
About the film
- Directed by
- Robert Hird
- Released
- September 1, 1971
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Starring
- Lesley Roach, Gary Smith, Rachel Brennock, David Lodge, John Ash
More credits
- Language
- English
- Origin
- US, GB
- Studios
- Children's Film Foundation (CFF)
- Written by
- Peter Blackmore
- Produced by
- Hugh Stewart
- Cinematography
- A. E. Jeakins
- Music
- Muir Mathieson
- Also starring
- Nigel Chivers, David Richards, Bernard Horsfall, Jane Jordan Rogers, Freddie Jones
Ask around now and grown men will lower their voices about it. A children's film that colonized British nightmares.
He lives in a place called Rhododendron Mansion. He is six feet tall, dressed in a frock coat and top hat, and appears only if you close your eyes and perform a summoning ritual.
On paper this one is Harvey for kids, a gentle fantasy about an invisible rabbit and the girl who befriends him.
The costume, with its fixed stare and too-human bearing, lands somewhere between quaint and deeply wrong. Add a gamekeeper who threatens little Mary with a shotgun and you get a film that ran on Easter and Christmas television to haplessly unnerve a generation.
MR. HORATIO KNIBBLES (1971) came from the Children's Film Foundation, the publicly funded outfit that turned out wholesome hour-long pictures for Saturday matinees.
Those who grew up with Mr. Knibbles still carry the scars.
How to see Mr. Horatio Knibbles (1971)
Streaming
United States
No subscription, rental, or purchase options listed in United States right now.
Source: JustWatch
Physical media
Part of Children's Film Foundation Bumper Box
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Movies we wrote about
60 commentsJabberwocky (1977)
6 commentsThe Asphyx (1972)
25 commentsThe Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
2 commentsZeta One (1969)
14 commentsToomorrow (1970)
27 commentsThe Final Programme (1973)
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Clearly a demon lol
This film literally popped in my head the other day…. Forgot all about it until then
This is ripe for a creepypasta.
An inspiration, maybe?
I quite liked this when I saw it recently
Enjoyed it as a kid
They showed this in the US in the early 70s as part of the “Chiildren’s Film Festival.” Or so I hear. I’m not old or anything…
“jaffa cakes for proust” did a great podcast on this.
Dave Elsey I’d forgotten about this one 🙂
Oh I hadn’t. I can’t forget it. Ive tried… but in the darkness….. That rabbit face…
Used to see all of the CFF films as a kid, tbey were on every Sunday afternoon on Irish telly back in the late 80′ or early 90’s.
Was this the studio behind Apaches 😱😱🤓😱😱🤔
JayQuellin Burklin
Why the hell did england win so hard in the 70s? This looks like a fever dream and I want to watch it.
What movie is this from?
Mr Knibbles relocated to Summerisle, to help with the island’s crop failure.