Chico the Rainmaker
Chico the Rainmaker was a British film serial made by Eyeline Films and the Children's Film Foundation. It was shown in 1974 on PBS in the USA, and shown in British cinemas in the 1970s and 1980s as part of their "Saturday Matinees". The series featured a talking shrunken head.
It was also known as The Boy with Two Heads.
Plot synopsis
A boy named Chris Page finds a box at a local antiques shop that contains an eerie shrunken head. He and his sister, Jill, inadvertently play a special series of notes on a flute and call the head magically to life. It reveals itself to be Chicopacobacowana, a 2000 yr-old tribal rainmaker deity from the jungles of the Amazon.
'Chico' had been taken from the jungle by explorers three years previously, and had been awaiting an opportunity to return to his tribe ever since - he is vital to the tribe both as protector and because he has the power to make it rain. The head had been sold to the antiques shop inadvertently, and is being sought by an antiquities dealer (Stanley Thornton) who knows it to be priceless.
Two thieves (Doug & Des) who had earlier attempted to rob the antique shop, learn of a cash reward that Thornton is offering for Chico, and they attempt to capture him. The series centres on the children's adventures as they try to help Chico and to evade Thornton and the thieves.
Episodes
- 1. The Mysterious Box
- 2. Chico makes magic
- 3. Chase for Chico
- 4. The Magic Football
- 5. The Secret Cave
- 6. Chico makes the Rain
- 7. Farewell to Chico
Cast & Characters
Main characters:
- Spencer Plumridge as Chris Page
- Leslie Ash as Jill Page
- Hilda Fenemore as Hilda Page
- Peter Halliday as Mr. Page
- Stanley Meadows as Douglas
- Lance Percival as Stanley Thornton
- Louis Mansi as Desmond
- Clive Revill as Chico (voice)
- Alex Mackenzie as the All-Father (hair)
Director: Jonathan Ingrams
Theme song
Chico chico the rainmaker, Chico chico the rainmaker, Chico chico the rainmaker, Chicopacobacawana make the rain! Chico I'm such a little fella, When I'm around you better get your umbrella, As I start to sway and my eyes go flash, The heavens open wide with a mighty crash!
External links
- Chico the Rainmaker at the Internet Movie Database
- DevilDead.com French entry
- Video Clip of the Opening Credits and theme music on YouTube
- Listing at the Children's Film and Television Foundation