Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25424 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-10-07
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1

DVD Description
DVD Special Features
Interview with Gareth Thomas
Interview with Peter Graham Scott
Production photo gallery
Production Notes

Ratio: 4:3
Audio: Mono
Running Time: 3hrs 7 mins

Synopsis
When a scientist (Gareth Thomas) and his son arrive in the quiet English village of Milbury, they discover the town to be under the power of a sinister figure (Iain Cuthbertson). This children's series is an intriguing sci-fi/suspense production.

From the Back Cover
What is the powerful force that seems to have taken hold of the village of Milbury? Why are the people acting so strangely and why do they greet each other with a trancelike "happy day"?

These are the questions facing Matthew and his father soon after their arrival. The answers lie in the giant ancient stones that surround the village – a circle from which there may be no escape.

Gareth Thomas (Blake’s 7) stars in this cult tale of the supernatural, originally broadcast in 1977.

Features all 7 episodes
Into The Circle
Circle Of Fear
Serpent in The Circle
Narrowing Circle
Charmed Circle
Squaring The Circle
Full Circle

Customer Reviews

Happy Day !!
This quirky series will appeal to fans of the Village Of The Damned, the Wicker Man and the Prisoner.
For some reason i cannot stop re-watching it, you find yourself gaining new insight on every viewing aswell as feeling yourself forced to think about the themes that it addresses, television that makes you think, now there's an idea !

Bonkers, barmey and totally brilliant!
I discovered this little gem by accident, just scouring the net really. Bought it on a whim and once I started watching it, I realised I remember it scaring the bejesus out of me, when I was about 7. For all you anoraks out there, if you can imagine a mix between Robin of Sherwood (all the dry ice/smoke), Doctor who mid Pertwee era (especially the story 'The Daemons' with all that occult and magic stuff that wouldn't be allowed on a kids programme these days) and anything mid 70's (flapping flares, haircuts of frankly scarry proportions) and you are about half way there! I loved the ending, especially imagining lots of kids my age back then going...'eh?'. Only as a adult do I understand what was going on. Like lots of 60's and70's kids programmes, the 'kids' aspect was just lip service to get the thing made.
Buy this and love it as all sensible early middle aged people should. Still, it is a bit creepy..............

Cerebral Stones Show Wear for Children
Children of the Stones, a 1977 British mini-series directed towards family viewing, is an entirely interesting and intelligently written story that never talks down to its viewers and actually expects a little intellectual discourse from it audience. The story focuses on the strange and paranormal events of a village, called Milbury, when Dr. Adam Brake(Gareth Thomas) and his son, Matthew(Peter Demin), visit to explore and conduct some magnetic energy studies on an astrophysics grant. Unnaturally happy townspeople greet each other with, "Happy day," reminding the experienced viewer of Patrick McGoohan's The Prisoner, with the residents' obligatory mantra, "Be seeing you." The village itself is surrounded by 4,000 year old stones, known as Sarsen, set in a circle around Milbury, which seem to have a psychic effect on the whole town. There is also Rafael Hendrick(Ian Cuthbertson), who has settled down in Milbury, but whose ultimate purpose is unknown for the time being. Also of mention, actor, Freddie Jones(Dune), heavily contributes to the eerie factor of Milbury as a mystical poacher. There are slight similarities in plot to Village of the Damned as well as the Prisoner, as previously mentioned, however, this story stands on its own, and compells the viewer to watch until the very end, lest you never discover the secret of the Children of the Stones. Although, the production is of low budget and has some dry spots, Director, Peter Graham Scott keeps the plot rolling and the writers definitely challenge our intellects and imagination for a mere children's series. American viewers may recall this program was included in Nickelodeon's "Third Eye" series. Upon viewing this 7 episode series on DVD, one will immediately notice considerable grain in the picture and casual videotape dropouts from time to time. Although, these imperfections are obvious to the average collector, it is not distracting and probably expected due to the age of the material. The mono soundtrack is decent. The extras include an interview with the lead actor, Thomas, and Director, Scott, as well as a photo gallery(with some behind-the-scenes shots) and production notes. I must say after finally watching the ending, after approximately 25 years since I had seen the premier episode, that I was unavoidably dissapointed, yet my curiosity was sated. The Stones may wear on real children who are accustomed to attention-deficit-inducing programs of today because, this cerebral story demands more than casual viewing. If you are intensely curious about Children of the Stones because it was part of your childhood or wish to be entertained by something totally alien to today's lackluster television standards, I recommend that you pick up a copy of this haunting and clever series for your collection.