Madeline: Original Series

MADELINE AND THE FORTY THIEVES At the Old House - and all over the neighborhood - people's hats, gloves and scarves are missing. Madeline and Pepito work with Detective Moreau to find the perpetrators, then finally discover that the "thieves" are some altruistic magpies who are distributing the warm clothes to the homeless in the park.

Just in time for Easter, Madeline updates the old hat belonging to Bon Bon, the milk horse. But then an enormous gust of wind sends the hat flying across town, into the shop of a struggling designer, who attempts to market it in time for Easter.

MADELINE AND THE NEW HOUSE The Old House, sorely in need of repair, is condemned and the girls are forced to move to a small apartment where their snooty neighbors hate kids and dogs. But just before the wrecking ball destroys their beloved abode, Madeline enlists the aid of the ladies of the Historical Society, who help get the Old House renovated to perfection.

Madeline's country cousin Andre comes to town. Everyone thinks he's nothing more than a bumpkin with phenomenal gardening skills until, with Madeline's encouragement, he saves the day at the big soccer match.

When Madeline and the girls visit a toy factory, Madeline is accidentally boxed as a "doll" and sold to a handicapped girl. The ailing child considers Madeline her only friend and is devastated when Madeline reveals her true identity and has to go home. But things turn around the next day when the little girl discovers she now has twelve real live friends.

Madeline, the girls, and Pepito prepare a disasterous meal for Lord Cucuface, who immediately enrolls them for cooking lessons at the famed Cordon Bleu. After various mishaps, the children finally get the hang of French cuisine, but Madeline fails to receive her diploma because she has given her creation to the hungry. In the end, Miss Clavel helps Madeline realize that the satisfaction of helping someone is more rewarding than any blue ribbon could ever be.

The girls get a chance to perform with a famed ballet master who thinks Madeline is too small to succeed. Madeline's insecurity (and Pepito's teasing) keeps getting in the way of her performance until she is given a pep talk - and a pair of toe shoes - by an accomplished prima ballerina, who convinces Madeline that hard work and courage will help her excel.

After being evicted from the opera for barking along with her favorite arias, Genevieve is dognapped by an empresario who sets her up at a dinner theatre. When Madeline finally catches up with her talented canine, Genevieve, now a star, is reluctant to go home because she is still embarrassed about the incident at the opera. It is up to Madeline to convince Genevieve how much she is missed at the Old House.

Madeline, Pepito and the girls visit Miss Clavel's aunt and nephew in their Alpine chalet. The trip is laden with adventure - from skiing and skating to an abominable snowman sighting. Later, when the group is trapped in in the chalet by a terrifying avalanche, it is Madeline's spirit and ingenuity that saves the day.

Madeline is "discovered" by a Hollywood director and is transported to California for her motion picture debut with her idol, Sugar Dimples. But Sugar turns out to be a spoiled brat and it is up to Madeline to teach her that true friendship is more valuable than fame and stardom.

Lord Cucuface takes the girls and Pepito on a yacht trip, and excludes the girls when he teaches Pepito sailing techniques. But it is Madeline's skill that saves the day when she and Pepito capsize on an island populated by "pirates" (who turn out to be harmless actors, but terrifying nonetheless).

It is Madeline's birthday, and Pepito and his father take her to the zoo while Miss Clavel and the girls get the house ready for a surprise birthday party. But when a mischievous monkey lets all the animals out of their cages, Madeline feels responsible and fails to make it home in time for the party. In the end, Miss Clavel relocates the festivities and Madeline gets to celebrate with her animal pals.

Madeline paints a magnificent picture and accidentally leaves it at the Louvre, where it is mistaken for a masterpiece and hung next to the Mona Lisa, upstaging DaVinci's creation. Madeline tries to get the painting back, but one believes that she is the anonymous artist. In the end she finds she must use her fiesty individuality to prove herself to the authorities.

The circus has been cancelled because Monsieur Funnybones, the world's shortest clown, has lost his ability to laugh. When the forlorn performer shows up at the Old House disguised as a chimney sweep, Madeline teaches him that being tall is just a state of mind.

The girls are looking forward to a big costume bash at Pepito's house. But a week or so before the festivities they all come down with chicken pox and are quarantined in the Old House. Then, when Dr. Cohn declares that they have recovered just in time for the party, Madeline helps everyone create costumes that incorporate their remaining "spots".

Lord Cucuface becomes convinced that the girls have musical talent and schedules a Bastille Day performance. But really it is only their victrola - and Chloe - who have the talent, and when Chloe is hospitalized after a pillow fight accident, the girls lose hope. Finally Madeline (with the help of Miss Clavel) motivates everyone to practice, and the concert is a success.

The girls and Pepito visit Pepito's relatives' hacienda in Spain and encounter Pepito's cousins who are naughty and mischievous "bad hats", the way Pepito used to be (only worse!) The cousins terrorize everything in sight - various animals, the guests at their parents' fiesta, and even the girls. But after Madeline rescues a baby bull from their reaches, the Horrible Hats meet up with "El Enojado", an angry toro who teaches them a lesson.

The girls find a homesick parrot who repeats the same street names over and over. But when Madeline takes "Monsieur Parrot" to those streets, she has no success in locating his home. Finally she figures out that the streets in question all have Metro stops, and M. Parrot is returned to his owner and best friend - a conductor on the Pont de Neuilly line.

While on holiday in New York, the girls and Pepito attend a Yankee game, and Madeline catches the first home run ball of the season. A millinaire "rewards" Madeline by giving her the Brooklyn Bridge. Madeline is thrilled until a truck spills peanuts, popcorn and other snacks all over the roadway, causing the detained motorists to become irate. Madeline is given hero status when she donates the bridge to the city, and the girls are equally revered for introducing French Fries to America as ballgame snacks.