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The
Gublin
Legends (1978)
producers:
Gordon Murray for the BBC
animation: stop-motion animation
episodes: 13 x 5mins
This quaint little series of legends was
spawned from the marvellous mind of
Gordon Murray, who'd previously brought
us those classic shows based in
Trumptonshire
and Rubovia. The Gublins were curious chimp-like creations
who featured in a series of Tall Stories, narrated
to us in a folksy fashion with
rhyming couplets and a simple acoustic soundtrack. It
was all terribly quaint,
but at the same time, terribly appealing with
some very clever wordplay, and
always with a twist in the tale.
"Multicoloured Swap Shop" on BBC1, and each was presented to camera
by Gordon Murray, in person. Alas, however, they came and went in a
heartbeat, with ne'er a repeat to be seen...
And his father was afraid
That for Abdul sandal making
was a very timid trade,
So he sent him on an errand
With a pair of brown, Size 3,
For conveyance to the Caliph
At the Palace C.O.D."
- from The Magic Tree
"In the garden, Mr Dilly
With the Vicar and his daughter
entertained the little mermaid
with her tail kept moist in water"
- from Mr Dilly's Mermaid
BBC
Swap Shop Books
These were published annually by the
BBC, to tie in with the hit magazine
series. And luckily for us, three of them
featured our Gublin friends in their
own little photo story. It should be
noted, however, that these stories
were edited for these appearances, and the
models re-staged to enable
each to be told in the requisite amount of
pages...
Book
2 (1979) - featuring The Prince Frog
featuring Mr Wiffin, a Coachman, King
Alfonso, Princess Tina, and
a Frog Prince.
Book
3 (1980) - featuring The Magic Tree
featuring Abdul, a Caliph, a tree and
a whole lot of "Bunzibub".
Book
4 (1981) - featuring Mr Dilley's Mermaid
featuring Harry Dilley, a Vicar, a crook
called Titus Leach, and
a mermaid called Lucy Lock.
Incidentally, the very first "Swap
Shop" book featured another of
Gordon Murray's creations, Skip
& Fuffy.
Dean
& Co.
They published four brand new Gublin
photo tales in a series of "Young
Gublins Picture Storybooks", dating
from the same era:
The Lost Drum
The Surprise Present
The Wishing Well
Grandpa's Mistake
Those Gublins Legends
Only 12 of the 13 Gublin Legends that were
filmed were ever broadcast,
and that 13th and final episode is, sadly, untitled. Here
are the others:
The Prince Frog
The
Magic Tree
Mr
Dilley's Mermaid
Bessie O'the Glen (or the Inversneekie Doonie)
The Dancing Princess
Charley's Feather
The Prudent Prince
The Emperor's Willow Warbler
The Honey-Coloured Hat
The Kendal Candle
Obadiah and Flo
The Barber of Cartina
The Gublins on DVD/VHS
The Legends aren't available on DVD. But
one episode
"Bessie
O'the Glen" previously appeared on this video compilation:
Children's
Seventies TV Favourites - Vol. 1
Region
2 VHS / Contender / February 1998
Each film contains the following end
credits:
a Gublin film by Gordon Murray
music by Freddie Phillips
On
the web
Double:Take
Double:Take's index page
features a little series info,
three pics and all the necessary
contact details for folks
seeking broadcast rights to the
show...
The
Realm of Rubovia
The
Gublins are here too, alongside King Rufus
and friends...
The
Trumptonshire Web
More Murray magic here...
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