Product Details

• Actors: James Mason, Bernard Cribbins, Billie Whitelaw, Joan Greenwood, David Tomlinson
• Directors: Lionel Jeffries
• Writers: Lionel Jeffries, Charles Kingsley, Denis Norden, Michael Robson
• Producers: Ben Arbeid, Peter Shaw
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, Live, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• DVD Release Date: February 4, 2003
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00007GZR9
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,819 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #26 in	Movies & TV > Animation > Mixed
  #53 in	Movies & TV > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Fairy Tales

• For more information about "The Water Babies" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

What happens when a young boy named Tom, apprenticed as a chimney sweep, gets framed for theft in 1850s England? Even though a young girl named Ellie knows the real thieves' identities and tries to clear Tom's name, Tom's desperate escape run lands him right in the middle of Dead Man's Pool. Assumed to have met certain death, Tom gets sucked into a magical underwater world. Tom befriends the creatures he meets beneath the sea, and they accompany him on a journey to the land of Water Babies, where he intends to ask the all-powerful Cracken to help him return to the world above the water. Tom encounters many difficulties along the way, but he eventually arrives in the world of the Water Babies, only to watch an evil shark and eel capture his new friends. Cracken forces Tom to choose between his own return to the world and the freedom of the Water Babies. Tom wisely chooses the Water Babies' freedom, winning his own return in the process. Life is far from idyllic when Tom returns to land, but eventually the quick-thinking boy clears his name, traps the real thieves, and wins a place in Ellie's affluent family. Many adults possess fond memories of seeing this 1978 movie as children. The land portions of this 85-minute musical feature live-action footage, while the water sequence is fully animated. To a fresh, modern audience, the abrupt change from one format to the other is somewhat disconcerting, as is the choppy, older animation style. The story, based on the classic children's book of the same name by Charles Kingsley, is an intriguing look at both Victorian culture and the fantasy world. (Ages 4-8) --Tami Horiuchi

Product Description

Dive beneath the wavesand beyond your wildest dreamsto an underwater playground overflowing with adventure! Featuring a magical mix of live action and animation, The Water Babies is the most fun you'll have aboveand belowsea level! When 12-year-old Tom jumps into a swirling stream, he is suddenly swept away to a fantastical place filled with music, excitement and colorful characters. Frolicking with the fish, singing with the squid and cavorting with the crabs, Tom's as happy as a clam until he grows lonesome for his friends back home. To get to solid ground, Tom must findthe Water Babiesa group of fun-loving children who live far across the ocean. For only the WaterBabies can take Tom to the great Lord of the Seathe one creature powerful enough to make his every wish come true!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Great Movie, November 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Water Babies (1978) (Clam) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My step mom first told me about this movie. She said she saw it when she was a little girl and it was one of her favorites. We could never find it on video, so one day about 7 years ago, it came on television. My step mom told my brother and I to watch it. We loved it! The characters were so cute and the songs were so funny. It was almost magical. We still remember the movie well. And when our step mom found it on Amazon, we were so exicted! We can't wait to watch it with our little step brothers!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unforgettable adventure, December 4, 1999

By	Rebecca Kerr (Denver, Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Water Babies [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I also remember this movie from my childhood. I have been looking for it for years and have finally found it! I can't wait for my son to see this and share in the fun. Out of all the movies I have seen as a child, this is the only one that really stands out in my memory. I loved it!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous fun for everyone, October 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Water Babies [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I remembered this movie from my childhood. For years faded visions of baby swimmers,whale families and great mansions stuck in the back of my mind. For a while I thought it was just a dream but recently,during a conversation with my mother I mentioned it and she remembered it as "The Water Babies". Unfortunately I have been unsucessful tracking it down in my area, However, I recently found and ordered a copy from amazon.com and are eagerly awaiting its arrival! This is a wonderful film and I would highly suggest it to anyone looking for a bit of childhood magic.