From Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Own it on September 8, 2009
Rated: ‘G’
Run time: 139 minutes
Born in the WWII years, I remember blackout shades, food, gasoline and shoe rationing, and stories of Nazi submarines in the Atlantic right off the Jersey coast. I was so young then that I did not appreciate the reality of it all until many years later as an adult. That was back in 1971 when I took my five year old to Bedknobs and Broomsticks. It was playing at the local drive-in.
Well, times have changed and the drive-in is gone. Movies are still around but many people opt to wait until they are released on DVD. Well, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment just released a digitally restored and remastered Bedknobs and Broomsticks. As I watched it again, I couldn’t help think this story is as enchanting as it was two generations ago. I thought of my VCR copy well used and worn with age and thanked modern technology for making its color and sound even better. This live action and animation musical deserved every one of the five Academy Awards it received and more in my opinion.
The story is set in 1941 in Dorset, England. Because the country is at war and Germany is bombing cities, children are being evacuated and placed in homes away from targeted areas. Three siblings Charlie (Ian Weighill), Carrie (Cindy O’Callaghan), and Paul Rawlins (Roy Snort) are put in the care of serious, practical, firm spinster Eglantine Prince. Little does anyone know that Miss Prince is an apprentice witch.
In short time the children discover Eglantine’s secret. She bribes them to keep her secret by giving the youngest a bedknob. When placed on a magical bed, the bed will fly off. It has been charmed by the substitutionary locomotion spell. Eglantine meets a cynical conman Professor Emelius Brown (David Tomlinson) along the way. They hope to find the missing half to Astoroth’s spellbook.
Together the five face the criminal Bookman, escape to the lost Isle of Naboombu, meet King Leonidas, get the Star of Astoroth only to have it disintegrate, then find the secret words “Tregunda, Mekoiodes, Trecorum, Satis Dee) in a picture book. However, when Eglantine attempts to use them to cast a spell, she fails.
Then Nazis invade Dorsett, capture Eglantine and the children, and lock them in a medieval castle. Emelius hurries back to save them. Eglantine will attempt to use the charm once more. I’ll leave you to watch the ending. I loved it and I think you too will. Then when you finish watching the feature, you can check out the bonus backstage secrets.
Here’s a clip from the film called Briny Sea.
on Sep 12th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
CUTE CUTe CUTE I so remember this as a child I have it on VHS infact now that I see it I bet the kids would luv to watch it I’ll pop it in.
Need to switch collection to DVD not sure how long our VCR will work.
on Sep 12th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
What a great review! I haven’t seen Bedknobs and Broomsticks since I was a little kid. I don’t remember it very well, but you make me want to watch it again.
on Sep 12th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Larry,
It was all the truth.
Pat.
on Sep 12th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Night Owl Mama,
VCR’s are harder and harder to find–in time they will become obsolete.
Pat.
on Sep 12th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
I love all the Disney movies. My family watches them all the time.
on Sep 13th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
bridget,
I like the old ones about the princesses, alice, Mary Poppins, Brer Rabbit best.
Pat.
on Sep 15th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
This was one of my oldest daughters favorite movies. Elocutionary Motion was one of her favorite songs! And yes – we saw it at the drive in. Thanks for a trip down memory lane!
on Sep 15th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
This is a great film for the whole family! I especially enjoy Angela Landbury!
on Sep 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Nancy,
Was she young then.
Pat.
on Sep 15th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Nea Nuttiness,
Drive-ins are part of our heritage–love thenm or hate them.
Pat.
on Sep 16th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
We still have a drive-in here in Northwest Indiana. Sometimes it shocks me when I drive by and they are showing a more “racy” movie. A little too bizarre to see that huge in the night sky.
on Sep 16th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Janet,
We once stayed in a hotel in Anaheim next to a drive-in. I couldn’t understand why the boys wanted to go to bed before their bedtime. Years later I found out why.
Pat.
on Sep 19th, 2009 at 12:36 am
How sad is it that I have never seen this movie? You have convinced me to check it out!
on Sep 19th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Swampbaby,
It was still fun this time round and I watch it with each generaling.
Pat,