Madeline in Hollywood

Although not a "new" Madeline title (merely new to video), this 1993 animated production "starring" author/illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans' orphaned--yet perennially sunny and resourceful--Parisian schoolgirl, winsomely narrated by Christopher Plummer, offers a delightful half hour with a solid reminder of the golden rule. Madeline, her classmates, and their leader Miss Clavel attend the "cinema" to catch the latest flick starring their child idol, Sunny Dimples (the girls sit "sobbing at every sad scene/and munching on bon bons--so good--in between"). After the movie, Madeline's thespian antics in the park attract the attention of none other than Sunny's location-scouting film director, and he promptly invites Madeline and crew to Hollywood to appear in Sunny's next film. Far from being the good-hearted cherub depicted on the silver screen, however, Sunny turns out to be a Hollyweird Brat extraordinaire. Of course, Madeline rises to the challenge, teaching Sunny an important lesson in making and maintaining friendships. Recommended? Oui, oui. Also newly available: Madeline and the Pirates. Aud: K, P. (R. Pitman)