Whistle Down the Wind (1961)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Bryan Forbes

Writers:

Mary Hayley Bell (novel)
Keith Waterhouse (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 January 1962 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

That "Parent Trap" Girl in Her Latest and Greatest

Plot:

Little Kathy discovers a man wanted for murder hiding in her family's barn. When she askes him who he was...

Plot Keywords:

Barn | Murder | Jesus Christ | Birthday | Aunt

Awards:

Nominated for 4 BAFTA Film Awards.

Cast

Hayley Mills	...	Kathy Bostock
Bernard Lee	...	Mr. Bostock
Alan Bates	...	The Man
Norman Bird	...	Eddie
Elsie Wagstaff	...	Auntie Dorothy
Diane Holgate	...	Nan Bostock
Alan Barnes	...	Charles Bostock
Hamilton Dyce	...	The Vicar
Diane Clare	...	Sunday School Teacher
Patricia Heneghan	...	Salvation Army Girl
Roy Holder	...	Jackie
John Arnatt	...	Superintendent Teesdale
Howard Douglas	...	The Vet
Ronald Hines	...	P.C. Thurstow
Gerald Sim	...	Detective
Michael Lees	...	1st Civil Defence Worker
May Barton	...	Villager
Barry Dean	...	Raymond
Christine Ashworth	...	Disciple
John Boden	...	Disciple
Doreena Clark	...	Disciple
Keith Clement	...	Disciple
Pamela Lonsdale	...	Disciple
Judy Ollerenshaw	...	Disciple
Robert Palmer	...	Disciple
Lois Read	...	Disciple
Nigel Stafford	...	Disciple
Anne Newby	...	Latecomer
Julie Jackson	...	Latecomer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Raghan	...	2nd Civil Defence Worker
Charlotte Attenborough	...	Child in final crowd scene (uncredited)
Sarah Forbes	...	Child in final crowd scene (uncredited)

Directed by
Bryan Forbes

Writing credits
Mary Hayley Bell		(novel)
Keith Waterhouse		(writer) &
Willis Hall		(writer)

Produced by
Richard Attenborough	....	producer
Jack Rix	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Malcolm Arnold

Cinematography by
Arthur Ibbetson

Film Editing by
Max Benedict

Casting by
Maureen Goldner

Art Direction by
Ray Simm

Makeup Department
Stella Rivers	....	hair stylist
Geoffrey Rodway	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Basil Rayburn	....	assistant director
Charles Blair	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Len Townsend	....	assistant art director
Gus Walker	....	construction manager (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bill Daniels	....	sound recordist
Alastair McIntyre	....	dubbing editor
Gus Lloyd	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David Harcourt	....	camera operator
John Alcott	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Ken Coles	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Harry Gillard	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Laurel Staffell	....	wardrober

Editorial Department
Tom Priestley	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Penny Daniels	....	continuity
John Hargreaves	....	location advisor
Ann Skinner	....	production secretary
Lorely Farley	....	assistant continuity (uncredited)
John L. Hargreaves	....	location advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Beaver Films
• Allied Film Makers (AFM)

Distributors

• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1961) (UK) (theatrical)
• Pathé-America Distributing Company (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Astor Pictures Corporation (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Divisa Home Video (2005) (Spain) (DVD)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:PG (tv rating) | UK:U | Finland:S | Sweden:11 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Bacup, Lancashire, England, UK

Company:

Beaver Films

Trivia:

The title "Whistle Down The Wind" originally comes from falconry and means "to let a falcon fly away free".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In several scenes, but especially when the children are in the barn discussing a name for the cats, the youngest boy can be seen mouthing the other characters lines before he says his own.

Quotes:

Latecomer: [Last scene in the movie, two young latecomers have come to see Jesus but the police just took Him away] Has he gone?
Kathy Bostock: Yes, you missed Him this time, but He'll be coming again.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Andrew Lloyd Webber: Masterpiece (2002) (TV)

Memorable Tale of Faith and Hope

I have remembered this film well since I was a child and its message of the power of belief has stayed with me for years.

Far from demonstrating any futility in religious faith, this understated gem shows the power and persistence of faith despite the obstacles of adults' failings, cynicism, disbelief and preoccupations. Perhaps children understand this movie better than jaded, world-weary adults.