Movies for Children to Inspire Play with Various Themes

[Wesley Myers]

This thread will explore and showcase some films and shows for children that will help inspire play and interest in various themes.

The first movie is the 1954 movie 'Prince Valiant' that I can highly recommend.  Also, if you ever wanted to have an excuse to mix knights and vikings together this is the perfect one!!!

A synopsis of it is:

Young Prince Valiant, son of the exiled King of Scandia, journeys to Camelot to become a knight at King Arthur's Round Table. He hopes to help his father reclaim his throne from the pagan usurper Sligon and restore the Christian faith to their homeland. On his journey he stumbles on the mysterious Black Knight plotting with the Viking pretender to overthrow Arthur. Barely escaping with his life, Valiant encounters Sir Gawaine, a friend of his father's who tutors the young Viking in the skills needed to be a knight. Valiant and Gawaine's pupil/mentor relationship is complicated by their romantic involvement with Princess Aleta and her sister Ilene, daughters of a British nobleman. If Valiant is to restore his father's throne and prevent the coup d'etat against Arthur, he must uncover the true identity of the Black Knight.

More about the movie can be read at imdb.com:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047365/

It is based on the original comic strip by Hal Foster entitled, 'Prince Valiant in the Days of King Arthur', running from 1937 to 1971, that recounted the adventures of the eponymous Norse prince and his family and friends. The comic came out only in the Sunday paper and featured narration juxtaposed with illustrations rather than the usual thought and speech balloons. During most of Hal Foster's lifetime it occupied one whole page of the Sunday funnies.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pkoHHQ9pA0

Themes that go with it: Knights and Vikings

[Wesley Myers]

The Adventures of Robin Hood

Rollicking Technicolor tale of the legendary outlaw, regarded as the swashbuckler standard-bearer. The justice-minded Saxon knight battles the Normans, outwits evil Prince John, and gallantly romances Maid Marian. Grand castle sets and lush forest photography display ample evidence of the huge (in 1938) budget of $2 million plus. Just entering his prime, Flynn enthusiastically performed most of his own stunts, including intricate sword play and advanced tree and wall climbing. His Robin brims with charm and bravura, the enthusiastic protector of poor Saxons everywhere and the undeclared king of Sherwood forest. The rest of the cast likewise attacks with zest: de Havilland, a cold but eventually sympathetic Maid Marian; Rains' dastardly Prince John; and Rathbone's conniving Sir Guy to Robin's band of very merry men. Based on various Robin Hood legends as well as Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe" and the opera "Robin Hood" by De Koven-Smith.

This movie is just as fun today as it was when it was made in 1938.

imdb.com - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029843/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ist_bZLP9u4

Themes - Knights

[Wesley Myers]

Island at the Top of the World (1974)

Four turn of the century explorers embark on an airship expedition to the high artic. Where upon they find a lost colony of Vikings.

This is a great show from Disney, back when they made fantastic live-action adventure movies for children and while some of the special effects may seem a bit dated for some adults, children (and adults!) will enjoy it.

Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjHnvAHr3is

Imdb.com link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071671/

Themes - Victorian and Vikings and Waterworld

[Wesley Myers]

Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

A family in route to New Guinea is shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island. They are forced to remain on the island because of the damage to the ship and the pirates that are roaming the islands. They create a home on the island (centering around a huge tree house) and explore the island and its wildlife. Plenty of adventure ensues as the family deals with issues of survival and pirates, and the brothers must learn how to live on the island with an uncertain future.

imdb.com - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054357/

Trailer - http://www.filmsnmovies.com/video/9352/swiss_family_robinson_trailer/

Themes - Pirates and Waterworld and Jungle and Outdoor

[Wesley Myers]

Kidnapped (1960)

Kidnapped and cheated out of his inheritance, young David Balfour falls in with a Jacobite adventurer, Alan Breck Stewart. Falsely accused of murder, they must flee across the Highlands, evading the redcoats.

imdb.com - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053994/

Movie Clip - http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi269420313/

Theme - Pirates

[Wesley Myers]

Treasure Island (1950)

Young Jim Hawkins is caught up with the pirate Long John Silver in search of the buried treasure of the buccaneer Captain Flint, in this Walt Disney adaptation of the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.

You can not go wrong with this one!  Clearly this movie/story inspired so many Playmobil pirate sets.

imdb.com - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043067/

Trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVX5ZfTcGNU

Themes - Pirates

[bonniebeth]

Those are all great suggestions, Wesley. Such a good idea for a thread! I grew up on Swiss Family Robinson and Treasure Island, and they definitely spark the imagination.

[Wesley Myers]

Secret of Pirate Island (2009)

Ahoy, matey! Your favorite Playmobil toys have come to life for the very first time, in an all-new swashbuckling adventure and you’re invited to join them! You’ll have a treasure chest full of fun with seven-year-old Jack and his big sister Amelia as they stow away on a pirate ship headed for the mysterious Pirate Island — a place filled with treasure and curious creatures. Can Jack and Amelia stay one step ahead of a bunch of wacky skeletons and get to the treasure before the pirates do?

What list of movies to inspire play with Playmobil would be complete without the Playmobil movie itself?!  Hopefully, Playmobil will continue to produce movies that cover all the themes.

imdb.com - [url]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1512792//url]

Trailer - [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR0csmQBtAg/url]

Themes - Pirates and Vikings and Life in the City

[Wesley Myers]

The Great Locomotive Chase (1956)

This is based on a true story. During the Civil War, a Union spy, Andrews, is asked to lead a band of Union soldiers into the South so that they could destroy the railway system.

Real Civil War events inspired this Disney film about James Andrews (Fess Parker), a Union spy who orchestrated the theft of a Confederate locomotive. The train's spirited conductor, William Fuller (Jeffrey Hunter), will stop at nothing to track down Andrews and his gang. The thrilling chase that follows makes for fun, fast-paced, entertaining family fare.

imdb.com - [url]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049279//url]

Themes - Western and Trains

[Wesley Myers]

Davey Crockett (1954 - 1956)

Five episodes (Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter; Davy Crockett Goes to Congress; Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race; Davy Crockett and the River Pirates; Davy Crockett at the Alamo) of Davy Crockett aired on Walt Disney's "Disneyland" show (1954-55) launched one of the great pop culture crazes of the '50s. An estimated $300 million worth of Crockett merchandise was sold during the first eight months of the craze, including 10 million "coonskin" caps. Disney didn't spend a lot on the original episodes, but as host Leonard Maltin observes, the colorful location and matte shots distinguished Davy Crockett from the cheesy-looking westerns of the 1950s. The three original episodes were later recut into the theatrical feature Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier (1955); the more comic adventures from the second season that introduced the flamboyant riverman Mike Fink (Jeffrey York) became Davy Crockett and the River Pirates (1956).

This is a fantastic set of movies that will definitely get the young ones clamouring for more Western Playmobil!

imdb.com - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047977/ and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049125/

Trailer - http://disneymoviesonline.go.com/movies/davy-crockett-king-of-the-wild-frontier-750000000137/ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84PHg3q4Xyk

Themes - Western and Pirates (to a lesser degree)