Pippi on the Run

Pippi on the Run
1977 (exact American release date unknown)
Nord Art/ G. G. Communications Inc.
Children's, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical
DVD
B

I think this is maybe a shade not as good as the other Inger Nilsson Pippi movie made specifically for the big screen, Pippi in the South Seas.  Run lacks the plot and action of its immediate predecessor.  To balance that, as the children and the movie meander, most of the scenes are set outdoors-- in woods, along a river, at a farm-- and this means nature shots, with lots of animals, from cows and a bull to badgers to owls to rabbits and a kitten.  This is the movie where Pippi is not simply strong but supernatural, able to turn a broken-down heap into her own version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by just flapping her arms and putting super glue in the tank.  She can also fly on a broomstick.

Tommy and Annika are as always along for the journey, and in fact goody-goody Annika's sudden preteen rebellion against her mother inspires the running away that takes up most of the movie.  Understandably, we see her and Tommy's parents (played as always by Fredrik Ohlsson and Öllegård Wellton) only at the beginning and end, and there are none of the usual villagers.  Instead, we get Conrad the inventor/peddler and the farm family, who provide much of the humor of the film in the way they interact with the trio, as during the dancing on the ceiling and the swearing contest.

I'm using a "musical" tag this time because the kids sing a lot, to raise their spirits and/or to raise money.  (Pippi leaves her gold pieces and Mr. Nilsson at home.  The horse ditches her for about an hour of the running time.)  It'd been awhile since I watched this movie (much longer than since watching the others), but having grown up with it, all the lyrics came back to me, like the ones about the "poor Turkish children who haven't any clothes."  I should note that even in the '70s, but especially now, I was struck by the cultural differences between the US and Sweden in regards to partial nudity of children.  There's nothing "inappropriate," but 9- or 10-year-old Annika would've been wearing an undershirt in the swimming scene if this were made in America.

Pippi in the South Seas

Pippi in the South Seas
September 1, 1975
Beta/ G. G. Communications Inc. (dubbed American version)
Children's, Comedy, Fantasy, Action
DVD
B

This has only the title in common with the book, but I actually think the story of Pippi rescuing her papa from pirates works much better than the visit to the island where he's a cannibal king.  (The '70s were still somewhat pre-p.c., but I wonder if the racial stereotypes in print explain the changes for the big screen.)  The journey to the South Seas is probably my favorite part, especially with the flying machines Pippi improvises, first a balloon bed (heck, I want one of those even as an adult) and then a Gilligan's-Island-like bike-powered airplane.  Things slow down a bit once they arrive on the pirate island, but I like the wry humor (some of which is due to translation), like the way that the pirates talk about the raft-building book, and their childlike behavior.  As noted earlier, Beppe Wolgers has quite a few scenes in this one, and it's fun to watch him play mind games with his captors, but I would've liked to have seen him show more strength and bravery, while still having Pippi rescue him.

This is probably Pippi at her most awesome, still kind and generous, but even braver and more innovative.  Sometimes she fights pirates (with a sword, a mop, whatever's handy), and sometimes she outsmarts them. She sings not just her theme song but also a couple pirate ditties, which are dubbed nicely.

Tommy, Annika, and Mr. Nilsson are along for the ride, but none of them get much to do compared to Pippi.  (The horse stays at home, probably too heavy for the balloon.)  Annika whines more than usual ("I don't think Mommy will like this"), but then she has more reason than usual, and she nonetheless goes along with the adventures.  And the whining is funny (especially with her nasal accent, like she's Arnold Stang's daughter), so I didn't mind.

Because of the plot and change in setting, most of the villagers from the earlier films are missing.  Staffan Hallerstam, formerly Benke the bully, plays Marko, with his blond hair dyed black.  Fredrik Ohlsson and Öllegård Wellton do appear briefly as Annika and Tommy's parents, but they're going on a three-week vacation, leaving the kids in Pippi's custody.  Ah, the carefree '70s!

Pippi Goes on Board

Pippi Goes on Board
August 1975
Beta/ G. G. Communications Inc. (for American dubbed version)
Children's, Comedy, Fantasy
DVD
C+

Even as a child, I found this the most forgettable of the four Pippi movies.  It has neither the freshness of the first movie nor the adventure of the last two.  There's even less of a plot than before, but on the other hand there's too much of the cops (Göthe Grefbo and Ulf G. Johnsson) and robbers (Hans Clarin and Paul Esser).  Still, I like that this is where the New York kids started dubbing Pippi, Tommy, and Annika, which added to the fun for this '70s California kid.  (Annika's accent is especially strong.)  And again, the nature scenes are nice, with the friends this time getting "shipwrecked" for a day or two.

Among the other returning Pippi regulars are Fredrik Ohlsson and Öllegård Wellton as Tommy and Annika's parents, Margot Trooger as Miss Pruselius (the spelling varies), Siv Ericks as the candy shop owner, and Staffan Hallerstam as Benke (but he doesn't bully anyone this time).  Beppe Wolgers appears only in the opening flashback, which is the closest Pippi gets to actually going on board.

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.