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Whistle Down The Wind Details

1961 DVD Certificate PG.gif
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 1020 members

Three motherless children believe that the murderer they found sheltering in a barn is really Christ. A thoughtful study of childhood innocence and simple faith. Based on a novel by Mary Hayley Bell. Read more

Starring Alan Bates, Hayley Mills, Bernard Lee
Director Bryan Forbes
Genres Drama

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Whistle Down The Wind cover art

Whistle Down The Wind

Three motherless children believe that the murderer they found sheltering in a barn is really Christ. A thoughtful study of childhood innocence and simple faith. Based on a novel by Mary Hayley Bell.

Starring Alan Bates, Hayley Mills, Bernard Lee
Director Bryan Forbes
Studio CARLTON VISUAL ENTERTAINMENT LTD
Run time DVD: 1 hr 35 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate PG.gif
Genres Drama
Language English
Hearing-impaired English
Released DVD: 17 Mar 2004
Production year: 1961
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of Whistle Down The Wind

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    In this daring allegory, Alan Bates plays a dishevelled murderer on the run who's confronted by three Lancashire children who think he's the persecuted Jesus Christ deserving of their protection. First-time director Bryan Forbes treats his material with heart-touching gravity and delicacy, and the symbolism only starts to come to pieces when the grown-up need for justice intrudes. Young Hayley Mills — her mother wrote the novel on which this film is based — is wonderfully wide-eyed, while Bates, as the ambiguous stranger, gives one of his most involving performances.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • Forbes' first film, a reef-ridden whimsy about three Lancashire farm kids who find a fugitive murderer (Bates) hiding... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of Whistle Down The Wind

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  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars [Highly rated reviewer]

    Childhood fave

    When I was wee I used to watch this film over and over again and loved every minute of it!!!

    Well having just watched it again years later I can tell you I love it just as much. Its amazing how much of it I remember and how vivid the dialogue and imagery are!!! I forgot how funny Charlie is; ' ya rotten cows' and 'me pully' being the most memorable quotes!! I even forgot the fact that Alan Bates' character was wanted for murder, but perhaps as an naive 6 year old I simply thought he was 'a bad man'? Who knows?

    Unlike revisiting a lot of shows/films from childhood, Whistle down the wind didn't disappoint and was a great trip down memory lane!!!

    I dare you not to whistle that tune for hours afterwards!!!

  • Most recent members' review of Whistle Down The Wind

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  • 2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Exellent classic

    This has stood the test of time. If you don't already know the plot then I suspect it will be even more enjoyable.

      • Joe Wright from Menston Yorkshire
      • Posted 21 Aug 2004 13:25

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Rating breakdown

1,020 Member ratings
  • 100
206
  • 90
118
  • 80
194
  • 70
183
  • 60
140
  • 50
73
  • 40
42
  • 30
26
  • 20
25
  • 10
13

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      • Three motherless children believe that the murderer they found sheltering in a barn is really Christ. A thoughtful study of childhood innocence and simple faith. Based on a novel by Mary Hayley Bell....