The Happy Prince (1974) User Reviews

A Story of Absolution

[rich-380 · 10/10 · 31 July 2004]

I remember seeing this film on TV twice in the late 1970's after school. Both times I was bereft of consolation after viewing it. It is one of the main reasons I became an animator.

The terrible hardship the poor little bird faces and the loving statue's inability to really help are chilling. But when finally God sends an angel down to the city the release is over whelming. I agree with the review of this film that it is good the director chose not to shy away from the religious aspect of this film. God, Jehovah, Allah, call him what you will, its the same thing.

Of all the television I watched as a child this and only one other show stand out. Truly a little gem of a film!

One day I *Will* do a remake.

Forget E.T, this is one sad movie.

[Jake-60 · 10/10 · 31 October 1999]

I remember seeing this film for the first time and missing the end because I was crying so much. Pretty embarrassing for a 10 year old boy. After this, I couldn't see what all the fuss was about that little wrinkled alien and his mate Elliot. The Happy Prince tells the story of a magnificent Golden Statue and his efforts to make the world a better place. Like Oscar Wilde's other great tear jerker, The Selfish Giant, it explores the nature of sacrifice and friendship. If you get the chance, devour this movie, it is a true great. Just make sure you bring a childlike view of the world. And Kleenex. Lots of Kleenex

Should Be Required Viewing

[Hobbit1969 · 10/10 · 27 October 2005]

No matter what your faith, the message from this movie is clear. I too used to see this at Christmas time in school on the reel-to-reel, and it was a favorite for us all. This move, along with "The Selfish Giant" were truly happy memories of my childhood, and judging by the comments I have read here, I am clearly not alone. How many other movies you saw in school can make you say you remember them as well as a movie like this? Fantastic stuff for all ages. I am very interested in getting this movie on DVD so I can share it with my children. Any ideas on where I can find this movie and/or "The Selfish Giant"? Sweet movies like this are not made any more, it is remarkable these are not already available in video stores. There is a huge market of people our age who remember this movie and would love to watch it again as adults. *UPDATE* I just watched this and "The Selfish Giant" at YouTube. You can't download them but they are there for free in three parts each!

Excellent Adaptation Of Oscar Wilde Fairy Tale

[Ron Oliver · 10/10 · 26 March 2001]

Standing on his column high above the great city, the statue of THE HAPPY PRINCE can see the misery & despair of the people below him. He persuades a friendly Swallow to become his messenger in valiant efforts to alleviate the suffering of the poor.

This is a very fine animated version of Oscar Wilde's classic tale. The drawing is often imaginative, but never gets in the way of the story.

Much of the credit for the success of this film must go to Christopher Plummer, who both narrates & gives voice to the Happy Prince; and to Glynis Johns, who supplies exuberant life to the Swallow. Both performers are excellent.

The producers, thankfully, do not shy away from the religious sentiment at the end of the story. To have done so would have robbed the film of much of its charm & authenticity. Wilde himself never shied away from piety in his writings when it could be used to good effect. Indeed, he had a great respect for Christian virtues, as long as they did not affect his private life.

Good Movie

[mansongirl72 · 26 June 2002]

When I was a kid we would watch this movie in school ... you know on reel to reel . It always made me cry, I defanitly recomand this movie to everyone at least once I saw it many times in my childhood and I always loved it .. Good moral movie the little swallow is so cute "I want to go to Egypt " I always loved that part

Best movie for children of all ages

[vpoholek · 10/10 · 28 April 2005]

Best movie I have ever seen. Ever. The book is even better, but only slightly. The movie is true to form, and like the book, does not mince words (or graphic images) of poverty, despair, aristocracy, etc. I was shown this in Catecism class in 1983, and it has always stayed with me. I recently found it through my local library, and introduced it to my daughter. We then read the book together. Needless to say, I cried and cried. The main messages are that charity and compassion are good things, and that sacrifice is not always a bad thing. Also, the picture of heaven and God's rewarding them with verbal praise will underscore your faith. I felt like it reassured my entire belief system. If you like this, you should also try "What Dreams May Come" and "The Five Things You Learn in Heaven".

I haven't actually seen this film myself but..........

[Richard_of_York · 10/10 · 4 January 2003]

My wife saw it at Christmas some 25 years ago and I have been searching for the details ever since I began surfing in 1997. Finally found IMDb and had a fellow member identify it for me. My wife is not really a cartoon/animation fan (unlike me!) but she has told me so many times how moving she found this film to be. She hasn't seen it for years (BBC TV screened it a few times a quarter of a century ago; always around Christmas) but every time she saw it she would cry buckets! Of course now she knows the details we'll have to see whether we can get hold of a Video or DVD.....any ideas anyone? UPDATE: June 2005: I had quite a few replies to this and eventually a really nice guy in Canada supplied me with a copy of the film. So thanks to everyone who wrote to me about this but it has now been sorted!

The Happy Prince, a very moving and remember able movie

[fanccat · 10/10 · 16 December 2007]

This movie comes to mind every year at this time, Christmas. l was a young girl watching the cartoon. And l remember crying so hard, trying not to let my brothers see me. l remember the Sparrow so happy to be going south for the winter. The statue Prince with his soft voice asking the Sparrow to help him. The Sparrow was so unselfish. When l think of this movie now,l have tears. l haven't seen it sense that time. l still remember most of it. When ever l tell someone about it, l get moved by it once again. Interestingly enough, everyone l tell remembers it as well. l would very much like to see it again. Even purchase it.

