Candleshoe
“You get up with your dukes up, and you stay that way.”
I just realised on this viewing, I’ve had that misquote in my head in relation to this movie ever since I first saw it 10 years ago. It’s close enough … I love the scene it comes from though, the quiet scene of Jodie Foster walking with the old lady and plain talking, the music and the scenery make a great monologue perfect.
This is one of my favourite Jodie Foster movies and one of my favourite live action Disney movies, and it isn’t seen enough – I almost missed it today on a rare UK TV screening. It’s quirky, irreverent, childish, and, in scenes like that described above, really heartfelt and real. Jodie is of course fantastic, but the other kids, especially the older girl, stand up to her admirably; and I’d forgotten how much of a contribution David Niven made to the movie, too … his multiple character (well … kind of …) turn is more than a match for the similar efforts made by Alec Guiness and Peter Sellers in the past. It’s just so much fun, and it never once is overdemanding of your attention like so many similar movies – one of those movies that just sits there and says, “hey, watch me if you want to, but I won’t mind if you don’t”. I even love the cheesy moment at the end when the bobbies come in and say, “What’s goin’ on?” lol.