For anyone who remembers watching it at the time, MOONDIAL was one of THE top Children's BBC dramas of the 1980s. Written by novelist Helen Cresswell from her own novel, this merely cements her reputation as the best children's writer of her era; anyone who enjoys her work should also check out her fine Edith Nesbit adaptations such as FIVE CHILDREN AND IT. Anyway, MOONDIAL was filmed up the road from me and I had the good fortune to visit Belton House itself during the late 1980s and yes, it is as spooky as it appears in this show, particularly the queen's bedroom. MOONDIAL tells a visual story in which Minty, the intensely likeable protagonist, retreats into a fantasy world due to family trauma and ends up helping out two restless children whose unhappy spirits are linked to the house. Fine performances from the youthful cast, an excellent score, and lots of haunting visuals help to make this a thoroughly engaging production.
Review of Moondial
