Moondial (1988) (TV series review).

You know how it is. You were looking through the Network output and came across this 1988 BBC TV series ‘Moondial’, based on Helen Cresswell’s novel. In fact, in the TV series, it’s an ornate sundial, but it acts as a time machine and puts its user, Aminta, aka Minty (actress Siri Neal), into two places in the past. Not at the same time, I hasten to add. Just one of the places happens to be at night.

At the beginning of the story, we don’t learn much about Aminta, also known as Minty, or her mother Kate (actress Joanna Dunham), except for the fact that her father died in an accident. With a full-time job and a desire to give Minty a break with her Aunt Mary (actress Valerie Lush), she travels to the rural town of Belton in Lincolnshire. On the way home, Kate gets involved in a car crash and ends up in the hospital, where she remains unconscious. Minty and Aunt Mary go to see her, but the daughter is distraught and goes back.

In her exploration of the nearby village and surroundings, Minty discovers she can actually see the ghosts at the nearby Belton House. Touching the moondial sends her back into the past, where she meets Tom (actor Tony Sands), a ragamuffin who hopes to be a footman some day. Both believe the other to be a phantom, yet they establish physical contact by touching hands, despite Minty’s invisibility to others. Here’s an aside. If either was a phantom, how could one tell by passing their hand through another?

A second trip into the past, Minty finds its night and briefly sees Sarah (actress Helena Avellano), who is told off by her governess, Miss Vole (actress Jacqueline Pearce), for being out late and being demonic.

Back in the present, Aunt Mary says they have a guest, a ghost-hunter called Miss Raven (actress Jacqueline Pearce), staying for a while, which hastens Minty to try to protect Sarah. It also appears that Tom can travel to the present with ghostly properties similar to hers in the past. No wonder there are rumours of ghosts at the mansion.

Now, how much to say about the ending without going too spoiler-y? In her own time, Sarah is thought to be a witch because she has the devil’s mark—a large facial raspberry birthmark, really. It is Minty and Tom’s task to rescue her on Halloween from those who condemn her.

Two episodes have audio commentaries with director Colin Cant, actress Siri Neal, and set tutor Jane Ralley. They confirmed that daylight is used for night filming because of child regulations. The production time was 8 weeks, despite some criticism. Siri Neal had the freedom to utilize the props from her room for her first TV production. Ralley highlights the challenges of teaching, which were only resolved when Siri Neal decided to use a room in the cottage they were filming in. The plot often necessitates lengthy pauses for the characters. I loved Valerie Lush’s quote, which suggests that youth is wasted on the young.

The second audio commentary is with the sixth episode. Tony Sands came from the Anna Scher Academy, which didn’t forbid the naughty from auditions. Siri Neal also points out the length of time she stayed in contact with people, and she is still friends with Cant and Ralley. She was also the youngest person to narrate on ‘Jackanory.’ Author Helen Cresswell also visited the mansion as she used it in her original novel, and the sundial statue is still there.

There are two interviews, running around 13 minutes each. The first is with director Colin Cant, pointing out that ‘Moondial’ was the exception to his normally running late filming. Much of it covers the same ground as the audio commentary with more detail. Interesting that Siri Neal was one of the acting schools that wouldn’t audition naughty students unless he asked to see them. It is unclear exactly what she did wrong. In the acting profession at a young age, there has to be a certain amount of free spirit, and reining it in too much must be with discipline with acting.

‘Remembering Minty’ has Siri Neal, a much older fortysomething, discussing her role at the age of 14 and how she lost her drive for acting over the years. I did look up her career in IMDB, and it was quite extensive. The success of ‘Moondial’ ensured Neal’s celebrity status for a long while, as did the tourist trade to Belton House.

So let’s be a little more critical. I haven’t read the original book, so I’m uncertain about its level of similarity. However, a couple subplots don’t appear to go anywhere. World (actor Arthur Hewlett) gives Sage advice and a book on Sundials to Minty, but it doesn’t add more to the story. Minty making tapes of her time travels for her comatose mother doesn’t help the ending and feels more like padding. Eliminate it, and the narrative would remain intact.

Providing actress Jacqueline Pearce with additional roles enhances her role, yet the ghost hunter in the present feels completely underutilized, making no contribution towards the conclusion. Speaking of which, although it is a success, it doesn’t explain what happens. The sundial is a means of time travel, but Tom doesn’t need to touch it to travel. He’s not a ghost in his own time. Considering the age of its writing, I believe I would have been equally critical if I had been reviewing it in 1988.

GF Willmetts

September 2024

(pub: Network, 2015. 1 dvd 6 * 28 minute episodes with audio commentary extras. Price: varies. ASIN: 2NDVD3274)

cast: Siri Neal, Tony Sands, Valerie Lush, Arthur Hewlett, Joanna Dunham, Martin Sadler, Helena Avellano and Jacqueline Pearce