Return from Witch Mountain (1978)

Director:

John Hough

Writers:

Malcolm Marmorstein (written by)
Alexander Key (characters)

Release Date:

10 March 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Fantasy

Tagline:

Sinister forces from this world against two young space travellers from another.

Plot:

Tia and her brother Tony have supernatural powers, can communicate and move things with the power of their mind alone...

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Sequel | Supernatural Power | Spacecraft | Child's Point Of View

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Letha
Christopher Lee	...	Victor
Kim Richards	...	Tia
Ike Eisenmann	...	Tony
Jack Soo	...	Mr. Yokomoto
Anthony James	...	Sickle
Richard Bakalyan	...	Eddie (as Dick Bakalyan)
Ward Costello	...	Mr. Clearcole
Christian Juttner	...	Dazzler
Brad Savage	...	Muscles
Poindexter Yothers	...	Crusher (as Poindexter)
Jeffrey Jacquet	...	Rocky
Stu Gilliam	...	Dolan
William Bassett	...	Operations Officer (as William H. Bassett)
Tom Scott	...	Monitor
Helene Winston	...	Dowager
Albert Able	...	Engineer
Denver Pyle	...	Uncle Bene
Brian Part	...	Goon #1
Pierre Daniel	...	Goon #2
Wally Brooks	...	Taxi Fare
Mel Gold	...	Security Guard
Bob Yothers	...	Cop
Casse Jaeger	...	School Patrolman
Larry Marmorstein	...	Guard #1
Bob James	...	Gate Guard
Ruth Warshawsky	...	Lady in Car
Adam Anderson	...	Man in Museum
Rosemary Lord	...	Woman in Museum
Lloyd Nelson	...	Museum Guard
Ted Noose	...	Policeman
Wally K. Berns	...	Man in Car (as Wally Berns)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gary Owens	...	Newscaster (voice) (uncredited)
Adam Roarke	...	Museum security guard (uncredited)

Directed by
John Hough

Writing credits
Malcolm Marmorstein		(written by)
Alexander Key		(characters)

Produced by
Kevin Corcoran	....	associate producer
Jerome Courtland	....	producer
Ron Miller	....	producer

Original Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Cinematography by
Frank V. Phillips		(director of photography) (as Frank Phillips)

Film Editing by
Bob Bring

Production Design by
John B. Mansbridge		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
John B. Mansbridge
Jack Senter

Set Decoration by
Frank R. McKelvy

Makeup Department
La Rue Matheron	....	hair stylist
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist

Production Management
John D. Bloss	....	production manager (as John Bloss)
Michael J. Dmytryk	....	unit production manager (as Michael Dmytryk)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael J. Dmytryk	....	assistant director (as Michael Dmytryk)
Dorothy Kieffer	....	second assistant director
Randy Carter	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Kurt V. Hulett	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ben Hendricks	....	sound editor (as Ben F. Hendricks)
George Ronconi	....	sound mixer (as Ron Ronconi)
Herb Taylor	....	sound supervisor
Richard Partlow	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Art Cruickshank	....	special effects
Danny Lee	....	special effects
Eustace Lycett	....	special effects
Mike Edmonson	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Hans Metz	....	special effects (uncredited)
Mike Reedy	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Joe Hale	....	stop motion animation

Stunts
A.J. Bakunas	....	stunt player
May Boss	....	stunt player
Tony Brubaker	....	stunt player
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunt player (as Gerald Brutsche)
Gary Davis	....	stunt player
Bob Drake	....	stunt player
Richard Drown	....	stunt player
Ted Duncan	....	stunt player
Larry Dunn	....	stunt player
Bud Ekins	....	stunt player
Gary Epper	....	stunt player
Beau Gibson	....	stunt player
Donna Hall	....	stunt player
Bob Harris	....	stunt player
Carey Loftin	....	stunt player
Norris Maxwell	....	stunt player
Norman Mont-Eton	....	stunt player (as Norm Mont-Eton)
Bobby Porter	....	stunt player

Camera and Electrical Department
Carl Boles	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Barney Cabral	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Evelyn Kennedy	....	music editor

Production Companies

• Walt Disney Productions (presents)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Distribution Company (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1986) (Greece) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Filmayer Vídeo

Also Known As:

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:U | USA:G | West Germany:16 | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Canada:G (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

Bette Davis agreed to do the movie because it was a picture her grand children could watch. Moreover, Davis had three people tending to her on the set throughout the shooting of the film.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Near the beginning of the movie the two children and Uncle Bene are walking away from the Rose Bowl. As the camera pans back you can see crosses marked on the ground for where the actors are supposed to stand and walk.

Quotes:

Dr. Victor Gannon:Where you from?
Tony:Witch Mountain.
Sickle:Sounds like some hick town to me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Walt Disney Comedy and Magic Revue (1985) (V)

The fine performances from Davis and Lee help save this film from being bland, instead it is one worth watching

When I heard that there was a sequel to the charming 1975 film, I was a little worried. But after seeing it, I enjoyed the film. The effects are outdated, the plot is nothing particularly special and the script has some weak spots. But it is definitely worth watching, as the film skips along nicely, is well directed and there are some humorous scenes with the juvenile group. Not to mention the lively car chase. But the acting is the best asset of this film. Jack Soo is hilarious in his supporting role and Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann reprise their roles and very well might I add. Christopher Lee is a finely sinister lead villain, but it is the legendary Bette Davis's picture all the way, as the actress brings a touch of colour into a film that could have easily been bland, and with that colour it made the film worth watching. 7/10 Bethany Cox