"Gulliver" is a realistic story about war orphans fending for themselves and what it was like to be in their shoes stuck in the middle of Allied-German bombings.
After Littlejohn is wounded while on leave till 0800 the next morning, a group of war orphans hold him for ransom.
Paul Playdon & Bob Frederick adapted Shimon Wincelberg & Richard Shapiro's fine story for television. Hardness comes out in children torn by war doing what they must to survive. Scenes are graphic & moving as the story unfolds; and the viewing audience sees the kids in action dealing with both Littlejohn and the Germans. Empathize and put yourself in their shoes. Dick Peabody does an excellent job complimenting the fine cast of child actors. Stefan Arngrim as "Henri" plays the alpha kid running the show while exuding streetwise bitterness. Vicki Malkin as Christina compliments Henri as the silent strong one; and she puts on a show in 4 outstanding memorable sequences. Her sequence with Sergeant Kolcheck (excellently played by Paul Busch) portrays some fine acting on both parts.
Vic Morrow did an outstanding job directing; multiple close-ups throughout tell the story in the children's' faces. Words are almost unnecessary. Graphic scenes of the orphans actions with respect to dead Germans will horrify some and move most. The excellent cast and their story more than compensates for a general lack of combat, the show's essence.
The ending sequence is beautifully done as we see Christina come into her own not only seeing the light, but also convincing the younger ones; a very moving episode.
After Littlejohn is wounded while on leave till 0800 the next morning, a group of war orphans hold him for ransom.
Paul Playdon & Bob Frederick adapted Shimon Wincelberg & Richard Shapiro's fine story for television. Hardness comes out in children torn by war doing what they must to survive. Scenes are graphic & moving as the story unfolds; and the viewing audience sees the kids in action dealing with both Littlejohn and the Germans. Empathize and put yourself in their shoes. Dick Peabody does an excellent job complimenting the fine cast of child actors. Stefan Arngrim as "Henri" plays the alpha kid running the show while exuding streetwise bitterness. Vicki Malkin as Christina compliments Henri as the silent strong one; and she puts on a show in 4 outstanding memorable sequences. Her sequence with Sergeant Kolcheck (excellently played by Paul Busch) portrays some fine acting on both parts.
Vic Morrow did an outstanding job directing; multiple close-ups throughout tell the story in the children's' faces. Words are almost unnecessary. Graphic scenes of the orphans actions with respect to dead Germans will horrify some and move most. The excellent cast and their story more than compensates for a general lack of combat, the show's essence.
The ending sequence is beautifully done as we see Christina come into her own not only seeing the light, but also convincing the younger ones; a very moving episode.