Swallows and Amazons1974Swallows and Amazons
1974
In 1929, the four Walker children spend a summer holiday in England's Lake District, sailing their dinghy Swallow to an island to camp. There they meet their rivals, the Blackett sisters of the Amazon.
The default: films the whole family can watch together; any scary or intense moments for the littlest viewers are flagged in the Context Notes.
Why it’s here
Arthur Ransome's classic: children trusted with real freedom and responsibility outdoors, very much a Charlotte Mason childhood.
Context notes
For parents, before you press play.
The children sail at night and run into a landing stage in an open boat, mild peril for little ones. Their father's telegram ("Better drowned than duffers; if not duffers, won't drown") grants a trust worth discussing, and a fish is gutted in detail.
Swallows and Amazons (1974)
Discussion questions
When the credits end, go around the room. Each person gives the film a score out of ten and says why.
- Why did their father let them go?
- How did John and Susan look after the younger ones?
- How did the Swallows and Amazons go from rivals to friends?
- Would you want a summer on an island?
Content advisory
IMDb parents guide (via WebSearch): mild pretend fighting; a man walks the plank safely; a fish caught and gutted in detail; a mildly scary night sail; one "damn" and a "blast."
Best edition
The disc comes first.
No US disc release found (Blu-ray listed on Blu-ray.com (release date unconfirmed))
Edition link coming soon.
Coming later
Where to stream
Streaming services are not listed yet. When they are, this note stays secondary to the disc.