The Water Babies cover art

The Water Babies Details

1978 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 806 members

Charles Kingsley's classic magical children's tale of Tom, a twelve year-old boy who is apprenticed to the unkind Master Chimney Sweep, Grimes. Life is tough for Tom - while he sweeps, Grimes and his unpleasant sidekick, Masterman, busy themselves thieving. Live action and animation. Read more

Starring James Mason, Billie Whitelaw, Bernard Cribbins, Joan Greenwood
Director Lionel Jeffries
Genres Family

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The Water Babies cover art

The Water Babies

Charles Kingsley's classic magical children's tale of Tom, a twelve year-old boy who is apprenticed to the unkind Master Chimney Sweep, Grimes. Life is tough for Tom - while he sweeps, Grimes and his unpleasant sidekick, Masterman, busy themselves thieving. Live action and animation.

Starring James Mason, Billie Whitelaw, Bernard Cribbins, Joan Greenwood, David Tomlinson
Director Lionel Jeffries
Studio SHOWBOX MEDIA
Run time DVD: 1 hr 35 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Family
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 18 Aug 2008
Production year: 1978
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Water Babies

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  • 1 stars out of 5

    Combining cartoon and live action, this is a ghastly adaptation of the Charles Kingsley classic. Admittedly, director Lionel Jeffries had to revert to animation to tell the tale of a young chimney sweep who rescues a group of underwater children from a tyrannical shark. But the cartooning is bland, the voicing of the sea creatures and the water babies too cute, and the songs are a disgrace. Compounding the disappointment is the fact that the opening section, in which shifty sweep James Mason and his dim-witted assistant Bernard Cribbins plot to burgle a country manor, shows promise.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • The live action bookends are strangely subdued, the animated middle totally characterless and seeming to bear little relation to the rest. A considerable disappointment.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of The Water Babies

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    STILL AS GOOD AS EVER

    I watched this with my kids,now I have watched it with my grandkids and it still one of the best.

    Try it you won,t be disapointed.

      • A customer from CARLISLE ENGLAND
      • Posted 15 Mar 2005 20:16

  • Most recent members' review of The Water Babies

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    We had a flounder of a time!!!

    A Film for all the family. A brilliant contrast of annimation and acting.

    The acting was brilliant and the cartoons were outstanding and fun.

      • Waitrose Fan from Never Never Land
      • Posted 29 Mar 2005 12:30

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167
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39
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by: Trevor Williamson from Chelmsford, England

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    • The Water Babies

    • The Water Babies
      Charles Kingsley's classic magical children's tale of Tom, a twelve year-old boy who is apprenticed to the unkind Master Chimney Sweep, Grimes. Life is tough for Tom - while he sweeps, Grimes and his unpleasant sidekick, Masterman, busy themselves thieving. Live action and animation....