Mr. Jones' Wild Ride
Director Terry Jones fills the current void in family entertainment with his witty and whimsical version of Kenneth Grahame's children's classic ... he infuses this Edwardian paean to friendship and nature with zany humor and childlike innocence. Just hearing timid Mole, played winningly by Steve Coogan, affectionately address Eric Idle's earnest Rat as "Ratty" is enough to plant a feature length smile on your face ... Willows creates a make believe world that is hard to leave.
- W.W., in Film Journal
Directed by Terry Jones, this adaptation of the classic children's tale features most of the members of Monty Python (except Terry Gilliam, who was to play the River but couldn't make it, and the late Graham Chapman, who kept asking for too much money). A lovely film for all ages, it never quite got the respect it deserved. It took three years to find its way to video in North America, Disney thinking there wasn't a market for it, and even when it did get released it was under a new title, "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride." But here are the facts, decide for yourself: To Toad or not to Toad? Special thanks to Pythonline.com, and to Chele Tourney, who worked very very very very hard indeed to make sure we had a copy of the movie before anyone else did.
Messing About on the River
(14.4MB video clip, Realplayer format)
The Wind in the Willows
Very Nasty World
(13.2MB)
Another clip from Terry Jones' lovely film adaptation of the classic children's book The Wind in the Willows. In this clip, the weasels frighten Mole by singing "Very Nasty World," and bring the unsuspecting Toad further into their clutches. Lots of nice special effects in this clip. The film was released in America under the title "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride."