The Return of the Psammead (TV Series 1993) Poster

(1993)

User Reviews

Review this title
3 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
6/10
Very nearly as good as the first series...
Leofwine_draca27 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Two years after the success of the BBC children's TV series FIVE CHILDREN AND IT, adapted from the works of Edith Nesbit, came this follow up. The original book sequel proved too expensive to shoot so this is a made-up storyline that feels in some instances like a rehash of the first film's storyline.

Once again we get a group of four children who come to stay with a relative and discover a Sand Fairy living in the local sand pit. He grants them a number of wishes, and once again they discover the difficulties with getting what you wish for. This six-part show is rather episodic, but the adventures remain amusing. An evil twin, invisibility, and a rather cool trip to the future (i.e. the early 1990s) are on the menu this time around.

The children aren't quite as good as in the first series, but we do get the delightful Anna Massey as the aunt and she certainly makes up for any problems elsewhere in the cast. As usual, the incredibly intrinsic animatronics used to animate the Psammead make him a scene-stealer in the most literal sense, and Francis Wright continues to provide his excellent vocals. The Psammead would come back one final time in THE PHOENIX AND THE CARPET, although sadly this third series hasn't yet been put out on DVD.
0 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
British Early 90's Period Children's' TV at its Simplest, Unpretentious Best
diveinthedark-898347 November 2017
I saw every episode of this back in 1993 when it premiered on the BBC,and it's fascinating watching it 25 years later as a 35- year- old!

These were the days when the media (and children alike) still appreciated period authenticity on TV; no modernisation or trendiness (save the future scene!).

Based on the classic Children's Book 'Five Children And It',it tells the story of 4 children in 1910's England who stay with their (dowdy spinster) Aunt Marchmont while their younger sibling/s have Scarlet Fever. They meet the Sand Fairy, or 'Psammead' (who's easy to mistake for a Jim Henson Puppet!) who makes all their wishes come true. That's ALL their wishes,even the ones they make as a mere figure of speech: "I wish I was invisible"; Aunt Marchmont's wish to be a child again,etc!

For the sake of this being a period but early-90's production, a favourite episode is the one where they wish to go (80 years?) into the future. They visit their house - now upgraded with refrigeration and electrical appliances - where a supposed great- granddaughter has a junior acid-house party; plenty of sloppy clothes and curtains to boost!

An considerable cast were adopted. Anna Massey plays the Aunt; think the French woman in Darling Buds Of May. The young actors who played the children were perhaps infinite unknowns; Laura Clarke and Toby Ufindell-Phillips each appear to have acted in only 1 other production. I suppose it displays the BBC's genuine pursuit of scouting fresh new talent from an basic, non-prestigious outlet.

I was also interested to find out that this production was quite big in the USA (where it was directly titled 'Return Of The Sand fairy); I'm glad they're fond of BBC TV over there!

All in all, I'll give it 9/10 for being genuine, authentic, upfront, funny, and a simply delightful production from an time when UK TV was at its climax of class,entertainment and overall quality.
2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Has its moments, but suffers from story
ferret-278 May 2005
Warning: Spoilers
E. Nesbit isn't a household name in the United States. Yet in the Edwardian period, she wrote a great many books, both for adults and children. It is those she wrote for children that have endured. C. S. Lewis was a great admirer of hers, and Nesbit's influence is clear in his much-loved Narnia books.

I saw this film under the American title "Return of the Sand Fairy" on television. Unlike "Five Children and It" (the American "The Sand Fairy", "Return of the Psammead" was not based on a novel by E. Nesbit, and it shows. Although Nesbit's works are old-fashioned, she was funny and understood how to write to children. Her children get into plenty of entertaining trouble, often with the best intentions.

So it is here. The Psammead (sammy-ad) lives in a sandpit and grants wishes. He's a charming creature, looking much like the original illustrations, and when whining and complaining is just right. Francis Wright voices him superbly. The four children are not obtrusively modern, and the adult parts are all Nesbit stock characters, difficult aunt, dreadful housekeeper, friendly cook and nanny.

My main problem with "Return of the Psammead" was in one episode (spoiler) in which one of the children wishes to go to the future. It simply did not fit the rest of the story. The future, as the old cliché has it, is now. E. Nesbit's characters do go into the future, but not like that. I have to say I didn't like the "wishing is good" song at the end. After the Psammead constantly tells the children to think before they wish, and that the wishes always backfire, it did not work at all.

"Five Children and It" does have a sequel: "The Phoenix and the Carpet" that is as good or better. Invented sequels such as this rarely work, and I'm sorry to say this is no exception.
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Clear your history

Recently Viewed