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The Chronicles of Narnia (TV series)

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The Chronicles of Narnia
Title screen
GenreFantasy
Created byC. S. Lewis (novel)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of series3
No. of episodes18
Production
Running time25–30 min per each episode
505 min total for series (estimate)
Original release
NetworkBBC
Release13 November 1988 (1988-11-13) –
23 December 1990 (1990-12-23)

The Chronicles of Narnia is a British BBC-produced television series that was aired from 13 November 1988 to 23 December 1990 and is based on four books of C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series. The first series aired was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1988, the second series aired was Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 1989 and the third series aired was The Silver Chair in 1990. This television series was produced by Paul Stone, with the teleplay by Alan Seymour. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was directed by Marilyn Fox, while Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair were directed by Alex Kirby.

Plot

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Main article: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1988 TV serial)

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie are siblings who are evacuated from London because of the air raids in World War II. Soon after arriving at their temporary home, the four children discover that a wardrobe in a spare room contains a portal to the magical land of Narnia. There, they become involved in a war against the White Witch, and help restore the true ruler, a lion called Aslan, serving as kings and queens under him for many years before returning to their own world through the wardrobe.

Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Main article: Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1989 TV serial)

The four Pevensie children are waiting at a train station when a magical force pulls them back into Narnia, where they help Prince Caspian overthrow his evil uncle, King Miraz, and take the throne.

Back in England, Edmund and Lucy visit their cousin Eustace Scrubb. All three are sucked into a painting of Prince Caspian's ship, the Dawn Treader. Caspian, who has grown into a young man since they last saw him, explains that he is on a quest to find seven lords who were friends of his late father. The quest requires them to sail through dangerous waters, encountering new islands where things are not what they seem, and finally to sail to the end of the world.

The Silver Chair

Main article: The Silver Chair (1990 TV serial)

Eustace Scrubb, cousin of the Pevensies, is at a boarding school with a girl named Jill Pole. While running away from bullies, they pass through a doorway into Aslan's country. Eustace accidentally falls off a cliff, but is blown to Narnia. Alone, Jill encounters Aslan, who explains that in Narnia, King Caspian's only son and heir, Prince Rilian, disappeared some years earlier. Jill is told to memorise four signs that will lead her and Eustace to Rilian. Aslan sends Jill to Narnia, where she is reunited with Eustace near the castle of Cair Paravel and the two follow the four signs as they search for the lost prince. They finally rescue Rilian and return to Narnia with him shortly before the elderly Caspian dies.

Cast

Actor The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe 		Prince Caspian and the
Voyage of the Dawn Treader 		The Silver Chair

Main cast members

Richard Dempsey Peter Pevensie
Sophie Cook Susan Pevensie
Jonathan R. Scott Edmund Pevensie
Sophie Wilcox Lucy Pevensie
David Thwaites Eustace Scrubb
Camilla Power Jill Pole

Recurring cast members

Jeffrey Perry Mr. Tumnus Mr. Tumnus
Ailsa Berk Aslan (puppet) Aslan (puppet)
Dragon
William Todd-Jones Aslan (puppet) Aslan (puppet)
Glenstorm 		Aslan (puppet)
Centaur
Ronald Pickup Aslan (voice)
Big Mick Little Man Trumpkin
Barbara Kellerman White Witch Old Hag Green Lady
Martin Stone Maugrim Wolfman
Kerry Shale Mr Beaver
Lesley Nicol Mrs. Beaver Giant Queen
Jean Marc Perret Prince Caspian Young Caspian
Henry Woolf Dr. Cornelius Dr. Cornelius
Michael Aldridge Professor Digory Kirke
Maureen Morris Mrs MaCready
Bert Parnaby Father Christmas
Jill Goldston Young Squirrel
Hamish Kerr Fox
Ken Kitson Giant Rumblebuffin
Warwick Davis Reepicheep Glimfeather
Reepicheep
Jack Purvis Dufflepud Golg
Samuel West King Caspian
John Hallam Captain Drinian
Geoffrey Russell King Caspian
Richard Henders Prince Rilian
Roy Boyd Lord Drinian
Tom Baker Puddleglum

Awards

The series were nominated for a total of 16 awards, including a nomination for an Emmy in the category of "Outstanding Children's Program".[1] The series won the BAFTA Award for "Best Video Lighting" (1988[2]), and was nominated for "Best Children's Programme (Entertainment / Drama)" (1988,[3] 1989,[4] 1990[5]), "Best Video Lighting" (1989,[6] 1990[7]), "Best Make Up" (1988,[8] 1989,[9] 1990[10]), "Best Costume Design" (1988,[11] 1989[12]), "Best Design" (1989,[13] 1990[14]), and "Best Video Cameraman" (1989,[15] 1990[16]).

Home video releases

The series has been released in various formats:

  • VHS
  • DVD
    • 2002 Box set EAN 037429171127
    • 2005 Box set Complete collectors edition (Cat. No. BBCDVD1889) EAN 5014503188924
    • 2015 Box set BBC – The Chronicles of Narnia UPC 883929118120

In Australia the first DVD release was 1 October 2005[17] as the 'Collector's Edition' Box Set which was a fold out package with 4 discs. Features Behind the scenes, Narnia trivia and more. There have been several later issues.

See also

References

  1. ^ "THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE WONDERWORKS". Television Academy. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  2. ^ "BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  3. ^ "1989 Television Children's Programme – Entertainment/Drama | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  4. ^ "BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  5. ^ "BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  6. ^ "1990 Television Craft Video Lighting | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  7. ^ "1991 Television Craft Video Lighting | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  8. ^ "BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  9. ^ "1990 Television Craft Make-up | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  10. ^ "1991 Television Craft Make-up | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  11. ^ "BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  12. ^ "1990 Television Craft Costume Design | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  13. ^ "1990 Television Craft Design | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  14. ^ "1991 Television Craft Design | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  15. ^ "1990 Television Craft Video Cameraman | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  16. ^ "1991 Television Craft Video Cameraman | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Chronicles of Narnia | Boxset, The". Sanity. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
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