Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Warm, imaginative period fantasy with threat, child cruelty.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Amazing Mr. Blunden
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE AMAZING MR. LANDEN, Lucy (Lynne Frederick) and Jamie (Garry Miller) move to the countryside when a mysterious figure (Laurence Naismith) offers their recently widowed mother (Dorothy Alison) the opportunity to be caretaker of an old mansion. There, they meet two ghosts who desperately need their help. Making a strange potion with plants from the garden, they travel back from 1918 to 1818 to help stop a tragic event that's been haunting the mansion for the past century.
Is It Any Good?
Though the filmmaking looks a little dated at times, and there are stereotypes better left behind in the 1970s, the story here is full of enough creativity and warmth to appeal to modern families. Two years before directing The Amazing Mr. Blunden, Lionel Jeffries made the beloved 1970 version of The Railway Children, and here he brings the same wonder and magic experienced through the eyes of its likable young characters. There are humorous moments that keep things light, even as topics like child cruelty are central to the plot, and while the special effects may feel less convincing by today's standards, the sets are nothing short of spectacular. You can almost feel the dust and cobwebs in the abandoned old mansion, which switches back to its regal former glory with ease. The ghostly mischief makes for a lot of fun, potions and time travel add extra fantasy elements, and kids will enjoy seeing the cruel characters get their deserved comeuppance. This is an unexpectedly enjoyable adventure that shows its age in places but will likely still set kids' imaginations ablaze.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how ghosts were portrayed in The Amazing Mr. Blunden. Did you find them scary? Why did they haunt the house? How did they compare to ghosts in other movies you've seen? How much "scary stuff" can my young kid handle?
The characters showed empathy, courage, curiosity, and teamwork. How did these help them succeed? Why are they important character strengths in real life?
Discuss how some of the children were treated by adults? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
How was smoking and drinking depicted in the film? Was it glamorized? Why does that matter? Do you think attitudes to drinking and smoking have changed since when the film was set?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 30, 1972
- On DVD or streaming : November 2, 2017
- Cast : Laurence Naismith , Lynne Frederick , Garry Miller
- Director : Lionel Jeffries
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : First American Films
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Empathy , Teamwork
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 23, 2025
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