woods-18568 I can remember watching this at least 25 years ago and just remembered the films name after racking my brains. I could only remember Stephanie Beacham in it. The snow scenes were superb real snow, wow, for a change. I thought the film was very good as a children's/family film. Would love to know where it was filmed. I watched it with my brother who was about 20 at the time and he also enjoyed it. The scenery locations were beautiful. The scenes that really sticks in my mind is the scene where Stephanie Beachan was riding through the snow on a large sleigh being pulled by a pack of black wolves. Wonder if you can still buy it, if someone could tell me.

squeaks209-1 You didn't make this movie up (well obviously since it's on this site). I watched it growing up too and my mom taped it. My friend and I watched it a few days ago. Basic summery--although I must warn you, I'm really bad at summaries: A girl goes to stay with her cousin while her Aunt and Uncle travel--I believe some place warm so the mother can get better. However, once the parents are gone, the women left in charge turns out to be not such a nice person. She has plotted to have the parent's ship sunk, fired all the servants except for two, forged a will saying she gets all the money (instead of the two girls). When she realizes the girls have discovered her plan, she sends them to the factory--which is the part you remember. It's a clothes washing place, and during their escape the boy watching the workers gets stuck in the clothing press. In the end, the girls escape and return home, I think they kill the women or the wolves get her or something. Anywho, the parents return--evidently surviving the sinking ship, and I'm supposing they all live happily ever after.

mdamon I saw this about eight years ago when I was eight. My sister and I used to watch it on Disney channel super late at night. For the past few years we've been looking for someone to convince us that we didn't make it up, and yesterday my sister found the book in her library. Good to know other people have seen this movie! All we could remember was that there was snow, wolves, carriages, and a factory where someone got rolled through a dryer/presser. I still haven't seen it in years so if someone knows of a presentation on television or somewhere I can buy it I would love to know!Thanks

catemh1 I remember being enthralled by both the book and this film when I was little. Stephanie Beacham performs brilliantly as the evil Miss Slighcarp. She is well supported by Mel Smith, Jane Horrocks and Richard O'Brien (really likable as James and totally unrecognisable here from his "Rocky Horror" persona). The plot moves quickly and despite not faithfully mirroring the story of Joan Aiken's novel manages to portray all the characters just as they were depicted in the text. I continue to enjoy watching this as an adult - some fans of the book may be unhappy with some of the added material but as a fan of Joan Aiken myself, I think this adaptation and the actors' performances do great justice to her writing.