The Wind in the Willows (1995 film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Wind in the Willows
Genre	Animation
Screenplay by	Ted Walker
Directed by	Dave Unwin
Starring	Alan Bennett Michael Gambon Rik Mayall Michael Palin
Composer(s)	Colin Towns
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Production
Executive producer(s)	Jonathan Peel
Producer(s)	John Coates
Running time	73 minutes
Production company(s)	TVC London Carlton UK Productions HIT Entertainment The Family Channel
Distributor	ITV Studios GoodTimes Entertainment
Release
Original network	ITV
Picture format	4:3
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	25 December 1995 (1995-12-25)

The Wind in the Willows is a fun animated TV movie from 1995. It was made in Britain and directed by Dave Unwin. The story was written by Ted Walker.

This movie is based on a very old and famous book. The book, also called The Wind in the Willows, was written by Kenneth Grahame in 1908. It's a classic story for children. The film mixes real-life scenes with cartoons. In the real-life parts, Vanessa Redgrave plays a grandmother who tells the story. When she opens the book, the adventure begins in animation!

The Story of the Riverbank Friends

This section tells you all about the exciting things that happen to the characters.

Mole's Big Adventure Begins

Mole was tired of cleaning his home. He decided to explore outside for the first time. He found a river and met a friendly character named Ratty. They quickly became good friends.

Then, they visited Mr. Toad. Toad took them on a fun trip in a gypsy caravan. But a fast car drove by and crashed the caravan. After that, Toad became obsessed with motor cars. Back home, Ratty felt sad and wanted to leave. But Mole helped him feel better.

Lost in the Wild Wood

Later, in winter, Mole got lost in the Wild Wood. He was hoping to find Mr. Badger there. Ratty found Mole, and they accidentally found Mr. Badger's house. Badger invited them inside.

Ratty and Mole told Badger all about Toad's crazy car collection. They worried Toad's wild behavior would get him into trouble. After a nice visit, the friends headed home. Mole felt a bit homesick, but Ratty cheered him up by visiting his old home.

Toad's Troubles and Escape

When spring came, Mr. Badger visited Ratty and Mole. The three friends tried to stop Toad from spending all his money on cars. But Toad wouldn't listen. Toad ran away from his house. Ratty, Mole, and Badger had to chase him.

Toad got into serious trouble. He stole a car and crashed it. Because of this, he was sent away for a long time. Meanwhile, Mole and Ratty went rowing at night. They were looking for Portly, a friend's son. They found Portly with Pan, a nature spirit.

Toad later escaped from where he was held. He dressed up as a washerwoman. The jailer's daughter helped him get away. Toad had no money, so he hitched a ride on a train. The kind train driver helped him escape from the police who were chasing him.

The next morning, Toad found a horse-pulled boat. It belonged to a large barge woman. Toad tried to help with washing, but he was not good at it. The woman laughed and threw him off her boat. Toad then stole her horse and rode away.

On the road, he saw a car. Inside was the very judge who had sent him away! The judge's driver offered Toad a ride. But when Toad took the wheel, he crashed the car into a pond. The police chased him again. He fell into the river and swam to safety.

Taking Back Toad Hall

Soon, Toad met up with his friends again. But his home, Toad Hall, had been taken over by the Wild Wooders. Toad, Ratty, Mole, and Badger found a secret underground path. They snuck into Toad Hall and drove the Wild Wooders out.

Toad got his house back! The next day, everyone celebrated his return.

Who's Who in the Movie

This section lists the actors who played the characters in the film.

Live-action Actors

These actors appeared in the real-life parts of the movie.

• Vanessa Redgrave as Grandmother/Narrator
• Jemima Ffyne as Alexandra
• Jordan Hollywood as Emma
• Tom Stourton as Edward
• Barry Forster as Boatman

Voice Actors

These actors lent their voices to the animated characters.

• Alan Bennett as Mole
• Michael Palin as Rat
• Michael Gambon as Badger
• Rik Mayall as Mr. Toad
• James Villiers as Magistrate
• Emma Chambers as Gaoler's Daughter
• Judy Cornwell as Barge Women
• Enn Reitel as Otter, Rabbit, Policeman, Gaoler
• David Sinclair as Clerk, Rabbit #2, Sergeant
• Mark Lockyer as Car Owner, Rabbit #3, Policeman, Driver, Town Crier, Chief Weasel

The Next Adventure: The Willows in Winter

There was a second movie called The Willows in Winter. It came out in 1996. This film was based on a book by William Horwood. Like the first movie, it got good reviews. Rik Mayall and Loraine Marshall even won Emmy Awards for their work on it!

Mole's Disappearance

The story takes place some time after the first movie. Mole now has a nephew who is an orphan. Toad lets the nephew stay at Toad Hall for a bit. But then Toad sees an airplane and becomes obsessed with flying. He sends Mole's nephew back to Mole End.

