The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Four children, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, are evacuated from London during World War II, and settled with an elderly Professor in a large country-house.

The children explore, and Lucy, the youngest of the children, climbs into a wardrobe and finds it leads to a snow-covered land. She meets a faun, Tumnus, who tells her that the land is called Narnia, and that it is ruled over by the ruthless White Witch, who ensures that it is always winter but never Christmas.

Lucy goes back through the wardrobe, having spent hours in Narnia. It turns out that no time has passed in England, and she is unable to convince the other children about her adventure, as the wardrobe has returned to normal.

Lucy in Narnia

Lucy in Narnia

Several weeks later, she re-enters Narnia, and Edmund follows. He fails to catch up with Lucy, and instead comes across the witch, who seduces him with magical sweets and promises of power. She persuades him to try to bring the other children to her castle.

The witch departs, Lucy arrives, and both Lucy and Edmund return together through the wardrobe. Edmund, feeling annoyed that Lucy was right, spitefully tells the other children that they were just playing and that there is nothing there really.

Finally, circumstances lead all four children to hide in the wardrobe, and they soon find themselves in Narnia. They discover that Tumnus has been captured. The children are sheltered by a pair of talking beavers named Mr. Beaver and Mrs. Beaver, who recount an ancient prophecy that when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve fill the four thrones at Cair Paravel, the witch's power will fail. The beavers tell of the true king of Narnia -- a great lion called Aslan -- who has been absent for many years, but is now "On the move again."

Edmund, still in the thrall of the witch, runs away to find her. His absence is not noticed until it is too late. Realising that they have been betrayed, the others set off to meet with Aslan.

Edmund, meanwhile, reaches the castle of the witch. She treats him harshly and, taking him with her, sets off to catch the other children.

However, her power is failing and a thaw strands her sleigh. The other children reach Aslan, and a penitent Edmund is rescued just