Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Ralph Wright (animation story) &
Ted Berman (animation story) ...

Release Date:

13 December 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

You'll beWITCHED! You'll beDAZZLED! You'll be swept into a world of enchantment BEYOND ANYTHING BEFORE!

Plot:

An apprentice witch, 3 kids and a cynical conman search for the missing component to a magic spell useful to the defence of Britain.

Plot Keywords:

Magic | Apprentice | Witch | Witchcraft | Bed

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Angela Lansbury	...	Miss Price
David Tomlinson	...	Emelius
Roddy McDowall	...	Mr. Jelk
Sam Jaffe	...	Bookman
John Ericson	...	Col. Heller
Bruce Forsyth	...	Swinburne
Cindy O'Callaghan	...	Carrie
Roy Snart	...	Paul
Ian Weighill	...	Charlie
Tessie O'Shea	...	Mrs. Hobday
Arthur Gould-Porter	...	Capt. Greer (as Arthur E. Gould-Porter)
Ben Wrigley	...	Portobello Rd. Workman
Reginald Owen	...	Gen. Teagler
Cyril Delevanti	...	Elderly Farmer
Rick Traeger	...	German Sergeant

Also Known As:

Bedknobs and Broomsticks: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (USA) (longer version)

Runtime:

117 min | USA:139 min (restored version) (1996) | 99 min (re-release) (1980) | Germany:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (25th anniversary special edition) | Mono (RCA Sound Recording) (original release)

Certification:

Peru:PT | Brazil:Livre | West Germany:o.Al. | Portugal:M/4 | New Zealand:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:G | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

The castle in the background of the town is real and situated in Dorset, England. Both the castle and the town where it resides are called Corfe Castle, where many Thomas Hardy adaptations have been filmed since.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Miss Price's nightgown floats out the door, the wires that are making it float can be seen.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Captain Ainsley Greer: You there, which way to Pepperidge Eye?
Elderly Farmer: Couldn't say, sir. It said on the wireless to paint out the sign posts in case the Nazis drop in.
Captain Ainsley Greer: I'm not a Nazi, I'm a British officer!
Elderly Farmer: That's what you'd say if you *was* a Nazi, isn't it sir?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Beautiful Briny

Terrific film

It is unfortunate that this film receives such little comment, as compared to "Mary Poppins", for the simple fact that most people DO compare it to "Mary Poppins" amd really, it stands alone.

The story is quite original and well done. The actors are all wonderful, and Angela Lansbury, to me, will always be Miss Price. David Tomlinson is also wonderful as Professor Browne. The children are also great, with the standout being the youngest one, Paul. He has so many funny moments in this movie.

Again, the Sherman Brothers lend their creative song-writing talents to this film with excellent results. "The Age of Not Believing" is wonderful, as is "Eglantine", "The Beautiful Briny" and the superb "Portobello Road" number. The animation scenes are also great and imaginative.

This is certainly an enjoyable film on many counts, and should be remembered just as so many of the other Disney classics. It should also be seen in the recently restored version, which runs over two hours. The story is more fluent in that version, and the songs are intact, for the most part. A great movie.