The classic Japanese cartoon series, first broadcast in Spain in 1979-80, still remains a part of my childhood. Every Sunday lunchtime I would follow Nello's adventures in our black and white TV set and wouldn't miss it in the world. After one whole year and fifty-two episodes Nello and Patrashe died together in the night of Christmas Eve, at Antwerpen cathedral, alone, hungry and frozen to death in what must be the most devastating ending of all time to a children's tale. I must have cried rivers. I can't remember. Many years later, when I learnt that there was a film adaptation made by Hollywood in the late 50s, I sought it out eagerly. I finally got a copy at HMV, about four or five years ago. It is disappointing though that it is a rather mediocre edition, presented in TV format instead of the original Cinemascope in which the movie was shot –as listed in the technical features section in the film's page -, and with a rather depreciated image quality with very strong colours and a bit of a blurred image. It looks just like it was transferred from an old VHS edition back from the 80s. But well, this is better than nothing. I watched it again yesterday after a long time, and for 95 minutes I was a young boy again. I am glad –even though I usually am against drastic changes in the plot of film adaptations from classic novels- that Nello and Patrashe do not die at the end and that there still is hope for them. Nello is to be taken by the painter as an apprentice and so he will fulfil the greatest dream of his life. A very beautiful film, entirely shot in location in the unique Flemish landscapes and the medieval town of Antwerpen. A beautiful score, a gorgeous cinematography and art direction, and a perfect cast with David Ladd –a boy actor who could actually act, and who was the spitting image of his father, the great Alan "Shane"- as the gentle and sensitive Nello, good old dear Donald Crisp (How Green was my Valley, National Velvet) as the grandfather, and Theodore Bikel as the grumpy and apparently cold and soulless artist that nevertheless will save the day and Nello's life. A charming little film that teaches children to love animals, and about the values of compassion, humility, honesty and the pursuit of one's dreams.

I have not read the original novel this movie is based on, so I can't say if this movie is better or worse than its source material. But I can judge the movie on its own merits. The movie does have a number of strengths. It looks pretty nice, filmed on location in the Netherlands and Belgium with some good photography. The acting is also pretty good, with a child protagonist that (thank goodness) is not annoying, and the adult actors also doing well. The movie also has some positive messages, ranging from kindness to animals to encouraging people to stick to their dreams and never giving up.So what goes wrong with the movie to make it not worth a recommendation? Well, to put it bluntly, the movie is quite dull. It's very slow-moving; you have to wait until more than halfway through before some serious problems come up for the characters. And even from that point on, the movie's energy level still remains quite low. I'm certainly not asking for blazing action and suspense that's found in today's hyper-kinetic family films, but I think the story could have been made to be more engaging. Too bad - there are some nice things about this movie, but in the end it's a miss.

I do know the true story so it lives me disappointed to see that most of the movies make it a happy end while it should be a very sad ending. The story should tell an other morality then that the romantic version does. But yes that is what we've come to expect from Hollywood productions. In the real story the boy Nello Dies with his Dog Patrasche in front of the painting they visited many times before since it provided them with hopes for life and his painting aspiration. They died in a cold and harsh time because of things like: no income (selling milk was made impossible since he was accused of setting fire to a mill), no food and no one who could or cared to help. So the lessons to be learned from this and similar stories remains merely an echo and are quickly forgotten. Like all the real important ones. Yes it's hard to deal with real live and to be confronted with the truth. But like once said; if we pretend to be searching for the truth we also should be ready to hear it or be willing to listen.

Here is the classic Flemmish version of the "boy and his dog" tale as young Nello, apparently about 11 or 12, struggles to establish his identity as an artist amidst adverse circumstances. David Ladd, Alan Ladd's son, plays the protagonist: he was 13 at the time, but somehow managed to play an 8-year-old in his next film! Anyway, this is the real story, without all the silly, sappy and frankly unbelievable stuff and coincidences gratuitously added in the Disney version of 1999. Even the dog is more convincing! David Ladd is quite good, though his emotions seem a bit forced at times and he's certainly not "one of the greatest child actors of all time" as his filmography touts. Donald Crisp as the grandfather and a so-young Theodore Bikel as the temperamental artist both offer excellent performances. Perhaps life was indeed harder then, and as the late Douglas Adams would point out, digital watches had not been invented, but children were still considered PEOPLE: they could work for a living, enjoy the fruits of their labor, and even live alone if they chose -- or with a dog. All that is gone now. Am I the only one who questions that this is "progress"?