Entertainment

Cult Movies: Ralph McClean on the retro charm of Cosgrove Hall's animated BFG

Cosgrove Hall's 1989 animated take on Roald Dahls's children's classic, The BFG
Cosgrove Hall's 1989 animated take on Roald Dahls's children's classic, The BFG Cosgrove Hall's 1989 animated take on Roald Dahls's children's classic, The BFG

The BFG

RUMOUR has it that Roald Dahl hated most cinematic adaptations of his work with a passion. He may have reserved most of his loathing for the 1971 take on his much loved novel Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – they demoted ordinary kid Charlie from the title to make way for factory owner Willy Wonka, the casting failed to meet with his approval (he wanted someone quintessentially British like Spike Milligan, the studio delivered Gene Wilder) and they even had the temerity to largely re-write his original screenplay – but truth was he detested just about every attempt to put his words onto the big screen.

He did, however, give a rare thumbs up to the 1989 version of his children's classic The BFG. In fact, Dahl went as far as to say he was "charmed" by the animated adaptation from British company Cosgrove Hall.

With Steven Spielberg's mega budget take on the same story currently radiating a sense of general goodwill at cinemas right now, it's a good time to remember the simple charms of that 80's version.

Wildly inventive, genuinely charming and odd enough to appeal to those who like their cinema ever so slightly psychedelic, Cosgrove Hall's BFG was, and still is, a fascinating beast of a movie.

Much of its success can be attributed to director Brian Cosgrove.

Alongside co-producer Mark Hall, Cosgrove delivered such timeless kids TV fare as Danger Mouse, Count Duckula and The Wind In The Willows, and much of what made those productions so magical transfers beautifully onto the screen here.

David Jason was the man who added so much vocal wallop to those TV classics and as lead voice talent here his impact is massive.

His unique voice brings Dahl's famous 'gloriumptious' giant speak to life with real style, and even the songs – not the strongest element of the film, it must be said – benefit from old Del Boy's dulcet tones.

The story is faithfully re-told and doesn't shy away from the darker elements of Dahl's slightly creepy yarn either.

The bad giants who stomp the earth looking for humans to consume are fearful creations and there are ghostly apparitions on show that are so genuinely spooky they wouldn't make the cut on most kids feature films today.

Jason's BFG is a neatly stylised take on the famous Quentin Blake illustrations from the book (with a bit more beef, it must be said) and the character of Sophie, the little orphan who the BFG takes a shine to, is equally impressive.

Voiced by Amanda Root, she is a kindly, decent figure with a distressing back story that is pure Dahl darkness.

There's a glorious, faintly woozy trippiness as we travel from human to giant world and Dream Country and, while the leisurely 80's pacing might put off some modern viewers, there's a laid back charm in the visuals that stays with you long after the film is over.

Yes, there's a real retro charm at play here that allows you to forgive some of the film's more jarring 80's elements and just enjoy the nostalgic ride.

Cosgrove does take a little liberty with the ending but it doesn't affect the natural warmth of the film at all.

It may not have been made with the budget of Spielberg's film but in terms of capturing the vibe of Dahl's original work, the 1989 BFG is a giant achievement.