Belle and Sebastien

Belle and Sebastien (aka Belle et Sebastien)

1967 - France

This 13 part black and white French series, which was dubbed into English when shown on BBC2 from 2 October 1967, has become one of the most fondly remembered and asked about children's series on Television Heaven from those of 'a certain age.'

The tale begins when two customs officers (Albere and Geo) are patrolling the mountains during a night of heavy snowfall. In the distance they see a figure approaching and on closer inspection they realise it is a young woman carrying a baby in her arms. Frozen and fatigued the woman collapses just as the officers, aided by a mountain hunter called Cesar, rush to assist her. The three men take the woman into a shelter but are too late to save her. Cesar decides to adopt the baby and take him back to the French Alpine village of Saint-Martin, close to the Italian border where he lives. As it is Saint Sebastien's Day, Cesar decides to call him Sebastien. 

Six years later we rejoin the story to find Sebastien living on Cesar's farm along with the old mans daughter, Angelina -and son, Jean. One day, news reaches the village of a dangerous white dog loose in the mountains and the police issue a 'shoot to kill' order. But it's Sebastien who encounters the dog first and the two of them begin to form a friendship, with Sebastien choosing to call the dog Belle. And so begins the morally wholesome adventures of boy and dog as they wander through the hills enjoying a series of escapades outwitting smugglers and avoiding disasters. 

This heart-warming series starred (as Sebastien) a young man only credited with the name of Mehdi, although he was in fact the son of French film star Cecile Aubrey who both wrote the original story and adapted it for television. A second series Belle, Sebastien and the Horses (also 13 episodes) followed a year later. 

Polished, professional and heart-warmingly wholesome while deftly avoiding the curse of being overtly anodyne, Belle and Sebastien is a bona fide children's classic with a decided touch of Gallic charm. 

Note: In any mention of the series in British publications that we've come across, the child's name is spelt Sebastian. There may have been a change of title for UK transmission but it is more likely that past British reviewers have simply adopted the Anglicised spelling. 

Published on November 29th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Mickey Dunne

The misadventures of a gambling streetwise Cockney wide-boy who manages to survive on his wits and ‘gift of the gab’

Also released in 1967

No, That's Me Over Here

First starring vehicle for Ronnie Corbett who plays a little man (of course) with big ambitions.

Also released in 1967

My Man Joe TV Series

A valet tries mad money making schemes to recapture past glory for his employer.

Also released in 1967

Flower of Gloster

Afternoon TV series about four youngster pilot a narrow boat along the canals from North Wales to London and their adventures on Britain's inland waterways.

Also released in 1967

Gentle Ben

Man's best friend in this series wasn't a dog but a huge bear...

Also released in 1967

Seven Deadly Virtues

When 1966's Seven Deadly Sins proved popular with viewers, series producer Peter Willes decided to repeat the idea the following year.

Also released in 1967

market in honey lane

Created by Louis Marks and beginning on Monday 3rd April 1967, Market In Honey Lane was British TV's first attempt to break Coronation Streets' supremacy as the number one soap opera with an East End version.

Also released in 1967

Vanity Fair

Television adaptation of Thackery's 19th century novel.

Also released in 1967