Quincy's Quest

I first watched this aged 7 in black and white and cried. The next time I saw it was in colour and I cried even more lol. Heartbroken that I can't share it with my children and grandchildren

Tommy Steele was a popular entertainer when I was a kid. A pop singer, actor and frequent performer in musicals.

He had a trademark toothy grin but I was surprised how relatively few films he made.

In the late 1970s he branched out into television and made two Christmas Specials for ITV and Quincy's Quest was one of them. You might say it was the Toy Story of its day.

A live action extravaganza with plenty of blue screen. Steele plays Quincy an imperfect toy among group of rejected ones in a department store and are set to be destroyed. He sets outs in a quest to visit Santa in his grotto on the top floor in order to save these toys destined to be thrown into the fire. However a wicked witch is hellbent on stopping Quincy.

Quincy gets detoured along the way, a showman puts him on a wrong train which crashes, a damsel sends him to the army and then he battles giant robots.

Its really musical theatre with plenty of effects. Steele is in his element with the song and dance numbers, Mel Martin is very appealing and Gretchen Franklin (Ethel from Eastenders) is the witch.

The special effects have dated but its still an enjoyable show for kids.

I also have very fond memories of this film as a young child. I am determined to get a copy. I had this on video tape for a very long time as a child and know it word for word - even now I'd guess I could name the next line/screen. However, as this get played repeatedly in my house by me and my brother it eventually wore out! Finally when we moved house my parents used the opportunity to 'accidentally loose it'. Can you believe it? I was so pleased to find this notice board as none of my mates has ever heard of it. This is not just for me but to show my young children - to show them how we did things before animation!!! Please help if you know where I can get a copy of this wonderful oldie.

Quincy's Quest is quite simply one of the most moving interpretations of the story of man's triumph over tradgedy. It captures the upward struggle of a group of rejected toys (read bourgeoisie)in their upward journey of salvation over the toy story owners (read proletariat), with compassion and grace. If Eisenstein had worked in Hamleys this is the film he would have made. If you like this title you'll also appreciate Ben Hur and Birth of a Nation, although both pale in comparison to this masterwork. A timeless classic.

I seen this Christmas 1979 never seen it again should be with the great classics