The Wicker Roundabout
Ali Catterall made this.
Awesome, no? Of course, it helps if you already know both THE WICKER MAN and The Magic Roundabout. While giving all due credit to the guy who first spliced audio from APOCALYPSE NOW and BLUE VELVET onto video from children’s shows, I think this one is neater and more startlingly apt. And Florence’s rendition of Willow’s Song is nearly as erotic as Britt Ekland’s.
The Magic Roundabout was a Belgian children’s show imported to the UK. Eric Thompson (father of Emma) was put in charge of dubbing it into English, and rather than work from a translation of the script, he just projected prints of the episodes onto his kitchen door and made up whatever he felt the characters ought to be saying. So there is a proud history of revoicing this show…
The clips Ali has used come from the feature-length version, DOUGAL AND THE BLUE CAT, also dubbed by Thompson for British screening (although the vagaries of ’70s distribution meant that I was unable to see it as a kid). There was also a 2005 feature, THE MAGIC ROUNDABOUT, a CGI dayglo atrocity with voice artistry from Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue. How can such a civilisation survive? It won’t be long now, comrades.
Thanks to Steven McNicoll and Ali Catterall.
June 8, 2011 at 3:33 pm
This is truly amazing stuff. How is it that Dougal on a diving board is as haunting as Woodward trapped in a twig-and-vine prison?
June 8, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Resonance! It’s like all the media are cross-infecting one another and your childhood dreams are no longer safe!
June 9, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Striking use of color here, especially the blue in the segment. And striking use of music as well. I once had a MAGIC ROUNDABOUT packet of View-Master reels, and so I was familiar with the imagery. But seeing the clip and seeing how Catterall has reworked the footage is far more engaging than those still images were.
June 9, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Oh, the film is all about colour — the evil Blue Cat (for movie cats are always evil) tries to impose blue on everything. The designers try to keep up a variety by cheating like mad, with bluish greens and purples and all sorts.
The original series and movie is highly recommended – check YouTube, there’s bound to be some there. While you’re at it, The Clangers are great too.
June 10, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Hi – this is fantastic. Is this Ali Caterall of Your Face Here (UK film locations book) fame?
Ash
http://permanentplastichelmet.com
June 10, 2011 at 3:45 pm
P.S. Some really good stuff here – definitely subscribing
June 10, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Thanks! I know Ali’s a journalist, so I’m guessing it’s the same guy (unusual name, too!)