Flight of the Doves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flight of the Doves |
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| Directed by | Ralph Nelson |
| Produced by |
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| Written by | Frank Gabrielson Ralph Nelson |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Roy Budd |
| Cinematography | Harry Waxman |
| Editing by | John Jympson |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | April 2, 1971 (USA)August 1, 1971 (UK) |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Flight of the Doves is a British children's movie from 1971. It was filmed in Eastmancolor, which made the colors look very bright. The movie is based on a book by an Irish writer named Walter Macken. Frank Gabrielson and Ralph Nelson wrote the film's story, and Ralph Nelson also directed it.
Contents
The Story of Flight of the Doves
Finn and Derval's Journey
The movie is about two children from Liverpool, named Finn and Derval Dove. They live with their stepfather, Toby Cromwell. Their mother married Toby after their father passed away. After their mother also died, Toby became their guardian.
Finn and Derval are not happy living with Toby. They feel neglected and decide to run away. Their plan is to travel to Ireland to find their grandmother. She lives in County Galway.
A Hidden Fortune
What the children don't know is a big secret. They are set to inherit a lot of money from their grandfather. This fortune is about $10,000 for each of them. They will get the money when their grandfather passes away.
However, if the children are gone or can't be found, the money would go to their uncle. This uncle is named "Hawk" Dove. He is an actor who hasn't been very successful. Hawk is also known for having a quick temper. He really wants the money and will do almost anything to get it. When Hawk finds out about the fortune, he wants to make sure Finn and Derval are never seen again.
The Chase Across Ireland
Finn and Derval arrive in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day. This is a very busy and festive day in Ireland. Their journey across Ireland is not easy. Soon, their stepfather Toby finds out they are missing.
Uncle Hawk, pretending to be a lawyer, tells Toby about the inheritance. Toby then decides to call the police. Both Uncle Hawk and Toby are now trying to find the children. The chase takes Finn and Derval to many different places. They go through a St. Patrick's Day parade, visit a synagogue, cross Dublin's Ha'penny Bridge, and even meet a group of travelers at a tinkers' camp.
Meet the Cast
Here are some of the main actors and the characters they played in Flight of the Doves:
- Ron Moody as John Cyril Dove - "Hawk" / Maxwell Perdon / DCI Wolcott / Miss Heather Marblestone / Dermot Corcoran
- Jack Wild as Finn Dove
- Dorothy McGuire as Mary Magdalene St. Bridget O'Flaherty - "Granny"
- Stanley Holloway as Judge Fenton Liffy
- Helen Raye as Derval Dove
- Willie Rushton as Tobias Cromwell - "Uncle Toby"
- Brendan O'Reilly as Insp. Michael Roark
- Dana as Sheila O'Ryan
- John Molloy as Mickser
- Noel Purcell as Rabbi
- Tom Hickey as Pat Flynn
- Niall Tóibín as Sergeant O'Casey
- Barry Keegan as Powder O'Ryan
- Emmet Bergin as Paddy
- Robert Rietti as Irish Airport TV Reporter (voice)
The Music of the Film
The music for Flight of the Doves was created by Roy Budd. He had also composed music for Ralph Nelson's earlier film, Soldier Blue. The film's music includes two special songs.
One song is called "You Don't Have to Be Irish to Be Irish." This song is sung during the lively St. Patrick's Day Parade scene. The other song is "The Far Off Place." This song is sung by Dana, who plays the character of Sheila, a tinker. Half of the song is in Irish, and the other half is in English. Both songs share a message about having dreams and working to reach your goals. They talk about finding "the far off place," which is a mythical land in Irish stories.
