HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: THE BORROWERS (TV)
Summary
One in this series of special presentations by Hallmark. This adaptation of Mary Norton's popular children's classic revolves around the lives of the Clocks, a family of miniature people who reside under the floorboards of a home owned by a dotty, bedridden old woman named Sophy. Sophy believes that Mr. Clock, the little person who comes to talk to her, is a hallucination brought on by the Madeira wine she constantly sips. Sophy's young grandnephew comes to stay with her one day, and Mr. Clock, who doesn't know that the boy is visiting, goes about the house "borrowing" items such as scissors and stamps for his family. He is shocked when he sees the boy, and when he realizes that the boy has seen him. Mr. Clock immediately runs home to warn his wife, Homily, and their fearless twelve-year-old daughter, Arrietty, of the unfortunate turn of events. Since Arrietty does not understand the dangers of having this boy in the house, who happens to be aware of their presence, her parents explain the cruel things that little boys do. However, Arrietty is still unafraid, and she later proves her parents wrong when she becomes friends with the boy and he delivers mail to and from the family's relatives who live across the field. Unfortunately, the boy's kindness proves problematic since he gives the Clocks so many items from the house that the cruel, shrewd housekeeper, Mrs. Crampfurl, becomes suspicious. She soon discovers that the boy took the missing objects, and she catches him delivering these items to "something" that lives under the floorboards. To remedy the situation, the housekeeper brings in a ferret to clean out the subterranean "vermin," and since she thinks the boy is a thief, she locks the boy in his room until the police arrive the next morning. The boy manages to inform the Clocks of their impending doom, and the family plans an escape. Commercials deleted.
(This program contains minor technical problems. This represents the best copy currently available to the Museum.)
("Hallmark Hall of Fame" aired on NBC from1952 to 1978; network affiliation varies after 1978.)
(Beginning with the live telecast of the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on December 24, 1951, Hallmark has sponsored a series of dramatic specials which, since 1952, have aired under the title "Hallmark Hall of Fame." From 1952 to 1955 Hallmark also presented "Hallmark Hall of Fame," a weekly half-hour dramatic anthology series hosted by Sarah Churchill. The first program, "Dr. Serocold," was televised in January 1952 under the title "Hallmark Television Theatre." This series also ran under the title "Hallmark Summer Theatre" in July and August 1952.)
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: December 14, 1973 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:17:10
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:31602
- GENRE: Children's; Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Drama, fantasy/science fiction; She Made It Collection (Jay Presson Allen)
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1952-1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Duane C. Bogie … Executive Producer
- Walt DeFaria … Producer
- Warren L. Lockhart … Producer
- Frank Nesbitt … Associate Producer
- Walter C. Miller … Director
- Mary Norton … Based on the book by
- Jay Presson Allen … Writer
- Rod McKuen … Music by
- Eddie Albert … Cast, Pod Clock
- Tammy Grimes … Cast, Homily Clock
- Judith Anderson … Cast, Aunt Sophy
- Beatrice Straight … Cast, Mrs. Crampfurl
- Barnard Hughes … Cast, Mr. Crampfurl
- Karen Pearson … Cast, Arrietty Clock
- Dennis Larson … Cast, the Boy
- Murray Westgate … Cast, Ernie, the Policeman
- Danny McIlravery … Cast, Tom, the Ferret Boy