very resistible but ultimately harmless film version of the child literary classic which incorporate an animated portion in the style of mary poppins ( 1964 ) and bedknobs and broomstick ( 1971 ) . the human cast be very distinguished james mason and billie whitelaw and david tomlinson and joan greenwood and bernard cribbins but their role range from the miscast ( a 69 year old mason a a thieve chimney sweep . ) to the inconsequential ( greenwood a a befuddled aristocrat ) to the bizarre ( whitelaw play several exotic character include a circus performer and an old hag and a maid and a fairy for no apparent reason ) . the animated segment of the film and handle by a group of east european animator and be hardly inspired but mildly enjoyable in itself and and a usual and with this type of thing and there be an assortment of song one have to put up with and one of which in particular be reprise far too often for it own good . the film be direct by noted character actor jeffries who have previously direct ( far more successfully ) other child film namely the railway child ( 1970 ) and the amazing mr. blunden ( 1972 while which i have yet to watch myself but which be release some time ago on r2 dvd by anchor bay uk ) .