AboveDeepBuggy
Some things I liked some I did not.
Lollivan
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
Nicole
I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.
Skyler
Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.
atlasmb
I saw this film on TCM without any prior knowledge of the story, and I am glad I did. This is a charming story about romance and adventure, which is not to say it's a love story. By romance I mean "A feeling of mystery, excitement and remoteness from the everyday."A brother and sister, seeking adventure, decide to run away from home. They travel to New York City and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they explore its vast collection and experience freedom. While there, they decide to solve a mystery concerning a piece of art on display. Their quest leads them to the lady (played by Ingrid Bergman) who sold the piece to the museum. In the process, the young girl receives a priceless gift.Adapted from a children's book, the story is charming. The film--like the book--would enthrall most children. It is also enjoyable for adult viewers. The acting is perfect for the roles. New York City (and especially the museum) is an enjoyable part of the film.
JLRMovieReviews
Two children run away from home and stay at the New York museum. Sound unbelievable! Well, it happens in this film, "The Hideaways." Based on a children's book, the film centers its attention more on the older sister than the younger brother. I had never seen this before, but I feel like I would have loved it had I seen this when I was younger. But even as an adult now, I really like it a lot. The film may not seem like much, but we are completely immersed in their own little world as they discover art in the museum. The movie is so well written and made believable by the actors' credible acting. Then much of a to-do is made of a Madonna sculpture and who actually made it. They come to find out it was donated by a rich and eccentric lady. When the girl decides she has to know all about it, they find out where she lives and visit Mrs. Frankweiler, played by Ingrid Bergman. In one of her last films, Ms. Bergman is a delight as she toys with their curiosity and ultimately has a long talk with the girl about life and one's choices. I particularly enjoyed that; it was a very touching moment, maybe made even more poignant for those people who know of Ingrid Bergman's life and career. (She would live only another 7 years.) This is a very endearing, sweet film that children (and Ingrid Bergman fans) would love. I wish it were shown on television, so that today's younger generations could discover this great little film about growing up. Discover "The Hideaways," or "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" today.
pawness
I adore this book - I read it as a child and now teach it as a teacher! This Claudia is great, mouthy and awkward but sensitive and determined.SPOILER: My biggest problem is the final lesson that Mrs. Frankenweiler teaches Claudia - the goo about her only sadness being that she couldn't have a child. Where did THAT come from? Why must that foolishness be added to this wonderful story about adventure and choosing individuality? It is like she is saying, "Claudia - it is great to be curious and adventurous but don't forget to have kids because that is the only thing that really matters in the end." She's 12!! My students are totally turned off by that and view Mrs. F in a whole different (distant and not connected to their lives) sort of way. It sacrifices the chance for them to relate to an older person as "cool" and interesting. Too bad.I haven't had a chance to the see remake but I hope the Lauren Becall wouldn't stand for such sentimental claptrap. (Mind you - with the remake out of print and the only copies I can find costing more than $200 - I don't think I'll be seeing it anytime soon!) By the way, if anyone would like an educational consultant for a new remake - I'm your girl! :) Alice Sensei in Japan
Valerie Garber
I loved E. L. Konigsberg's book, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It is one of a few books that I remember fairly vividly from childhood, and I recently read it with my son, so we decided to watch this movie. I liked the movie, and thought that the children and Ingrid Bergman all gave fine performances. However, the movie differs from the book on minor details that I could see no rationale for changing (saying that Mrs. BEF lived in New Jersey, rather than Connecticut, for example). Mainly, though, I was very disappointed in the way the story ends in the movie in comparison to the book. In the book, Mrs. BEF gives the children a time limit and lets them figure out the answer to the mystery themselves. But in the movie, Mrs. BEF leaves Jamie playing cards with her butler, while she takes Claudia to another part of the house, where Mrs. BEF essentially solves the mystery for Claudia. I would still recommend the movie, but it's not nearly as good as the book.