22 February, 2012

Madeline



“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines
Lived twelve little girls in two straight lines
In two straight lines they broke their bread
And brushed their teeth and went to bed.
They left the house at half past nine
In two straight lines in rain or shine-
The smallest one was Madeline.”
Ludwig Bemelmans, Madeline

When I was a child, there were only two movies I completely wore out with how many times I viewed the cassettes—the Hey Arnold! Movie and Madeline.  All I ever wanted to be was a spy who started a revolution in her town whilst also assisting a boarding school in Paris, with an adorable cut like Hatty Jones’ and a cute little uniform with little shiny shoes, an adorable hat I would lose under my bed, and a lovely blue uniform.

I lived my childhood vicariously through Madeline (and Matilda Wormwood).  I would wear my white church dress to bed, pretending it was my night gown.  I would snatch my drawing compass and write down ‘Marie Gilbert’ on the wooden pane underneath my bed.  I would wear round hats that were obviously too big for my head.  I also went as far as to pretend that my house was a boarding school—I would wake up early (this is most likely where my sleep deprivation started) and pretend it was breakfast time with all of “the girls” and late at night I would read underneath my covers as to not wake up “anybody else” in the room.  When we went to pools, I would pretend to fall backwards and drown…unfortunately, I never got any sort of concerned “Ehmagawd, are you okay?” from any mothers, and many kids were curious to what I was doing and whether I was insane.

This film is still one of my favorites, even if I first saw it eleven years ago—I own it on both VHS and DVD and they’re hidden in my room for the nights I can’t sleep.  If you’ve never seen it before, I recommend you do it at least once in your life, and if you already have, go cry in a corner because your childhood was… so… long…  ago.

32 comments :

  1. I loved the cartoon TV show when I was a kid but I didn't actually know there was a live action movie! It looks adorable actually, and so similar to the cartoon. I've got to watch it sometime.

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  2. I used to love this film (and the cartoon) as a child, it really is a lovely story, I haven't seen it for ages, I wonder where all the young actors have ended up now?

    Charlotte

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  3. I loved those books too...she was so adorable!

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  4. Awww, Madeline! I adored the cartoon as a child! "I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline, I may be very small! I'm Madeline, I'm Madeline, but inside I'm BIG!" Aww. Just... aww. This brings back so many happy memories.
    Didn't know there was a live action film though! I will have to check this out.
    xo.

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  5. Why do I have a feeling I've seen this film, but can't remember where on earth it was about?! I so need to see this one again! It looks marvellous, I like your screencaps!

    And YES! Hey Arnold was one of my childhood favourites too. But WHAT?! IS THERE A MOVIE?!?! SERIOUSLY WHY DIDNT I KNOW!? (those capital letter were necessary!!)

    So much childhood to catch up on!

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  6. I love this movie...their outfits are so cute and that little girl is just hysterical!

    I love the books, too - they're beautiful to look at.

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  7. This is so funny, my husband and I were JUST talking about this movie this morning! Great images! They are all so cute!

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  8. It's meant to be! Clearly we ALL need to get together and watch it (and any other movies from our childhood we'd like to cry over!)

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  9. I didn't even know there WAS a Madeline movie! I used to watch the Madeline cartoon every afternoon after school and was completely smitten with it.

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  10. Oh my goodness, my childhood. I remember this /vaguely/. What I remember the most were the books and the cartoons. Now excuse me I have to find a corner to cry because I'm starting feel old for remembering all this.

    -almostalyce (formerly Summer K.)

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  11. I remember this! when I first watched it as a small kid I got really scared at the idea of being kidnapped by clowns. that's some scary shiz right there.

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  12. I had no idea that there was a Madeline movie!
    http://xtheperfectmess.blogspot.com.au

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  13. I adore this movie!!I wish I could be part of it and wear those wonderful blue capes and those straw hats with the red ribbon!!! <3

    Really cute blog!! :)

    Eleni
    http://noeudrose.blogspot.com

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  14. oh my I loved Madeline too. I had a dolly of her! I always wanted a blue pinafore dress and those sweet boaters. XX

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  15. I've never seen this before! My favourites as a child were The Aristocats and Matilda. Ah, it's always the old ones that are the best!

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  16. I loved this film! Matilda was also amazing. I never realised just how young Madeline et al. were though. Strange.

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  17. I just spent about an hour-ish reading through your blog and I LOVE IT. You remind me of myself in high school only far more articulate. You have a new fan.

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  18. My ! Thank you for reminding me about this movie. It is indeed, one of the loveliest motion pictures ever made :) I really used to like it when I was a child :x

    PS: I invite you to join my international giveaway on my blog, featuring Vedette Shapewear pieces :)

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  19. i use to love the cartoon Madaline. how cute! gosh i miss it.

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  20. ohh great great freat!! so lovely.. love all of the photograms :)
    remeinds me about a post I did about brothers and sisters btw.

    xxxx!

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  21. I LOVED Madeline when I was little! one of my favorite movies!

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  22. Hola! Si, como bien viste, hablo Español, vivo en Toledo, España, pero soy Argentina.

    Y Madeline, amo esta pelicula, auqí la dan muy seguido en la TV, y siempre la vemos con mi hijo porque le divierte muchisimo!

    Girls that glitter love the dark
    xoxo

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  23. I LOVED this movie! This movie is like my childhood!

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  24. Such a fun post! I loved it! I think it is super cute that you lived vicariously through Madeline! I am sure you were just the cutest!

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  25. Gosh I haven't watched this in years but I always loved it, your post has inspired me to go out and buy this again!
    dimplesdiaries
    x

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  26. She was lovely!!!^^
    i follow you on Bloglovin ;)
    can you follow me too?¿? :D

    xoxo

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  27. I was talking about this film the other day. takes me back, i used to always wish i could be her!
    milly
    asensibleheart.blogspot.com

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  28. I've never seen the film, but I loved the book when I was little <3 However Matilda remains a firm favourite! xx

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  29. I used to watch the cartoon Madeline with my friend! LOVEEEEED it. :) And it's on Netflix. Yay! Haha. Thanks for your comment on my blog! :D

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  30. Oh my god! Good old times with Madeline, always! I've watched this movie so many times that I totally forgot about it!

    http://stories-of-a-student.blogspot.com/

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  31. hey jessica! thanks for the kind words on my blog - i love taking polaroids, and i love that blogger's format allows me to post them that way! :)

    i loved madeline when i was younger, but i only ever read the book. (and did i ever love that book!) now i'll have to search out the movie, too.

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  32. This movie is so beautifully filmed. So glad someone, you, brought it back into my thought because for some fucked up reason I forgot Madeline existed. I also love Matilda and till this day I hope, pray, and shamefully still stry to squeeze powers out of my index finger.


    Love your blog! xx

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Thank you, pal.