 1979, based on the 1950 novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. It was adapted by animator Bill Melendez. [1]

Contents

Plot

When the Pevensie Children Lucy, Susan, Edmund, and Peter go to Professor Kirke's mansion due to the air raids of World War 2, they stumble into an old wardrobe which transports them to a magical land called Narnia with talking animals, fauns, hags, the oppressive White Witch and the great lion Aslan. There they meet the friendly Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who help them on their quest to find Aslan the great lion. Only he can help save Lucy's friend Mr. Tumnus (the faun) from the White Witch. They have a fun mysterious time there, and ultimately end up ruling as kings and queens, until they end up back home. The Professor tells the children that they will return to Narnia one day.

Production notes

The rights to produce the television program were given to the Episcopal Radio TV Foundation in the mid-1950s when C. S. Lewis was recording the Episcopal Series of the Protestant Hour radio programs. Dr. Ted Baehr was elected President of the Episcopal Radio TV Foundation as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was preparing to be broadcast by CBS, and he supervised the distribution of the subsequent video. The CBS program had 37 million viewers and won two Emmy Awards. [2]

Voices

CharacterUK VersionUS Version
Lucy PevensieLisa MossRachel Warren
Edmund Pevensie Nicholas Barnes Simon Adams
Peter Pevensie Stephen Garlick Reg Williams
Susan PevensieShelley CrowhurstSusan Sokol
Jadis (The White Witch) Sheila Hancock Beth Porter
Mr. Beaver Arthur Lowe Don Parker
Professor Leo McKern Dick Vosburgh
Mr. Tumnus Leslie Phillips Victor Spinetti
Mrs. Beaver June Whitfield Liz Proud
Dwarf Peter Hawkins Unknown
Fox
Aslan Stephen Thorne

The only actor to appear in both versions is Stephen Thorne (who voiced Aslan).

Differences between novel and animated film

Releases

VHS UK history

References

  1. Woolery, George W. (1989). Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962–1987. Scarecrow Press. pp. 251–253. ISBN   0-8108-2198-2 . Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  2. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – Awards. "31st Primetime Emmy Awards – September 9, 1979". The Emmys. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved March 30, 2016.