annamargaret1948

This charming tale of Midge the otter never fails to
delight me, no matter how many times I watch it. The humour
is really funny, unlike many comedies of today. There is
something here to please every member of the family, from tots
to senior citizens whilst the timeless quality of the story
never seems to date. Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers
are perfect in the leading roles, but Midge often steals
the limelight! This is a classic which will continue to
charm!

batman

Very sad end, though.

Bats.

Dame Starry

Yes, Bats, it was. That's a lot of tissues for me, that film.

I have never forgiven Little John for leaving Sherwood Forest to do roadworks and using his shovel in a most inhumane manner.
How they ever let him loose with a bow and arrow, I'll never know.

For all the years he spent in 'Robin Hood', Archie Duncan will be best-known to a younger generation as the nasty man who killed Mij the otter. I don't think he was credited either!

Starry x.

Windthrop

The film was a little bit dishonest in that Maxwell was simply seen as a loner rather than gay

Steve Crook

Homosexuality only stopped being illegal 2 years before the film was made. It took quite a while before people would talk aabout it openly after having been used to hiding it for so long

Steve

Windthrop

True - youve got me there hadn't realised that it was pre-Wolfendon

Steve Crook

Or post, but only just post of the Sexual Offences Act 1967 and the effects hadn't really filtered through by 1969 when Ring of Bright Water was made.

Steve

Marky B

That's a new one on me. I always thought he found romance with Virginia McKenna's character. A lovely film,but as Bats said,a sad ending.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I once shot an elephant in my pyjamas - how he got in my pyjamas,I'll never know

Dame Starry

I must say that I never thought of the main character as being gay at all! I think that there was a romance 'hinted at' with Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna but, because it was probably considered a film for 'young people', it wasn't delved into too deeply - kids don't like things like that, do they?
It's a simple story and that's how it should be taken. No good looking for things that just aren't there.

Starry x.

jacobean

To be honest, I think the ending would traumatise most young children. Children have to know that cute animals have to die sometime, but some old Jock clouting it over the head was too shocking.

kevjo

I have very vivid memories of being dragged from the cinema along with my brother (we were 7 and 5) howling and screaming and crying our eyes out. Even nearly 40 years later it is still something of a family joke. We've both got the film in our DVD collections, but still haven't quite got around to watching it all the way through again.

It's a pity really because for the most part it is lovely film, and I have always been haunted by the theme tune - which is odd because I was crying my eyes out at the time - but I could never find a recording of it anywhere.

Aaryk Noctivagus

I was thrilled when this finally came out on DVD a little while ago now. 'A Ring of Bright Water', 'The Belstone Fox' and 'Greyfriars Bobby' are my favourite animal related movies. Two are out on lovely DVD now... however 'Greyfriars Bobby' is still being mistreated by Disney, - I understand the print used for the DVD is in terrible condition.

The awful and recent 'The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby' made even Christopher Lee look old and tired and I never ever want to see that one again.

Mark Antony

I remember seeing this as a young boy on holiday. It was enjoyable, with a beautiful title too. However, I've never seen a film with such an upsetting ending. I vowed never to see it again and I never have.

I agree with the comment about traumatising young children, even adults to an extent. A pity..

Torquemada

It was the "just an otter" comment that got me.

Aaryk Noctivagus

I for one love the ending of 'A Ring of Bright Water' and thank goodness it didn't cop out on it. I wonder if anybody would still be talking about this movie had it copped out. Its the diamond in the gold ring.