Swallows and Amazons (1974 film) Swallows and Amazons (1974 film) Swallows and Amazons is a 1974 British film adaption of the 1930 novel of the same name by Arthur Ransome. The film, which was directed by Claude Whatham and produced by Richard Pilbrow, starred Virginia McKenna and Ronald Fraser, and a young Zanna Hamilton. Its budget was provided by Nat Cohen of EMI Films who had funded the successful 1970 film "The Railway Children". During the school holidays, the Walker children (John, Susan, Titty and Roger) are staying at a farm near a lake in the Lake District of England. While sailing a borrowed dinghy
Swallows and Amazons (1974 film) named "Swallow", they meet the Blackett children (Nancy and Peggy) who sail a dinghy named "Amazon". The Walkers camp on an island in the lake while the Blacketts live in their house nearby. However, they soon realise this has been the territory of the two other girls who sail the "Amazon", and the scene is set for serious rivalry. Eventually they make friends and agree to join forces against a common enemy – the Blacketts' Uncle Jim whom they call "Captain Flint" (after the character in "Treasure Island"). Uncle Jim, normally an ally of his nieces, has withdrawn from their