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Escape from the Dark (1975)

Director: Charles Jarrott

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Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

A loathsome Disney attempt to foist the standards of Upstairs Downstairs on a turn-of-the-century Yorkshire colliery: anyone taking children to see it will have to put up with 'Can I go down a mine, too?' for the rest of the week. In a daringly flagrant disregard for the Industrial Revolution, our story shows how humble pit-ponies can beat new-fangled mechanisation every time, and how honest colliers only want to get on with their job without interference from The Bosses. 'Them ponies belong in the pit, same as us' is the line of the film: it's as if Lawrence and Orwell, let alone Kes, had never existed. England's class-ridden society of acting talent (Sim as crusty earl, beaming Joe Gladwin down t'pit) does its duty, but all are on a hiding to nothing.

Author: AN 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • Catt Derry said...
    Posted on Jan 15 2008 05:00 A Disney film that doesn't rely upon sickly sweet storylines and badly sung dittys, Escape From The Dark is a classic tale set in the heart of rural England that is guaranteed to make any viewer rethink their priorities. Forget historical accuracy, forget the achievements of the industrial revolution but look at it through the eyes of a child and see how opinion can be swayed, this movies makes the audience turn the microscope in on themselves and only the truly heartless or the extremely arrogant can dismiss the issues of culture, heritage and morality within this film. Technically it is not the best piece of cinematography on record, there are a number of issues in relation to angles, lighting and acting but place this film in to context and you will recognise an early piece of movie magic that Disney should be proud of!!
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Cast & crew

Director: Charles Jarrott

Producer: Ron Miller

Cast: Alastair Sim, Peter Barkworth, Maurice Colbourne, Susan Tebbs, Geraldine McEwan, Prunella Scales, Leslie Sands, Joe Gladwin full cast

Genre(s): Children's

Duration: 104 mins


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