Synopsis
World war I. Five Butterworth children live in London. When Father is called to war and Mother goes to nurse the wounded soldiers, the children are sent to live in an old countryside mansion with Uncle Albert, an odd mathematician, unsociable cousin Horace and the housekeeper Martha. Robert, 9, is especially distraught about the uprooting from his father and refuses to accept the authority of his older brother Cyril. The boys’ two sisters, Anthea and Jane, and their baby brother aren’t happy about the change either. Martha takes primary responsibility for overseeing the houseguests. Right from the start she tells the children never to go in the greenhouse. But they violate her edict. A secret passageway leads them to an enchanted beach where they meet “It”, an 8,000 year-old sand fairy who can grant wishes. The children accept It’s offer to use this power, and wish to save their father.