IMDb RATING
7.6/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
When an injured wife murderer takes refuge on a remote Lancashire farm, the owner's three children mistakenly believe him to be the Second Coming of Christ.When an injured wife murderer takes refuge on a remote Lancashire farm, the owner's three children mistakenly believe him to be the Second Coming of Christ.When an injured wife murderer takes refuge on a remote Lancashire farm, the owner's three children mistakenly believe him to be the Second Coming of Christ.
- Nominated for 4 BAFTA Awards
- 1 win & 5 nominations total
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe title "Whistle Down the Wind" originally comes from falconry and means "to let a falcon fly away free."
- GoofsIn several scenes, but especially when the children are in the barn discussing a name for the cats, the youngest boy can be seen mouthing the other characters lines before he says his own.
- Quotes
Charlie Bostock: It isn't Jesus. It's just a fella.
- Crazy creditsThe character played by Alan Bates is named Arthur Alan Blakey in the movie, but in the credits he is listed as "The Man."
- ConnectionsFeatured in Blue Peter: Episode #4.32 (1961)
- SoundtracksWe Three Kings
(uncredited)
Words and Music by John H. Hopkins (as Reverend John Henry Hopkins,, Jr.)
Incorporated into incidental music
Featured review
superb, superior children's film
The original story, before Andrew Lloyd-Webber americanised it (and ruined it, IMO), was written by Hayley Mills' mother, Mary Hayley Bell, and starred Hayley as a Northern girl who thinks she finds Jesus Christ returned to Earth and living in her father's barn. In fact the man is a convict on the run (beautifully played by Alan Bates, one of his best early roles).
The girl and her sister and little brother (Alan Barnes, a superb performance) cosset the man and plot to keep him secret from the adults, because of what happened to him 'last time'. The man in turn is bewildered by the increasing adultation and attention of the neighbouring kids.
One of the strongest points of the story, aside from the contention that religion really couldn't cope with the return of Christ, is the developing attraction between the pre-teen Mills and Bates. This is understated but unmistakable, and owes a lot to Hayley's talent when she was a child actress. The music by Matthew Arnold is superb and Bryan Forbes' direction is sympathetic and cleverly done.
Perhaps the final symbolism is overdone but 'Whistle' is an excellent film that lingers long in the memory.
The girl and her sister and little brother (Alan Barnes, a superb performance) cosset the man and plot to keep him secret from the adults, because of what happened to him 'last time'. The man in turn is bewildered by the increasing adultation and attention of the neighbouring kids.
One of the strongest points of the story, aside from the contention that religion really couldn't cope with the return of Christ, is the developing attraction between the pre-teen Mills and Bates. This is understated but unmistakable, and owes a lot to Hayley's talent when she was a child actress. The music by Matthew Arnold is superb and Bryan Forbes' direction is sympathetic and cleverly done.
Perhaps the final symbolism is overdone but 'Whistle' is an excellent film that lingers long in the memory.
Helpful•151
- How long is Whistle Down the Wind?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- £148,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content