MovieChat Forums > Whistle Down the Wind (1961) Discussion > Kittens

Kittens

posted 12 years ago by SueBee55
15 replies | jump to latest

This might sound feeble but what puts me off watching all the way thru this otherwise marvellous film is the attempted drowning of the kittens at the start. Can anyone reassure me that they were OK and the one with Alan Bates wasn't really dead or was a dummy? I know films now have a disclaimer at the end re animal protection but this was the early 1960's.

Again, sorry if it sounds right soft (as they'd say in Clitheroe) but I loathe anything to do with animals being hurt! And - please - no unkind replies. I'd just report them as abusive.

[–] RMenz 12 years ago

I can understand your concern about the kittens,but they came to no harm in real life.The one that was found dead in the barn was only a dummy,and all 3 were well looked after in the production of the film.I was at the film's 50th anniversary reunion last August,and i asked Alan Barnes and Diane Holgate about this,and they mentioned that all 3 kittens were cared for,and that they played with them off set.

[–] SueBee55 12 years ago

Many thanks for putting my mind at rest. I can now watch the film with an easy mind!

[–] RMenz 12 years ago

Glad to be of help SueBee,i thought it was lovely of you to be so concerned.

[–] SueBee55 12 years ago

Trouble is, it does limit one's viewing choice! I know couldn't watch 'Warhorse' for instance.

[–] RMenz 12 years ago

War Horse was a good film,but the horses in the film went through quite a lot and it may upset you.However i'm sure they were also well looked after by the film makers.

[–] Royalcourtier 8 years ago

I wouldn't recommend War Horse. The plot is ridiculously far-fetched, even for a Spielberg movie, and it displays his usual racist anti-German hysteria.

[–] Brie-gal 12 years ago

Thank you so much for posting that reply RMenz. I often wondered about those kittens and hoped so much that no harm came to them. I appreciate you taking the time to let us know this, I feel so much better. Although I will still have to turn away when those scenes come on though, they are so realistic.

[–] RMenz 12 years ago

You are very welcome Brie-gal,glad that i was able to help.

[–] Brie-gal 12 years ago

I agree SueBee, I love the film to death but have to turn away at both those points as it distresses me to see both scenes. I tried to convince myself that none of the kittens were harmed during the filming as the producers wouldn't allow it surely however, given that it was in the 60's I am not so sure. I try not to think about it. I love animals more than anything and get distressed at seeing animals get hurt or abused or killed.

[–] SueBee55 12 years ago

Thanks for agreeing with me. SeeRMenz's first posting which explains what happened and which I prefer to believe and not the vile reply I had from someone else more recently - which person I have blocked from reading any more messages!

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[–] CaryGranite1 11 years ago

Thanks for bringing this up and thanks to all who replied for their useful advice. Animal welfare is a major concern for me as well and it is really an issue with some films (even if it's fake I don't fancy seeing it!)

[–] SueBee55 11 years ago

Thanks for that. I got some horrible replies from strange people when I first posted. I put them in my 'Ignore' folder!

[–] gbennett5 11 years ago

Another point - which nobody here has mentioned - is how badly the kittens
are treated in the film itself. Didn't anyone else feel bad that not one
of the children sought to FEED these kittens? They offered no water, food
or cream. It's as if they were stuffed animals, just lying there, day after
day after day.

Since they fail to say HOW Charles' kitten died, I'm assuming the
poor thing starved to death!