People often ask how making the original film of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ influenced my life. What struck me when I last saw the 1974 film trailer on Amazon Prime was that it begins with Titty saying, ‘The endless trek, through the Sahara Desert…’ In 1985, I did just that, crossing the Sahara on an expedition led by Charlie Mayhew, now CEO of the charity TUSK. I made my first documentary on the aid projects we worked on when we eventually reached Kenya. Had uttering those lines when I was little influenced my decision to drive from London to Johannesburg?
People who know Arthur Ransome’s books are able to point out where the original film of Swallows and Amazons made mistakes. Janet Mearns noted that the Swallows ‘certainly didn’t take enamel mugs’ camping, ‘because they took extra in case of breakages.’ I had never noticed!
Andrew Clayton pointed out that, ‘Someone (Hugh Brogan?) Said that John was the lad he wanted to be. Titty, while based on an original person, carries some of his dreams and literary interests.’
Peter Wright, former chairman of The Arthur Ransome Society, noticed that I sang ‘Adieu and Farewell’ instead of ‘Farewell and Adieu to you fair Spanish Ladies’ as the Swallows sailed from the jetty below Holly Howe. I now realize this mistake may have been due to the influence of ‘The Sound of Music’, which was the first movie I ever saw in the cinema. Captivated by the big screen at the age of four, I must have had the lyrics – ‘So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu, Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu,’ imprinted on my brain.
I didn’t sing very well, but one of the secrets to the integrity of the film was that there was no vanity. None of us sought to further ourselves. Self promotion was an unknown concept. We had no personal agenda. We were not there for the money or any reason other than to live out the life portrayed in the books. All of us spurned the publicity and still find it surreal.
Someone also said how much they would have loved to live through a scene from ‘Swallows and Amazons’. We were fortunate enough to live through an abridged version of the book, which is what my parents hoped. It must have been one reason why my headmistress let me take a term off school to appear in the film.
Since then I went on to lead a ‘Swallows and Amazons’ style life, exploring unchartered territory, which isn’t always easy, I was touched when a fan of the books wrote:
‘Arthur Ransome has helped me through some very difficult times – when you are at your wits end to know what to do or where to turn, it is so refreshing to return to the Lake, or Norfolk, to a peace and tranquillity where you can forget your problems and just enjoy the adventures of the Swallows, Amazons, D’s, Coots, wherever you happen to be.’
Nigel H Seymour wrote, ‘…every-time I put the ‘Swallow’s and Amazon’s film on, I’m transported into another dimension and another time. it’s so very refreshingly simple and innocent, it radiates with a romanticism and happiness which has sadly been lost now for ever, but luckily we have the film and we still have ‘You’….. to keep the memory alive!’
Sophie Neville 
I’ve watched that wonderful film several times over the decades both on terrestrial TV and DVD but recently bought the blu-ray edition not just the interviews but also for the enhanced print. What I hadn’t expected was the couple of examples where jet engine vapour trails could be seen high in the sky. Every cloud ….
Ahh – which scenes? We waited ages for them to clear, but sometimes it was just not possible. What else odd things did you spot? There are a few other nastys.
It, of course, isn’t a criticism of the production just testament to the quality of the blu-ray print. And anyway, few will notice as they’re ‘dispersed’ vapour trails – meaning that the source is a little way ahead. Nonetheless they can be seen at 11:31 and for a few seconds from 1:33:38.
This is an opportunity for me to commend you for the great success you’ve had both in front and behind the camera. Also your writings are absolutely prodigious! I hope your private life has been just as rewarding.
I watched the interviews with great interest but was struck once again by Suzanne’s appearance. ‘once more’ because another interview a few years later further reminiscing about S and A which I recall watching, once again left me rather concerned about her health. I do hope I’m wrong.
It’s very lovely to make this brief connection, Sophie, and I hope things go from strength to strength for you.
All the best for this coming holiday time and for the new year.
Yours
Philip Hughes
I hope you have enjoyed the books! I’ve written most fully about my life in ‘Funnily Enough’ and ‘Ride The Wings of Morning’, when we actually write letters to each other. I now post on Instagram and Facebook. Perhaps I should add more on my private life. I’ll have a go. Suzanna is very well. She was working terrifically hard, touring with on a one woman play, but managed to join us in Cumbria for the 50th Anniversary of ‘Swallows and Amazons’.