Talk:The Belstone Fox

Running time

The DVD runtime of 98 minutes as against the original 103 minutes was attributed to a change of speed. I suggest some of the more graphic scenes may have been cut. Doug butler (talk) 16:06, 22 May 2020 (UTC)

Reviews of the novel

I found:

• "Sillitoe introduces a local flavour". The Guardian Journal. Nottingham. 1970-09-30. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.

If one more review is found, as per WP:NBOOKS, one can write an article about the novel. WhisperToMe (talk) 05:42, 28 August 2025 (UTC)

Connection with Disney's The Fox and the Hound

I'm trying to find published secondary sources (please do not cite self-published YouTube videos!) that connect the original Belstone Fox novel with the 1981 film.

I found:

• Inverne, James (June 7, 2010). Wrestling with Elephants. SMT. p. PT61 – via Google Books. - A single sentence says Belstone Fox was remade into the Disney film, but provides no further analysis
• Kohn, Martin, ed. (September 1996). Videohound's Family Video Retriever. Visible Ink Press. p. 54. ISBN 9780787609849. - From this preview Martin Kohn says that there is "an interesting comparison with Disney's superficially similar ( and sunnier )" Fox and the Hound.

WhisperToMe (talk) 13:25, 28 August 2025 (UTC)

For what it's worth, the DVD cover is clear:

"The Belstone Fox, the inspiration for Walt Disney's The Fox and the Hound, is a touching film suitable for the entire family.

From an original novel The Ballad of the Belstone Fox by David Rook."

As usual, no byline for the cover blurb, just "Granada Ventures" Doug butler (talk) 14:09, 28 August 2025 (UTC)

@Doug butler: In that case I would state that this DVD cover states that (and add whatever citation data is there, year of publication, etc.) WhisperToMe (talk) 15:31, 28 August 2025 (UTC)

I found a copy of said DVD cover. I found the ISBN and so included it. WhisperToMe (talk) 15:05, 29 August 2025 (UTC)

I consolidated the refs and added the ISBN. Now what is key is trying to find a published secondary source which analyzes the relationship between The Belstone Fox and the Disney film. To readers: It's important to not cite self-published books nor YouTube videos. The sources must be published. WhisperToMe (talk) 15:42, 29 August 2025 (UTC)

I said "for what it's worth" as the claim must be wrong. The Mannix book was first and almost certainly the basis for the Disney film. I don't have access to the DVD where I am now, but I was under the impression The Belstone Fox was based on Rook not vice versa. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that The Ballad of the Belstone Fox was Rook's rewrite of Mannix, using his plotline and making it authentically English. He may have acknowledged Mannix in his book. It would be useful to know. A visit to our neighbourhood secondhand bookshop (Australia' most helpful) proved fruitless, but there may be a copy in a library somewhere.

I haven't seen The Fox and the Hound but it would surely be a Traversty of the original. I wince at the recollection of Saving Mr. Banks. Doug butler (talk) 18:55, 29 August 2025 (UTC)

I would love to see if JSTOR has article about influences of Rook's novel and/or the movie. I have seen stuff on JSTOR about film adaptations of Sanctuary (Faulkner novel) and why they made the choices they made. WhisperToMe (talk) 23:03, 29 August 2025 (UTC)