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Post by stuart7 on Jul 14, 2006 18:02:02 GMT
This popular children's show has been discussed elsewhere, but I thought it would be nice to give it its own thread. First of all, I thought it interesting of note that Britt Allcroft (when creating the Thomas TV series) actually turned down the idea of making it using Ivor The Engine-style animation.
Anyway, it was created by the people behind Bagpuss and Clangers, Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. It began when, at his drama school, Oliver Postgate met an ex-engine fireman named Denzil Ellis, who had turned to acting as a career. Denzil Ellis once worked at Mexborough shed in Yorkshire, and he told Oliver about his task of going down to the shed to get the engine ready, and send it powering through the Pennines.
"That," he said, "Would make a good story."
And it did, although the engine in question didn't power through the Pennines but potter in the Welsh countryside. The show is absurd, in a funny way, rather than an irritating way, which is what I like. I have one of the original videos, which is one long episode compiled from several of the original episodes.
Anyway, any fans of the show about?
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Post by Chris The Xelent on Jul 14, 2006 18:12:50 GMT
Oh yeah. I remember that show. Nobody knew what the point of it was, but who cares? I still loved it!
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JimBobDunnie
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Post by JimBobDunnie on Jul 14, 2006 19:56:53 GMT
Two words. Loved. It. Loved it as a child. It was my rival to Thomas. The fact it Welsh perhaps kept me into it. I could relate to the Welsh accents suppose .
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Post by stuart7 on Jul 14, 2006 20:48:04 GMT
Same here, Jimbot. I preferred Thomas though, seeing as the latter had more action in it. Ivor had plenty of good moments, though. I had a good laugh at old Mr. Dinwiddy (sp?) the gold miner, and Mrs. Porty. Her personality was at its tops in 'The Lost Engine', when she thinks Ivor has been pinched by gangsters (when in fact, he has gone to stand at Tewyn Beach.) Oliver Postgate is a good narrator for the show. I wouldn't mind him being on Thomas if Angelis quits.
Stuart
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JimBobDunnie
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Post by JimBobDunnie on Jul 15, 2006 10:16:23 GMT
Ah, The Lost Engine. Now that was a good episode...and yes. Is Postgate still in the buisness? I thought he might've retired or something...
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Post by stuart7 on Jul 15, 2006 10:47:59 GMT
Even though the last episode of Ivor was on twenty-four years ago or so, Oliver Postgate still makes appearances on some programmes. Am I correct in saying there's a DVD of the complete Ivor the Engine about?
Stuart
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JimBobDunnie
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Post by JimBobDunnie on Jul 15, 2006 11:12:09 GMT
Indeed there is, I believe that Chris has got a copy, am I right Chris?
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Post by stuart7 on Jul 15, 2006 21:00:29 GMT
One thing they should have released on DVD is the collection of six episodes in which Ivor arrives on the railway, and gained his famous bagpipe whistles.
Anyway, my favourite episodes were (are):
The Rescue - The most action packed of the Ivor episodes, which goes to show that old fashioned means of rescue can help when new technology can't. The rescue attempts were good too.
Time Off - A nice little episode, with Dai Station's grumbling at one of its best moments.
Mrs Porty's Foxes - I only saw this one recently, and I loved how Ivor showered those fox-hunters with steam. Reminded me so much of 'Whistles and Sneezes.'
Dai and the Donkey - Dai Station shows there is a kinder side to his character in this episode, especially when Ivor derails and Bluebell has to go back to tell Dai to fetch the hydraulic jack.
Sledging - Ivor's derailment was good, and this episode proves, once again, that animals have their intelligence.
The Lost Engine - Some humorous moments, especially with old Mrs Porty thinking that Ivor had been stolen by gangsters.
The only gripe I had with this episodes (and Ryan once emphasised this) was that, though endearing, they could be slightly dull and ordinary. But they had their charm, and their good moments.
Stuart
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Post by Granpuff on Jul 23, 2006 3:26:39 GMT
Three Cheers for Ivor the Engine!!!
I was doubtful when Ivor first puffed onto screens in the monochrome days about being more unreal and cartoony than the RWS. But I loved it, cute dialogue and little fancies - like hatching a dragon's egg in his firebox, or adding two more tones to his whistle so he could join the choir, beautiful 2D stop-motion made Ivor a hoot. I'm a big fan of the Postgate-Firmin team - all of Noggin the Nog, The Clangers, Bagpuss. Would the Clangers rate a thread?!
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The Diseasel
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Post by The Diseasel on Sept 15, 2006 22:34:27 GMT
I have every single Ivor episode on VHS (oncluding the 6 black and white ones). What a brilliant show!: Not very long ago, in the top left-hand corner of Wales, there was a railway. It wasn't a very long railway, or a very important railway, but it was called the Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited, ant it was all there was. In a shed on a siding at the end of the railway lived the Locomotive of the Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited; which is a long name for a little engine, so his friends just called him Ivor.
