Pippi Longstocking

Pippi Longstocking
December 25, 1973
Beta/G. G. Communications Inc. (for American dubbed version)
Children's, Comedy, Fantasy
DVD
B-

This German-Swedish big-screen adaptation of the Astrid Lindgren story (actually edited down from a television series) came out in 1969, but I'm going with the '73 date because this is the version I grew up with through its frequent showings on American television.  Yes, the dubbing is bad (not only out of sync but with incongruous accents, from German to Southern American to quasi-Peter-Lorre), and even by the standards of late '60s TV the special effects are weak.  But these add to the charm of the film.  I'm using the "fantasy" label because of Pippi's incredible strength, but what most struck me on this viewing is how the childhood joys presented are such simple yet elusive ones, from candy feasts to the unspoiled outdoors.

The movie is also, of course, about friendship, with Pippi (Inger Nilsson) having loyal and adoring pals in her neighbors Tommy and Annika (Pär Sundberg and Maria Persson).  And she's got her monkey Sir (sometimes Mr.) Nilsson and her horse Little Old Man.  The series, which Olle Hellbom would continue to direct, would primarily focus on these five, although what I'm referring to as "other Pippi regulars" (due to tag limitations) would appear in from one to three others of the remaining movies.

Beppe Wolgers would return as Pippi's sea captain father (with a much larger role in Pippi in the South Seas), while Fredrik Ohlsson and  Öllegård Wellton would again be Tommy and Annika's parents.  Göthe Grefbo and Ulf G. Johnsson would be back as policemen Klang and Kling respectively.  (No, I don't think these names are Pufnstuf tributes.  It's probably more to do with alarm bells.)  Hans Clarin and Paul Esser would therefore be back as crooks Dunder-Karlsson and Blom.  And Margot Trooger would return for more humiliation as the prissy Miss Prysselius.  Staffan Hallerstam, who plays bully Benke here, would have a more sympathetic role as Marko in Pippi in the South Seas.  Siv Ericks (role unknown) would also be in Pippi Goes on Board.