The Hideaways

Rating:
Summary: Funny personal and pathetic story behind this Movie
Review: I enjoyed this movie very much as a kid. The little brother in it reminds me of myself when I was his age. I might have even taken on a few of his habits after I saw this movie.....Gambling on the school bus, hoarding money and drinking chocolate Alka-Selters. I saw the Hideways when I was a 6 or 7 years old and more than a few of those particular scenes I've always remembered even 25 years later. The only problem was as an adult and for many years I could not figure out for the life of me what the name of this dang movie was. I kept thinking it was called the "Runaways" and did research on it based on that title. I wanted to find it to watch it again of course and also so I could share it with kids in the family thinking they'd enjoy it like I did when I was their age. Over the years before the Internet age I had video store clerks trying to figure out what this movie was based on the story I remember and then tried to research it myself later over the internet. I still couldn't figure out what in the world the name of this dang movie was. Then one day entirely by accident I came across the book that the movie was based on called "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" and luckily browsed the storyline of the book and realized that it sounded familiar describing how a sister and younger brother runaway to New York's Metropolitan Museum. Based on that information about 15 years of off and on research was over. The problem I was having all those years was trying to find a movie called the "Runaways" instead of the " Hideaways". I guess that's what I get for trying to hold on to the past. I was so glad to finally know for sure what title I was looking for that when I found a place selling the DVDs for $6.00 over the internet I bought 10 copies to dish out to kids in the family.

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous surprise
Review: I saw this listed in the late-night TV program as From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and with the synopsis of "two kids run away from home and hide in the metropolitan museum of art" so I taped it and watched it a few nights later. What a marvelous surprise! This is a wonderful movie, billed as a children's movie, but so well done that adults will thoroughly enjoy it. The two children are terrific, especially the girl, Sally Prager, who unfortunately it seems did not continue her acting career, and Ingrid Bergman is absolutely wonderful (and there's a delightful appearance by the great comedienne Madeline Kahn). For most of the movie, it's fun to follow their "adventures" in the museum, which are not, don't worry, cartoonish and childlike (in fact, if you have never been there, it will certainly make you want to visit the Met) but then the ending gets a bit more serious as we are given some "life lessons" which are in fact good lessons, worth learning/remembering, and the movie closes in a bittersweet tone, with perfect acting and direction right to the end. Here's one reason why this movie is so good: the early scenes are of the children living a normal life at home with their parents. Then they run away, hide in the museum, and...we never see their parents again! You keep expecting, okay, now it will cut to the frantic parents, but it never does. We get the childrens' story, through their eyes, and that is the whole of it. Wonderfully good judgment on the part of the director. The book is probably like that, but I'm sure the temptation to show the parents again was great, and he wisely resisted it. Watch this movie, with your children if you have any, and you will be glad you did. (I notice that there is a companion video for use as a teaching aid, which doesn't surprise me - I was planning to mention it to our junior high school principal. It's a 30-year old film and I'm sure most teachers these days don't know of it, but they should.)

Rating:
Summary: LOVELY FAMILY FILM
Review: I thought this was a well-acted, well-written film that conveys it's message beautifully and will not soon be forgotten by most who watch it. Bergman is splendid in the role of a shy recluse chick. There are too many heart-warming moments to mention. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling just thinking about this movie.

Rating:
Summary: LOVELY FAMILY FILM
Review: I thought this was a well-acted, well-written film that conveys it's message beautifully and will not soon be forgotten by most who watch it. Bergman is splendid in the role of a shy recluse chick. There are too many heart-warming moments to mention. It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling just thinking about this movie.

Rating:
Summary: an artists treat
Review: I've seen this film with my daughters 12&15,we loved it.If you love Art,New york City,and family films you'll love this one.

Rating:
Summary: Fine.
Review: This movie is a well written good-example of how a book can be transformed into a movie. Highlight: the scene in Macy's department store.