The BBC's Chronicles of Narnia

Three TV Miniseries Based on C. S. Lewis' Beloved Children's Books

Aug 12, 2009

The BBC dramatized the first four books of C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to The Silver Chair, in three miniseries.

In the late 1980s, the BBC filmed three TV miniseries based on the first four books of C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. Each series originally ran in three parts, and at a total time of about two-and-a-half hours each, these shows were able to faithfully adapt the books for the small screen. They were cast with talented child actors and even some name British actors, such as Tom Baker and Warwick Davis.

Starring Richard Dempsey (Peter), Sophie Cook (Susan), Jonathan R. Scott (Edmund), Sophie Wilcox (Lucy), Barbara Kellerman (White Witch), Jeffrey S. Perry (Mr. Tumnus)

The four Pevensie children are sent to a country estate to escape the London bombing during the war. Once there, they stumble through a magic wardrobe into the land of Narnia, which has been placed under an enchantment of perpetual winter by the evil White Witch. Edmund falls under her spell and betrays his siblings, and must be rescued by the sacrifice of Aslan. Then the Narnians defeat the White Witch in battle and the children are crowned Kings and Queens of Narnia.

Barbara Kellerman plays the White Witch with a controlled coldness that occasionally cracks when she flies into a rage. There is also a particularly moving scene in which Aslan is killed. Although Aslan is entirely animatronic, the reactions of the children watching and the close-ups on the lion’s face convey the pain and horror of the murder. The end coronation scene is appropriately regal, with the children wearing embroidered robes in the gilded throne room.

Starring Jonathan R. Scott (Edmund), Sophie Wilcox (Lucy), David Thwaites (Eustace), Jean Marc Perret (Prince Caspian), Samuel West (King Caspian), Warwick Davis (Reepicheep)

The first part of this miniseries covers Prince Caspian and the second two parts dramatize The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

While waiting at a British train station, the Pevensie children are called into Narnia to help Prince Caspian defeat his evil Uncle Miraz and take back the throne of Narnia. After the four children return home, Lucy and Edmund are called back with their cousin Eustace to help the now-King Caspian sail the Eastern Seas on the Dawn Treader searching for the Seven Lost Lords.

The scenes at sea are well filmed, with the Dawn Treader being convincingly rendered like an old Viking ship. The BBC took advantage of the opportunity to film different locations as the Narnians travel from island to island, and each location has its own look. And when the ship comes to the edge of the known world, the scenes are filmed with a glowing white light to show how the characters are entering a magical, pure land.

Starring David Thwaites (Eustace), Camilla Power (Jill), Tom Baker (Puddleglum), Barbara Kellerman (Green Lady), Richard Henders (Prince Rilian), Warwick Davis (Glimfeather)

When Eustace and his friend Jill are being bullied, they call upon Aslan to bring them to Narnia, where he gives them the task of going on a quest to find the lost Prince Rilian, old King Caspian’s son. On the way they are helped by the Marsh-Wiggle Puddleglum, escape from giants, and travel through an underground kingdom.

Tom Baker, most known as television’s Dr. Who, does an excellent job in the role of the gloomy and gangly Puddleglum. The filmmakers also do a good job of conveying the eerie darkness of the Underland, populated by the gnome-like Earthmen. There is a particularly touching scene at the end in which the rejuvenated Caspian, played again by the young actor from Prince Caspian, reunites with his old friend Eustace in Aslan’s country.

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