Wind in the Willows, The (1995, GBR) C-73m. **½ D: Dave Unwin. Starring Vanessa Redgrave and (the voices of) Alan Bennett, Michael Palin, Michael Gambon, Rik Mayall. Approximately tenth adaptation of the classic children's book by Kenneth Grahame about the (mis)adventures of Mole (Bennett) and his friends Rat, Toad, and Badger on a beautiful spring day. Frame story features (a real) Vanessa Redgrave, who tells the story to some children on a boat. Cute animation, close to source material, but dramatically pat. Made for television. Followed by THE WILLOWS IN WINTER.


© Ron Altman