In today’s society, the term “whipping boy” is used to describe a fall guy, patsy or scapegoat. It refers to someone who is punished-not necessarily physically, but in some circumstantial way.
In medieval times, the term was not merely a figure of speech; it was a “job.”
Rather than punishing a young prince for misbehaving, the king would command the whipping boy-usually a street urchin living at the palace through conscription-to be brought down from his chambers to take the lashes while the prince watched.
Hardly material you’d think appropriate for a children’s movie, especially in a social climate that characterizes physical punishment as abuse and that recently saw a woman arrested in Georgia for slapping her child in a grocery store.
However, Disney has managed to make “The Whipping Boy” (6 p.m. Sunday, The Disney Channel), based on Sid Fleishman’s 1986 novella, which won the Newberry Award for excellence in children’s literature, into a surprising tale of goodwill and adventure.
Smacking of “The Prince and The Pauper,” the story follows the rich-boy poor-boy fable and results in lesson that money and royalty aren’t all they’re cracked up be.
But “The Whipping Boy” is much richer in scenery, costumes and characterizations than “Prince,” and it has a stronger message.
Nic Knight plays Prince Horace, the adolescent heir to the throne of the small kingdom of Brattenburg. Horace’s brattiness manifests itself in executing such practical jokes as ordering the royal carriage driver to race through puddles to splash innocent townspeople.
“Prince Brat!” screams a soaked orphan girl named Annyrose (Karen Salt) while big brother Jemmy (Truan Munro) tries to muffle her shouts.
Although one would agree “Brat” is a fitting nickname for the curly red-haired royal monster, the Prince seeks revenge for the insult by ordering Jemmy to become his new whipping boy.
“When father wants me punished, you take the whippings for me,” says Horace, who orders Jemmy to yelp and bellow when he receives his strokes. But the strong-willed and streetwise Jemmy disobeys and succeeds at being Horace’s “worst whipping boy ever.”
Horace’s tumultuous behavior and incessant pranks are designed to catch the attention of his distant father, whose broken promises and courtly demeanor leave much to be desired in a father-son relationship.
Conversely, the relationship between Jemmy and hsi sister Annyrose is heartwarming and admirable. We learn the orphans lost their mother years ago (what happened to the father is not mentioned) and Jemmy, known as the ratcatcher, sells rats for pay.
Despite their lack of money and “proper lodgings” the siblings have a mutual respect and love for one another that soars beyond all material possession.
George C. Scott plays the growling, rapscallion Blind George, who runs the local gaming establishment where Jemmy sells his rats. The other bad guys include Hold-Your-Nose-Billy (Kevin Conway), a smelly soul who eats raw garlic heads like apples and whose stink brings grown men to their knees. His comrade Cutwater (Vincent Schiavelli) is the less inelegant of the two.
Hankering to leave the castle for very different reasons-Horace feels unwanted and Jemmy is imprisoned for an alleged theft-the two flee on an adventure dodging Hold-Your-Nose-Billy and Cutwater.
Trying to survive, the boys become comrades in their plight, illustrating the importance of friendship and mutual respect. This film is one the entire family will enjoy.
– Barney-bashers beware! All that wasted energy trying to eliminate the purple phenom has only generated more hype. Not only is the new chock-full-of-saccharine season of “Barney and Friends” upon us, but also in the works are two hourlong prime time specials and a series of Barney books.
Some changes in the show include a new set with an expanded classroom and playground; several younger children, including a preschool-aged sibling for an existing cast member; unified themes such as family, home, neighborhood, animals and transportation and possibly a physically challenged child.