The Best Oscar Wilde On Film

[Nemesis7293-1 · 10/10 · 17 November 2007]

This exquisite 1974 adaptation of Oscar Wilde's "The Happy Prince" is not only virtually word for word with Wilde's magnificent narrative, but also one of the single most beautiful, most transcendent, most profoundly affecting and poignant filmic experiences I have ever known. Ron Goodwin's beautiful score is the ultimate enrichment, especially the song which I would guess to be called "There Is No Justice In Poverty". The vocal performances of Christopher Plummer and Glynis Johns are in my opinion the most profoundly lovely and beautifully nuanced of any in the history of animation. A story of deep compassion and shattering self-sacrifice in a presentation that will never be equaled. The full retention of Wilde's deeply religious ending is satisfying and beautiful beyond my ability to express. I am not ashamed to say that I sob like a child at the film's end, and I can only hope that everyone who sees it would have the privilege of feeling this same depth of emotion."It is not to Egypt I go......"

The Happy Prince

[hippieharrie · 10/10 · 18 March 2008]

I saw this film as a kid in the 80s. Only just saw it again, tonight, on this site whilst searching about this old, vague memory I had about a statue of a gold prince. Was incredulous to find, in the first instance, that it really did exist. And, in the second instance, that the voice of the swallow (whose voice I had a vivid memory of and think I fell in love with as a child) was the very voice of the woman who was Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins - that brilliant ?Suffragette! The Golden Prince, so it turns out, was the one film that has stayed in my memory for over 23 years (without knowing/remembering its title until tonight) and I've never forgotten it. But I have to say, the thing I remembered about this film, above all else, was the bird plucking the last shred of gold off the statue and, well, how sad I felt about that whole thing. So glad to have been able to see it again tonight after nearly a quarter of a century. The animation looks so poor now, but still absolutely the most poignant memory of my younger days. Thank you Oscar Wilde (I never knew I was so cultured at such a young age!) and Michael Mills (for bringing it to film) xxx

Good watch, but maybe just during the Christmas season

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 26 November 2017]

"The Happy Prince" is a Canadian English-language film from 1974, so this one is slowly moving towards his 50th anniversary. The writer and director is Michael Mills and it is one of his most known works and this one he made right between his 2 Academy Award nominations. It is based on a story by Oscar Wilde and the cast includes Oscar winner Christopher Plummer and Oscar nominee Glynis Johns, both at an ancient age these days, especially the latter. Their work here only runs for 25 minutes and is a story about the unusual friendship between a swallow and a statue. There are several Christmas references in here, which makes it a mostly good watch for the holidays. I personally had problems here to get really emotional, mostly because the statue character did not do really much for me at all. But maybe it is just me. The story as well as retro animation were definitely on the strong side and this film is one piece of evidence that the 1970s weren't that bad either when it comes to animation, even if the Golden Age was long over already. I think that is all. Music, voice acting and some previously mentioned factors make up for some weaknesses with the characters. I give this television special a thumbs-up and recommend checking it out.

Love this movie

[pryce_tag · 10/10 · 1 January 2011]

I loved this movie so much and cried like a baby when I saw it. I was only about 10 years old at the time but it has always stuck with me. I always remembered it at Christmas, but haven't ever seen it again.

I have searched the internet to no avail to try and get a copy of it on DVD. If anyone knows how I can get a copy of this on DVD can you please please please let me know. It is a fabulous movie and I wish they would play it every year. I think the kids of today need a 'nice' movie like this every once in a while, without all the blood and guts and swearing and such. Please email me if you know how I can get a copy.

Thanks so much, Lynda.

Tear-Jerker for Any Age

[kemberm · 7/10 · 16 August 2010]

I must say, and I'm not really embarrassed to admit it, but I've only seen this cartoon once and I cried my eyes out. I was also in a bar setting in New York City when I saw it, so that may have been a little odd. However, there was no sound as the music was louder than the TV, but the message still came across loud and clear. I later went online to find the story because I was so intrigued. When I read it online, I again cried. I was impressed that the story could still be taken in without hearing any of the words during the cartoon. I liked the cartoon version a little better but both were incredibly good.

Short and sweet, this movie is good for a comforting cry.

a gem

[Kirpianuscus · 27 April 2018]

As child, I was enloved with Oscar Wilde's ~Happy Prince~. it was not exactly a favrit tle. but , simple, exactly, The Tale. after decades, I saw this little gem. and memories, and emotions come back. because it is more than a faithfull adaptation. it represents a love letter. simple, moving, memorable, impressive. and honest. all is delicate to ideal. the animation, the music, the voices. and that "swallow, little swallow" never sounds more delicate. for first time, I saw the tale as a portrait of Wilde itself. and the temptation to see the story as adult falls. because it is more than a children tale. it is , this film is splendid proof, a trip across yourself. short, Ron Goodwin gives a precious gift to his public. and more. because this short animation has the gift to define. yourself.

Memorably heartfelt

[michael-29356 · 9/10 · 28 August 2020]

I saw the animation when I was 8 and never forgot the story, the emotion and the moral lessons it taught. The voice performances by Plummer and Johns lent grace and verisimilitude to the show. I cried at the ending even though I had read the story before.

I just watched it again as a middle aged dad with my 6 yr old son. And we both sniffled at the ending. Still emotionally powerful and deeply moving. If you know Oscar Wilde's own tragic life events, the story is doubly impactful.

A Treasure

[catey-40848 · 5 December 2018]

This was shown every Christmas back in the 70s, along with The Selfish Giant and The Little Mermaid (the real story, not the Disney version). I loved them all, and I've never forgotten them. I still get teary just thinking about the ending to The Happy Prince. And all three of these gems had beautiful music too.