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Gabrielle and the Doodleman
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Wikipedia article
'Gabrielle and the Doodleman' is a children's film, that was released in 1984 and directed and written by Francis Essex.British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film edited by Denis Gifford, ISBN 9781579581718
Published July 9, 2001 by Routledge It was produced by the Elstree (Production) Company Ltd for the Children's Film Foundation (at that time renamed the Children's Film and Television Foundation).British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film, edited by Denis Gifford, Routledge publisher, The Children's Film Foundation: History and Legacy by Robert Shail, 2016,
Premise
The story is about Gabrielle, a wheelchair bound little girl, who gets involved in a life and death battle with characters from her computer game (she can be seen playing "Space Invaders" at the beginning of the film), and in particular "Doodleman", that help her through a difficult time. Matthew Kelly played a James Bond like character "Doodleman", with Eric Sykes as the Genie, Windsor Davies as the characters Ringmaster, Black Knight and an Ugly Sister. Prudence Oliver played the main character Gabrielle and Anna Dawson played the Wicked Witch. Singer-songwriter Lynsey de Paul, played the characters Miss Moneypocket (a Miss Moneypenny type character) and Dandini. Gareth Hunt played Mike as well as the King and Baron Hardup. Comedienne Josephine Tewson played Mrs. Briggs and the Fairy Godmother. Bob Todd (real name Brian Todd) was Merlin as well as an Ugly Sister and Pierre Picton, the last surviving clown from Bertram Mills Circus, played the Clown.
Production
De Paul wrote and performed the fitting, electronic-tinged, theme tune "You're Alright as You Are" which was performed by Matthew Kelly and she composed, arranged and played all the music that is featured in the film.
The producer was Greg Smith and the associate producer was Roy Goddard.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311175/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm The budget was 202,097.
Release
It was released on VHS video and it has been shown on U.K. terrestrial TV network for the first time on ITV on 30 December 1988.page 105, TV Times, 17 December 1988 - 1 January 1989 The TV Times review called the film "a junior version of Tron.page 9, TV Times, 17th December 1988 It was also released in Norway as "elle melle... Gabrielle". The film is described as "a familiar piece of whimsy with a striking supporting cast" by Robert Shail in his book "The Children's Film Foundation: History and Legacy".The Children's Film Foundation: History and Legacy by Robert Shail, Bloomsbury Publishing, 25 July 2019, 208 pages, ISBN, 9781838718664
References
Category:1984 films
Category:British children's films
Category:1980s children's films
Category:1980s British films
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