Florence's Sad Song (HQ Original)

Florence's Sad Song from Dougal and the Blue Cat, a Magic Roundabout feature film. Featured in a recent BBC Desert Island Discs and uploaded for critique and review discussion.
Created in France by Serge Danot, The Magic Roundabout was adapted and narrated in English by Eric Thompson who gave each character a charm that was adored by millions, making it one of the most cherished British television institutions.
© Serge Danot 1970

[@elenawilliams8058]

This is a perfect rendition of what it feels like to suffer with depression. Its absolutely hear rendering

[@amax6340]

I do agree, such a great song. Never heard the English version before, you should check the French one, it's even more beautiful as it is sung by a little girl

[@paulbeardsley4095]

Yes, that is how it is.

[@matthewweatherford6566]

I thought about this during lockdown.

[@tppercival5295]

That song has made me shed some tears when I listened to it whilst watching the film. That moment in the film was truly depressing.

[@BlackAce-zr2ms]

This is the 70’s for you....VERY deep this is....I do remember actually breaking down when I first heard this back when I was 6! Well done Eric Thompson...he deserves an award for this film...

[@trionabyrne72]

Nice song from the movie

[@davidpercival6326]

I was born in 1986 in about 1990 I owned this on vhs I watched it over and over and remember this part the most

[@alexbentley4087]

Oh my word. It’s so beautiful. And simple. I can’t love it any more than I do

[@gftyhify]

I love how Mr Rusty remains optimistic. Also I wonder if he’s like a father figure towards Florence, after all her parents are nowhere to be seen

[@lynfordcasting7461]

If you can listen to this without shedding tears, then you're a stronger person than me... blimey, tragic stuff

[@felixicecream3740]

I am not stronger than you

[@rogersstinson4019]

I am.

[@annalever6113]

This movie terrified me as a child and just watching this clip, I can see why!

[@thecinematicmind]

Thank you Mark Kermode and Charlie Brooker for introducing me to one of the most underrated film songs ever.

[@dukeofmars4847]

Mark kermode considers this to be one of the best movies ever made and just watching this clip i can feel sonething in this film that i really havnt felt before, it sounds corny but know that im being perfectly serious when i say: its magical.

[@LePenguin]

Dang, Eric Thompson pulls off a really well singing voice, especially for her, this didn't make me necessarily cry, but this might bring a tear to the eye

[@jackfriend4u]

trying to type my thanks... with tears in my eyes. i only saw this film (and got a copy on dvd ) a few years ago and have now watched it at least ten times (so far), and i still get teary with this scene/song. because i love Eric Thompson's script and voice so much, i haven't been able to get more than 10 minutes into the original French version before losing patience- it feels shrill and puerile by comparison- but i can never forget that it is still Serge Danot's (?) direction and a fully French design and animation , as well as story, all of which are wonderful. its just that Thompson's voice and the nuances he gave the characters make one very big difference. The French version feel very much like its "kids only", whereas the English version feels just as much for adults, and never once feels like its talking down to the younger audience. I do wonder what the French fans of this film (and the series) thought about the two versions , what their preferences are, and whether they ever felt insulted by the BBC's/Thompson's change to the tone of it all. It would be a good subject to make as a docu-drama covering the whole history of that period. I haven't seen any of the more recent CGI version of Magic Roundabout and from all accounts (almost universally on KZbin anyway), its not a jot on that which came from the 1960's until the feature film of "Dougal and the Blue Cat" (1970). To my thinking this film should be up there with "Yellow Submarine" as something that has lasted the test of time and needs to be rediscovered and find a new audience. remastering it, adding loads of extra features on a Blu-Ray would be a good start- so come on BBC, (or BFI) - how about it? You've given attention and money to things with far less cultural cache, and many folks would like to spend their money on it.

[@David-uf8ex]

I had the soundtrack record in the 70s , just seeing this brought it all back what a lovely sad little song 😢

[@johnlonghurst4275]

As you mentioned, as a kid I pictured every scene. Couldn’t believe it when I found the real movie. Only have it on VHS though. Must invest in DVD. Mrs thinks I’m bonkers!!

[@jannyrocks1815]

Same here, played the album to death when I was 4, didn't see the film til my 20s on VHS, there was a book too with stills from the film. Not sure how we could've watched the film in the 70s, maybe at the cinema

[@roadrunnercoyote2263]

For those of you interested, I have the French version of this as well :) Here are the lyrics (from the English translation on the 2010 UK DVD): My sorrow is immense, For I feel the absence... ...of my dear loyal friend. I recall and implore... ...the one that I long for, The one who's on my mind, The one I hope to find. Hours and days slowly pass by I'm so lonely, my heart will cry Hours and days slowly pass by I can't believe this is goodbye... (spoken, while crying) Pollux, my dog... my sweet dog. My sweet friend, where are you? My sorrow is immense... For now will commence... A never-ending wait. My friend always gave me Such happiness and glee. Am I singing in vain? Or can he feel my pain? Hours and days slowly pass by I'm so lonely, my heart will cry Hours and days slowly pass by I do believe this is goodbye... I do believe this is goodbye...

