The Hill and Beyond: Children's Television Drama - An Encyclopedia (BFI Modern Classics) Book

Some of the best-loved television programs of all--hazily remembered but never forgotten--were the exciting drama series, serials, and plays made for children. Firing the imaginations of generations, these programs invited viewers to visit the distant past or the far-flung future and save the world before bedtime. This book includes entries on every program defined as British-made children's drama to have been shown on UK screens since 1950--more than 250 of them. The vast majority of these are receiving in-depth coverage for the first time anywhere. Critical appraisals assess the kinds of stories told for children and include a wealth of technical data and trivia. The enormous variety of children's drama on television is recalled from Grange Hill to Stig of the Dump, from The Railway Children to The Magician's House and The Chronicles of Narnia to The Box of Delights. The book considers both adaptations of literary classics and all-new writing, contemporary and period dramas, adventure, fantasy, and science fiction. More than half a century on BBC and ITV are examined, going back to humble beginnings in the '50s and '60s, reliving a golden age in the '70s and '80s, and bringing things up to date with a host of more recent examples. Coverage* Adventure stories Follyfoot, Freewheelers, The Famous Five* Historical dramas -Carrie's War The Machine Gunners, The Secret Garden * Science fiction -The Changes , Chocky, Aliens in the Family The Demon Headmaster*Tales of supernatural fantasy and ancient legend - The Owl Service, Elidor, Children of the Stones, The Children of Green Knowe, Tom's Midnight Garden * Contemporary social dramas - Press Gang Break in the Sun and Running ScaredRead More