The Worst Witch (film)
| The Worst Witch | |
|---|---|
 VHS cover | |
| Based on | The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy |
| Screenplay by | Mary Pleshette Willis |
| Directed by | Robert W. Young |
| Starring | Diana Rigg Tim Curry Charlotte Rae Fairuza Balk |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Hilary Heath |
| Producer | Colin Shindler |
| Cinematography | Ian Hollands |
| Editor | Andrew Denny |
| Running time | 70 minutes |
| Production company | Central |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 1 November 1986 |
The Worst Witch is a 1986 British musical fantasy television film based on the first children's book in The Worst Witch series, written in 1974, by the English author Jill Murphy.
The film stars as Fairuza Balk as Mildred Hubble, who is the "Worst Witch" at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. Charlotte Rae plays Miss Cackle, Diana Rigg stars as Miss Hardbroom, while Tim Curry plays the Grand Wizard who appears at Halloween. The opening and closing song, "Growing Up Isn't Easy", is performed by the English West End theatre star Bonnie Langford.
Plot
[edit]The film follows the plot of the 1974 book. The story centres around Mildred Hubble, who is invariably the "Worst Witch" at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches.[1] Mildred causes many mishaps, including being late for school, making all of her classmates fall down, Mildred and her friend unintentionally turning themselves invisible, and transforming the class bully Ethel into a pig. The climax surrounds Miss Cackle's notorious evil twin sister, Agatha, plotting to take over the academy. Ultimately Agatha is foiled by Mildred, and Mildred establishes herself as the hero for the academy.
Cast
[edit]- Fairuza Balk as Mildred Hubble
- Diana Rigg as Miss Hardbroom
- Charlotte Rae as Miss Cackle/Agatha
- Tim Curry as The Grand Wizard
- Sabina Franklyn as Miss Spellbinder
- Su Elliot as Delilah
- Danielle Batchelor as Maud Warlock
- Anna Kipling as Ethel Hallow
- Kate Buckley as Donna
- Leila Marr as Pixie Brown
- Liz May Brice as Zoe Chant-Vestry
- Katrina Heath as Sophie Hattrick
- Tara Stevenson as Gloria Hobgoblin
- Laura Heath as Misty Meadow
- Sophie Cook as Natalie Sinister
- Sophie Millett as Verity Sinister
- Julia J. Nagle as Bubble Toil
- Kathryn Lacey as Goodie Twocharm
- Nevena Kaley as Dawn Undercover
- Caroline Woolf as Julie Vanishing
- Amy Shindler as Spinner Webb
- Pui Fan Lee as Prefect
Production
[edit]The film was shot at St Michael's College in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, England.[2]
Soundtrack
[edit]Its opening and closing song "Growing Up Isn't Easy" was performed by the West End star Bonnie Langford and was composed by Charles Strouse with lyrics by Don Black.[3] The pair also wrote "Anything Can Happen on Halloween". Denis King composed the film's score and wrote the song "My Little School".
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Gilbert, Sophie (30 October 2015). "'The Worst Witch': An Appreciation of the Best/Worst Halloween Movie in 30 Years". The Atlantic. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ Heffley, Lynne (21 October 1986). "TV REVIEW: TRICKS SPOIL THE TREATS IN HBO'S 'WORST WITCH'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Bonnie Langford Spends Christmas in New York". Backstage. Retrieved 8 December 2024.