Winter arrives. One night, Mole is about to tell his nephew how he met Ratty and the others. Suddenly, Portly, Otter's son, bursts in from the snowstorm. He drinks something strong and falls asleep while trying to tell Mole something about Ratty and Otter. Mole worries his friends are in trouble. He leaves his nephew with Portly and goes out to find Ratty's house.

Mole reaches the frozen river. There's no other way across, so he tries to walk on the ice. But he falls through a thin spot and disappears.

The Search for Mole

The next day, Ratty and Otter arrive at Mole End looking for Portly. It turns out they just wanted Mole to join them for a drink the night before. Portly had run off to invite Mole without their permission. Ratty and Otter are shocked that Mole hasn't returned.

They ask Badger for help to find their friend. Badger makes the animals of the Wild Wood help with the search. These animals are now scared of the riverbank friends after the Battle of Toad Hall.

Toad's Flying Mishap

Meanwhile, Toad has bought an airplane. He's very angry that only a trained pilot can fly it. The pilot agrees to fly low so it looks like Toad is flying. Ratty and Badger see Toad flying overhead. They go to Toad Hall to tell Toad off for being reckless. They also want to use the plane to look for Mole.

Toad knocks out the pilot and takes control of the plane with Ratty in the back. Toad forgets about looking for Mole and starts doing wild tricks. Ratty falls out! Ratty has a parachute. On the way down, he has a strange experience, feeling like he saw "Beyond." Ratty, Badger, and the others are furious with Toad.

Mole's Return and Toad's New Troubles

Badger and Ratty eventually find a letter Mole had hidden in a tree trunk before crossing the river. It's Mole's will. Badger is sure Mole is dead, even though Ratty doesn't believe it. Badger plans a funeral for Mole.

However, Mole has drifted to a small island downriver. Ratty's rowboat, which drifted downstream after the river thawed, reaches the island. Mole uses it to save himself. That night, Badger holds Mole's funeral and gives a big speech about his friend. But Portly gets bored and wanders off. He sees Mole arrive in the rowboat. Portly thinks Mole is a ghost and runs back to the funeral. Everyone except Badger runs away from the "ghost." Badger angrily tells the "spirit" to leave. Mole then shows himself, and everyone is very relieved.

Meanwhile, Toad has crashed his plane into a large greenhouse in town. To his horror, the owner is the same judge who sent him away for stealing a car! Toad pretends to be a pilot trying to prove himself. People think he's a hero. Toad stays at the judge's house to recover. He's invited to dinner but doesn't want to reveal who he is. So, he blocks his fireplace and asks for a chimney sweep.

Toad gets the sweep drunk and swaps clothes with him. He tries to escape. But his pride gets the better of him, and he admits who he really is. The judge tries to arrest him, but Toad barely escapes.

Toad's Court Case and Happy Ending

The riverbankers plan a party at Badger's house for the Wild Wooders. This is their reward for helping find Mole. They go to Toad Hall to borrow furniture and dishes. But the house is flooded because a pipe burst. So, they take everything for safekeeping. Ratty also finds a letter for Toad with an American stamp.

Toad, meanwhile, gets involved in a wedding. He's supposed to bring good luck. But the judge is the groom's father, and Toad is finally caught. The riverbank friends read about Toad's adventures in the newspaper. They are shocked to see that Toad is being called a troublemaker. The article even suggests Toad did something very bad to the sweep. Badger reads about Toad's arrest. Knowing things could get worse, he quickly writes a letter to an old friend, the editor of the 'Times' newspaper.

A sad Toad appears in court. He is tricked into not having someone speak for him. Everyone there speaks against him, even the sweep's supposed widow. Toad tearfully says he is guilty of everything. He also confesses to abandoning the search for Mole and possibly harming Ratty. This confuses the court, as they didn't know about Toad's friends.

Suddenly, a letter from the 'Times' editor arrives. It says that both he and Badger can confirm Toad's good character. The judge's butler also speaks up for Toad. He reveals that the sweep is still alive. He also reminds everyone that Toad's actions saved lives, even if by accident. Toad is found innocent and allowed to return to Toad Hall. Before he leaves, he learns that the butler knew who he was all along.

Badger's party is not going well; everyone misses Toad. Toad returns to his family home. He is horrified to find everything ruined and missing. He thinks the worst has happened because of his reckless actions. He accidentally knocks over a candle, setting the house on fire. He dramatically refuses to be rescued, ready to face a fiery end. Everyone discovers what's happened.

But Ratty and Mole use the tunnel under Toad Hall to get in. They bravely save Toad. Toad is sad because he has no insurance and can't fix Toad Hall. But the letter Ratty found solves everything! A rich American relative of Toad has died. This relative left Toad a huge fortune of $5,000,000! Toad and everyone celebrates happily as Toad Hall burns down.