Hand in Hand

I saw this film as a young child and have always wanted to see it again, so when I, accidentally, found it on Amazon, I had to get the DVD . I loved seeing this sweet movie that I had not seen for over 50 years!

The young boy and girl do an excellent job of acting and demonstrating acceptance and love for others despite their differences.Great family movie.

In 2022, this movie is just as good as when I first saw it in '62, the only two times that I have watched it. Sixty years have not aged it at all. The theme of the movie is just as appropriate now as it was then.

A unique movie. Not like others. Very well done. Highly recommended family movie.

"Hand in Hand" will never be forgotten for those who were fortunate enough to see it during the 1960's and 1970's when it was played often on CBS in several of their children's series. Like others, I've been looking for it for years. Superbly written, beautifully played, most especially by the two children, this story of religous doctrines - and prejudice - separting and dividing people from their true and loving natures has seldom been better rendered in book or film. The only false notes, and they are minor, are struck by the adult actors, who are "acting," while the two lead children are simply "being." And the ending, while touching, would have been stronger if the final shot was of the two children, not the adults, but these are minor distractions from a classic story of innocence confronting the harsh, adult world, and trying to make sense of it. What comes across most strongly is the honestly played love between this boy and girl - both of them talented in singing, in their use of imagination, and in their tender understanding of the world and their willingness to make their love endure, despite the obstacles. Their adventures together, from building a house, hitchhiking to see the Queen (when children could roam free without fear), to sailing to Africa, much of it in thier imagination, are poignantly and honestly rendered. "Fancy fearing that man," the girl says to the boy, remarking on an older man, who they had supposed was nasty, but turns out to be a kind, wise soul. "Fancy fearing anyone," the boy replies. The lessons of this small masterpiece could not be plainer, but what is ultimately the greatest part of this beautiful film is the tender and strong love of these two special childen. A five star must! A classic for the ages!

Isn't it nice to see this little gem released to home video after 50-plus years? Like most reviewers here I saw "Hand in Hand" long ago as part of the children's film festival series on TV (thank you, Kukla, Fran, and Ollie!) and the memories have never left. It's a charmer, telling a poignant tale sweetly and without pretense, a small masterpiece of British cinema from a simpler age. The two children carry the film like seasoned pros without any pretension or preaching and the values and message imparted are timeless ones of love, loyalty, and tolerance. Quality stories like this ought to have a wider distribution and profile (what an ideal school movie), but at least this DVD might rescue it from obscurity for an audience that needs it now more than ever. The DVD quality is very high despite a lack of bonus features (I'm sorry the grown-up actors weren't given a chance to add a commentary track); glorious sharp black and white photography, lovely soundtrack, and a snapshot of a departed time of pre-decimal currency, Latin mass, and leafy English suburbia. "Hand in Hand" deserves every award it ever received and I advise viewers to buy the DVD while they can, it looks to be going out of print again very soon.Note: the Amazon editorial review is wrong in implying this is an American movie or an American setting. It is English.Now if only the equally well-remembered and beloved "Skinny and Fatty" from the same series would finally see a home video release! Anyone out there listening?

I saw this movie almost 60 years ago... I watched it with my family and was so impressed with it that I have been looking for it since then...somewhere, anywhere to see it again. It is of children and the portrayal of a friendship so deep it was to endure forever. I have looked so long for this movie and am thrilled to be able to watch it again and share with others the story of a time when fearing others was non-existent and when love was simply the answer to everything if we let it be. Thank you for having this movie, Amazon, so that old folks like me who remember these days of children living without fear can go back in time, if for only a little over an hour.

I saw this charming little movie as a young child in the early 60s. It made such an impression on me that I and two of my siblings sought it out at separate times without consulting each other first. There is nothing not to like. The characters are all good, warm people, particularly the dear children about whom the story is told. In today's world, with all its cynicism, prejudice and intolerance, it is refreshing to watch a simple movie that attacks all of these heady topics in a way that makes you realize how children are free of these vices until someone points them out. In this story, once the children realize they are different it makes no difference to them. They love each other unconditionally. Even better, their feelings about each other are supported by the important adults in their lives. If you are a parent, please, please, please buy this movie and have your child watch it. I can only hope it can make the same impression on them as it did on my siblings and me.

It seems that Associated British weren’t sure what to do with “Hand in Hand” after it had been filmed as “The Star and The Cross” in 1960, because, although it was a children’s film and had been beautifully directed by Philip Leacock, who had given us “The Kidnappers” and “The Spanish Gardener”, it wasn’t exactly your usual kids picture, being, as it was, about religious intolerance between those of the Catholic and Jewish faiths. So, although it was trade shown as “Hand in Hand” in London in October, 1960, it remained unreleased and they left it on the shelf for three years before eventually slipping it out on an ABC circuit release as the support to the Tony Hancock comedy “The Punch and Judy Man” and, after that initial release, it seems to have sunk without trace...although I did show it as a children’s Saturday matinee film at the Plaza, Fenton, in September, 1969 and the young audience adored it. That was the last time I saw it until Network released a beautifully restored version of it on DVD last year.Two seven and a half years old children, Rachel and Michael (beautifully played by nine year olds Loretta Parry and Philip Needs), fall in love at school and become inseparable. Their relationship is frowned upon by their respective families because Rachel is Jewish and Michael is a Roman Catholic. Worried by this, Rachel and Michael decide that the best thing to do to see if God approves of their friendship is to visit each other’s places of worship during the respective services and, if God strikes them dead, they’ll know that he didn’t approve. So Michael, feeling and looking like a fish out of water, goes to the synagogue to observe what to him is a very strange service indeed and Rachel does likewise at Michael’s church. They get some very strange looks from the different congregations, but, as God didn’t strike them dead, they decide that he approves of their friendship. These scenes are beautifully done and a memorable moment occurs when Philip, on entering the synagogue, takes off his schoolboy cap as a mark of respect as he would do in his own church. One of the congregation is so incensed by this that he snatches the cap from Michael’s hand and rams it firmly back on the boy’s head. He finds himself taking part in the service simply by copying what the others do. When Rachel’s parents decide to move away from the area and it seems that the two sweethearts will not be able to see each other again, they decide to run away together, a decision that nearly ends in tragedy. Beautifully acted; directed; photographed and scored, this is an excellent film that won many international awards and deserves to be revisited.THE NETWORK REGION 2 DVD. This is a beautifully restored transfer of the film with excellent image and sound quality and is enhanced for 16 x 9 computers and televisions. Extras include a chapter selection; a gallery, oddly composed only of American publicity material (maybe Network couldn’t get hold of an original set of British Front-of-House stills for it) and the original 2 minutes and 35 seconds theatrical trailer. This runs longer than the trailer here on amazon uk and on the Network and YouTube sites, as it had to be cut to fit into a two minutes time slot. So the full trailer is only available on the DVD.

This enormously satisfying film, made in 1960, is sometimes said to be about overcoming prejudice. This, I think, is rather misleading. There is little overt prejudice on display in the story. The film, more precisely, is about overcoming fear of the "other", in this case "other" religion/religious practices. Two children become friends at school: the girl is Jewish and the boy is Catholic. I won't go further into the story, for obvious reasons, except to say that it is beautifully, truthfully, realised by a wonderful cast in the hands of a sensitive director and deft cameraman. The child actors, Loretta Parry and Philip Needs will win your hearts forever.

I was introduced to this DVD by a friend. It was mainly filmed in St Albans where we live and lovely seeing scenes of our city from early 1960/61. The story of two young children one Jewish the other Cathoĺic who overcome their religious differences to still remain good friends. . A beautiful innocent story of the children and their adventures. A film you can watch over and over again.

First saw this on Talking Pictures tv and just new I had to have a copy. Delightful b/w film in the Children's film Foundation style. Utterly charming.

Outstanding performances by the two leading child actors. A simple plot that tells a simple story of friendship. You can love it or hate it, but it's worth a watch even if you give it to a charity shop later as I did.