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Post by tidus on Sept 16, 2006 17:22:46 GMT
I used to have a VHS of Ivor & The Elephant but sadly the tape snapped. I used to watch Ivor The Engine in the early hours of the morning when it was aired on channel 4 when I was a child*. I still have the book I got when I was young of Ivor's Birthday which was brilliant. I also had a audio tape with a few Ivor The Engine stories on it which I got as a Xmas present one Christmas, I'm unsure what happened to it though. *I think it was aired on this channel, I can't remember that far back to be honest as I was more addicted to Thomas & Friends.
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JimBobDunnie
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Post by JimBobDunnie on Sept 16, 2006 19:37:11 GMT
Yeah, I think I remember it being on Channel 4. That was early 90's though. Is Ivor actually shown on the Tellie now?
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Post by dragonfoxv2 on Sept 16, 2006 19:38:52 GMT
Yeah, I think I remember it being on Channel 4. That was early 90's though. Is Ivor actually shown on the Tellie now? Nick Jr. 2 is showing it on their classic slot. And yeah, I remember watching Ivor on Channel 4 when I was a wee kit. I vividly remember the engine puffing down the line whilst I ate my Coco Puffs!
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Post by Captain Punjab on Sept 16, 2006 20:57:51 GMT
I thought the show was alright, but I never liked it nearly as much as Thomas. I did like the animation though. They used to show it on TVO Kids here.
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EdwardTerence
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Post by EdwardTerence on Sept 17, 2006 9:28:01 GMT
I'm not sure how I first got into the show, possibly my parents knew I liked engines and so wanted to entertain me or something, but I can't remember my days as a child. I remember reading books of it when I was in nursery and my parents bought the Ivor and the Dragons video which I've kept ever since. I did often wake up at five to six on Sunday mornings to see it (that is dependant how tired I feel) and if I did, I would have to keep the volume down so as not to wake my family. And I bought the Ivor and the Elephants video on Ebay and enjoyed it as well.
My top 5 favourite characters are:
1 the gold miner (and he's my funniest!) 2 the man who had the elephant's boot 3 the woman who had pigeons on the roof of her house 4 Edwin Jones 5 the woman of the Antiquarian Society
Now I know the names of all those characters and those I mention later, but I'm terrible with Welsh Spelling
Least favourite character: Mrs Porty (not sure of spelling)
Funniest scene:
The whole juggernaut scenes with Jones on it and when it derails and lands in the water (reminds me of Postman Pat on the scooter in Postman Pat Has Too Many Parcels)
Top 5 Favourite scenes:
1 the gold miner touching the hot egg and his chat with Jones until Jones says "We'll try it and see." 2 later on from above scene, the song at choir practice and Jones discovers the egg has hatched 3 The choir practice just before the pigeons fly away 4 Ivor starting himself off after taking everyone home from the beach 5 Ivor derailing at the points and getting a well deserved telling off from Jones
Angriest scene:
Station master getting cross about Ivor going off on his own just before the policeman arrives
Boring scene:
the circus scenes
Least favourite scene:
Fire engine and crane getting stuck in the snow after trying to pull Ivor out
Saddest scene:
Ivor crying at the beach where everybody had fun earlier from 4th favourite scene
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Post by FlyingScotsman on Sept 18, 2006 9:55:41 GMT
I rewrote the Wikipedia article on Ivor on Thursday. Unfortunately, I forgot to log in. D'oh!
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Post by Chris The Xelent on Sept 20, 2006 18:54:19 GMT
To those of you who are interested, someone has put the first 8 episodes up on YouTube (incase you didn't notice).
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The Diseasel
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Post by The Diseasel on Sept 25, 2006 20:16:16 GMT
My fave characters by far are Mrs Porty and the german lady vet. My fave episode is 'Old Nell' where Ivor and Nell have to round up someone to rescue Jones the Steam
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Post by Chris The Xelent on Oct 2, 2006 15:52:45 GMT
To those of you who are interested, I have the first 6 B/W episodes on my hard drive, with a view to distribute them privately. If anyone would like copies, then please PM me and I'll put them up on Megaupload/Yousendit/whatever works for you (YouTube excluded). I have official permission to do this (thanks Ryan), as long as they're NOT posted here. Otherwise I'd get into deep trouble with more than one organisation.
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Post by Chris The Xelent on Oct 29, 2006 11:43:41 GMT
Well, I recently bought a copy of 'The Complete Ivor The Engine' on DVD. So I'd better post my review:
For anyone who'd enjoyed Ivor as a child, you'll find the memories come flooding back once you start watching this DVD. I myself didn't see all of the episodes when I was younger, so it was a pleasent surprise to see all of them at last. I didn't quite know what to make of the ending though ('Retirement'). It was emotional, but I didn't know what emotion to think. It was happy because the dragons finally found an alternative to living in Smoke Hill, but it also meant that we would never see Ivor and his friends again. The only other criticism that I have is that the title of the DVD is very deceptive. It's only all of the colour episodes. It would have been nice to see all of the B/W episodes too since they've been released on video in the past.
But apart from those two minor niggles, it's well worth buying. I only got this for £5 from Play.com. So it's good value too!
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