BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS (Theatrical Release USA 1971)

Ben Meyers’ rating—3.9|5.0 Starsììì

Bedknobs and Broomsticks combines Walt Disney live action and animation to provide classic children’s entertainment, guaranteed to please. The film is a good child/adult share and provides surprisingly good animation/live action scenes despite its age. The story drags a bit until the children discover that their new caretaker is a wannabe witch with apprentice skills, at that point the story sustains with a slight setback at the introduction of David Tomlinson as Emelius Browne, and then after some interaction between David Tomlinson and Angela Lansbury, it’s a sit back and enjoy the show.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Wannabe witch Miss Eglantine Price (Angela Lansbury) goes to the local village of Pepperinge Eye to retrieve a special mail package and is unexpectedly assigned the care of three orphaned children who were evacuated from London after the World War II Blitz. Miss Price reluctantly takes the three children to her home. When the three children see her clumsily ride her new broom, they tell her they won’t tell about her witch’s broom if she will teach them a little about magic.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Robert Stevenson for his directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Bill Walsh for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Emelius (David Tomlinson), Mr. Jelk (Roddy McDowall), Bookman (Sam Jaffe), Colonel Heller (John Ericson), Swinburne (Bruce Forsyth), Carrie (Cindy O’Callaghan), Paul (Roy Snart), and Charlie (Ian Weighill).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a treat to see Angela Lansbury in an early work before her famous Murder She Wrote televised series.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers