Best DVD of Swallows and Amazons 1974

Find a copy of the Blu-ray of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ in French – ‘Hirondelle et Amazones’ – and see if it helps you pick up the language. You could have a go at writing an online review in French, even if it was a short one. There is a French critique you can read here.

2. Watch the DVD of ‘Swallows and Amazons Forever!’- the BBC TV adaptation of ‘Coot Club’ and ‘The Big Six’ and write (or little ones can dictate) an online review – here’s a link to the Amazon site. You can read about the children who appeared in the serial, for free, on this website.

Puffin edition of Swallows and Amazons — Puffin edition of ‘Swallows and Amazons’

3. Log on to Goodreads and write reviews of any Arthur Ransome books you have read. You could also post your review on other online sites such as Amazon.

4. Watch the DVD of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ (2016) and write an online review – here’s a link to the Amazon site. Into Film run weekly and monthly competitions.

5. You may be familiar with the DVD of ‘Swallows and Amazons’ (1974). You can write an online review or send one to Into Film, as above. Here’s a link to the remastered 40th Anniversary edition with DVD Extras on the Amazon site.

Best DVD of Swallows and Amazons starring Virginia McKenna

6. You can read about how this film was made on location in the Lake District in ‘The Making of Swallows and Amazons’ – do send in a reader’s photo.

It is available as an ebook under the title ‘The Secrets of Filming Swallows and Amazons’ for £2.99 You can read the first pages for free on the preview.

7. If you are interested in filmography or eager to understand the behind-the-scenes workings of a film set, you can compare the making of Swallows and Amazons (1974) as detailed in ‘The Secrets of Filming Swallows and Amazons‘ with the making of the 2016 movie, which has a DVD Extras package. See if you can identify technical aspects of film-making that have evolved over the last forty years, such as CGI and the use of green screens.

Do think of joining The Arthur Ransome Society. You could submit a book or film review for publication in one of their magazines. They run competitions and offer grants for young people keen on taking part in activities that would be dear to Arthur Ransome’s heart, from learning how to sail to story-telling.

swallows-and-amazons-on-dvd

When the movie Swallows & Amazons was released forty years ago the mere idea of Blu-ray or DVD recordings had not been dreamt of. When my father asked about acquiring a copy of the film he was quoted £450 for a set of 35mm reels designed to be projected on a cinema screen. The sum was more than I received for working on location, even though I had a lead part. I was, however, sent a copy of the LP brought out to accompany the film. It was narrated by David Wood who wrote the screenplay and included Wilfred Joseph’s full score. You can still buy these online today.

Although we were never informed, I now discover that at one time you could buy film clips on Supper 8, to project at home. You could probably still find this on eBay.

Super 8 version of Swallows film — Simon West, Suzanna Hamilton, Sophie Neville and Sten Grendon as the Swallows sailing on Coniston Water

When home video recorders first came out in the late Seventies I was working for Virginia McKenna. I remember her husband Bill Travers telling me that they had decided to go for Beta rather than VHS. Almost inevitably Swallows & Amazons was released on VHS, in a big fat box, and came into its own as families snuggled down to watch it at home on rainy afternoons. There were a number of cover designs:

With Ronald Fraser on the cover of the VHS

This one distributed by Warner Bros. is featured on the international movie data base. Click on the image more information and other cover designs.

Readers have sent in an image of the reverse:

There have been different versions marketed all over the world. The movie became so popular in the Baltic and Czech Republic that it has been dubbed a number of times:

The Norweigian version — The Norwegian version

For years the DVD has been sold as a double bill with The Railway Children, which was also financed by EMI Films.

This is the double-bill released by StudioCanal:

In 2008 a DVD of very good quality was released by the Daily Mail, with a picture of me looking like a baby monkey on the wrapper. We were given absolutely no warning. The first I knew of it was a friend ringing up to ask me if I could spare a DVD for his kids, ‘Someone’s swiped the office copy.’

Swallows and Amazons Daily Mail DVD — Suzanna Hamilton and Sophie Neville on the cover of the DVD published by the Daily Mail in March 2008

It was featured on the front cover for seven days, as well as in the magazine. I am often asked if we get residuals for distribution rights or when our images are used to promote newspapers but I have never received anything. This version did at least have end credits. There are reviews on Amazon about a DVD that lacked these. I was amazed that anyone even noticed but viewers assured me it was an outrage.

I am glad the movie can be watched and enjoyed by successive generations of children. The most inspirational cover of all was on that very first boxed VHS, which featured us sailing up Derwentwater:

'Swallows and Amazons' on VHS — The original VHS version of ‘Swallows and Amazons’

In 2014 a remastered Blu-ray and DVD with an Extras package was launched by StudioCanal to celebrate the 40th Anniversary. If you are thinking of buying a copy, this is the one to get. It is available on Amazon by clicking here.

There was also an edition in French:

They later issued a DVD (without extras) adding striking new graphics to the old poster. A sticker advertising the 2016 film of Swallows and Amazons was added to promote the release:

Does anyone know of any other VHS or DVD covers? Do add your comments in the box below.

Swallows Poster April 2013