The Water Babies

"Catch a Wave to a World Full of Wonder!"

1978 1h 32m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 16

FamilyFantasyAnimationAdventureMusic

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Grimes, an amoral chimney sweep, occasionally likes to steal valuables from his clients. One day, on the verge of being caught, he frames his young apprentice, Tom, for the crime. Tom runs away and jumps into a river where, instead of drowning, he finds himself transformed into a mystical aquatic creature. Swimming and breathing effortlessly, he discovers a colorful underwater world replete with creatures both cruel and kind.

“Catch a Wave to a World Full of Wonder!”

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Cast

James Mason
Mr. Grimes / Voice of Killer Shark
Bernard Cribbins
Mr. Masterman / Voice of Eel
Billie Whitelaw
Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby / Old Crone / Mrs. Tripp / Woman in Black / Water Babies 'Gate Keeper'
Tommy Pender
Tom
Samantha Gates
Elly
Joan Greenwood
Lady Harriet
David Tomlinson
Sir John / Voice of Polar Bear
Jon Pertwee
Salmon

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Lionel Jeffries
Writers: Michael Robson
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, Poland

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

48 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, Poland.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Lionel Jeffries, shot by Edward Scaife. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter Weatherley shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

James Mason and Bernard Cribbins and Billie Whitelaw carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

AWARDS

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Catch a Wave to a World Full of Wonder!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0078477 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Lionel Jeffries directs. Edward Scaife behind the camera. Peter Weatherley cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom, Poland. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

148 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, Poland.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Lionel Jeffries, shot by Edward Scaife. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Peter Weatherley shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6James Mason and Bernard Cribbins and Billie Whitelaw carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Catch a Wave to a World Full of Wonder!".
8IMDB entry: tt0078477 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 16 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
10Classified under 8 themes, including "fish", "polar bear", "walrus", "seahorse".