Product Details

• Actors: Alan Bennett, Michael Palin, Michael Gambon, Rik Mayall, Enn Reitel
• Directors: Dave Unwin
• Writers: Ted Walker, William Horwood
• Producers: John Coates, Jonathan Peel, Julia Waye, Kirsty Baillie, Peter Orton
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Good Times Video
• VHS Release Date: October 9, 2001
• Run Time: 74 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304534167
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,250 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If The Wind in the Willows tugs viewers (and readers) through the river reeds with its graceful, enchanting words, The Willows in Winter hurtles them along with its bumpy adventures, all linked to the restless, irascible Toad. Here, the ever-proud proprietor of Toad Hall hangs up his former preoccupation with motorcars in favor of a far hipper mode of transport--airplanes. Though he fancies himself an avid aviator, Toady's nothing but trouble when he takes to the skies. Enlisted to survey the wild woods from up high for Moley, who never made it to Rat's house amid a river-swelling winter storm, he loops-the-loop one time too many, sending Ratty tumbling in thin air. Then there's the small matter that he swiped the plane he's piloting, an offense punishable by a lengthy prison sentence. And he's already a wanted toad for escaping on stolen-motorcar charges. While Toady's tricking an innocent chimneysweep into changing identities with him, Rat's semi-spiritual river wisdom tells him Mole's still alive, and, indeed, the weary traveler straggles up just in time for his own memorial service, requesting cheese on toast and a glass of hot toddy. All's well again along the river, but Toady's captured, and his complicated web of criminal deception lands him in court on murder charges. Well-connected, formidable Badger bails him out, but a lesson in humility awaits the wily bugger back at Toad Hall. High-flying fun skillfully wraps itself around a primer on friendship in The Willows in Winter; it's a can't-miss combination with dear, genteel characters guaranteed to win the hearts of viewers of all ages. --Tammy La Gorce

From the back cover

Hailed as the "rightful heir" to The Wind In The Willows, William Horwood's critically acclaimed sequel comes to magical life in this beautifully animated feature-length classic. Join four of the best-loved characters in children's literature for their heart-warming and hilarious new adventures along the Riverbank, narrated by Academy Award-winner Vanessa Redgrave. Mole (Alan Bennett) disappears while answering what he thinks is an urgent summons from Rat (Michael Palin), forcing Badger (Michael Gambon) to enlist Toad (Rik Mayall) and his new airplane in a frantic search party. From the producers of The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends and The Snowman, this is the definitive screen adaptation of the sequel to Kenneth Grahame's original, which has sold millions of copies worldwide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Toad! Incomparable Toad!, November 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Willows in Winter [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The animation is fine, the voices (including narration by Vanessa Redgrave, Michael Palin as Ratty and Michael Gambon as Badger) are fine, but Rik Mayall's Toad is the reason to buy this hilarious video. It's a shame the first in this series (the 1996 "Wind in the Willows") is out of print, because it is equally wonderful. (Don't buy the 1999 re-issue -- it's edited into three "episodes" which are repetitive and sometimes make no sense.) One quibble: live video "framing" the animated movie, though lovely, seems pointless.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific sequel, October 8, 2006

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Willows in Winter [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I don't know which movie other, negative reviewers watched, but I find it hard to believe it was this one.

My kids love this movie, and have watched it again and again.

All the Wind in the Willows characters are here, and the story line, acting, and animations are just as great as in the first, full-length animation of the original classic, Wind in the Willows.

Get a copy, and have fun.

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Kids, May 6, 2011

By 

Liz "LizVerbatim" (Orange County, California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Willows in Winter [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I love these VHS renditions of The Wind in the Willows and The Willows in the Winter. You couldn't find a more harmless, delightful story to entertain the kids with, especially if you or your children have a literary bent.