[@barbarakirk3064]

The translation of the French lyric seems more grown up and more resigned.

[@HugoBluGo]

@@barbarakirk3064 simply because the french version is the original :D

[@pdrg]

Is the French one the same tune?

[@gazzarrr666]

Jesus! That's even more depressing than the english version. Good job I live on the ground floor, or I might be tempted to 'defenestrate' myself :-(

[@gazzarrr666]

BTW - The dog's 'Pollux'? It certainly is....

[@Nostall123YT]

I forgot how brutally depressing this movie was at some points, especially seeing zebedee, who’s usually capable of everything with his mustache, powerless and crying. Deep shit.

[@roadrunnercoyote2263]

CHRIST this is downright DEPRESSING :( The fact that Ermintrude has a plastered smile on her face as she's shedding tears doesn't help and only adds to the creep factor... :/

[@thecinematicmind]

RoadRunnerCoyote18 On the soundtrack version, it includes the sounds of chains adding even more of the creepy nature.

[@trionabyrne72]

That song is beautiful but sad

[@FletcherWilbury]

@@thecinematicmind Oh?

[@endgamefond]

Me listening to this coz I'm depressed. It hits deep. This song.

[@aaronsmyth7943]

Fucking heartbreaking.

[@trionabyrne72]

Beautiful song

[@TheMasterNo6]

A wonderful film. I have it on DVD. It also has the original French version of the film too. Thompson's adaptation was better though. The original Magic Roundabout is still far superior to that cgi nonsense made a some years ago. They just don't make programmes or films like this anymore which is such a shame. Florence is my favourite character. My Girlfriend as a child looked like Florence - button nose and Bowl Cut hairdo. It's also a shame the utterly wasteful BBC can't be bothered to repeat the entire series in the same timeslot before the evening News - children and adults would certainly love it in the run up to the ever paranoic, ever biased, ever depressing News (which, I hasten to add, I don't really watch anymore - the News that is).

[@jimdandy3818]

I hope everything turned out nicely in the summertime.

[@CarlosM.FernandezRivera-ez6vr]

It's a shame this film never got released outside the UK and France.

[@johnpearson8190]

Best film ever

[@seanjones3746]

I haven't seen the ep or dont know the context or reason for the song but damn this is so sad. Espechialy the part were he says sorry to Dougal.

[@jam-nc8ut]

Imagine what Nico could have done with this.

[@trionabyrne72]

Beautiful song but sad in this 1970s special

[@mrnobody2018]

Dotted eyes, stop motion, looking different etc. paints a picture of the remake

[@mrnobody2018]

Locked up like those in Robin hood fox feature film

[@danyhunselar9654]

As sad as IT IS, The fact, that a MAN Sings Florences Song is kinda funny

[@josephward1071]

Before Zeebad there was Buxton

[@kaytorasaunders-xq3wt]

Who in your opinion is the better villain

[@danyhunselar9654]

Corona-Song...😔

[@danyhunselar9654]

STOP THE WAR!!!

[@minicle426]

This film was pretty bleak, compared to the more whimsical tv series.

[@astronaud5913]

I have a interesting Business Inquiry for you, how can I contact you?

[@chrisrobson4991]

2020's coronavirus lockdown in a nutshell

[@pdrg]

God that's brutal :'-(

[@RafaelSouza-m7v]

A last words

[@cinnamonpumpkin7655]

What happenned to her voice ???? :O

[@michaelcasey1648]

It's the narrator

[@cinnamonpumpkin7655]

@@michaelcasey1648 No. the thing is I know this movie in French ! And I loved this song sang by a little girl...and so this sounds very weird to me ! If you find the french version of this, you'll see what I mean !

[@mrnobody2018]

To dolly, I want the show creative hand drawn stylized

[@esilayakut7447]

😭😭😭😭🙍🙍🙍🙍🙍

[@mrnobody2018]

Florence doesn't have that kind of hair the future series

[@JustPeachyProductions-vk6su]

Yeah, she has a horrible hairstyle, thank god they don’t use that anymore

[@mattp.7975]

$LODE 😢

[@trionabyrne72]

Florence sang a beautiful song