The Worst Witch (1986) (TV)

Director:

Robert Young

Writers:

Jill Murphy (book)
Mary Pleshette Willis (adaptation)

Release Date:

1 November 1986 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Things never go right for Mildred Hubble...

Plot:

Mildred is one of the young girls at a prestigious witch academy. She can't seem to do anything right and is picked on by classmates and teachers...

Plot Keywords:

Halloween | Wizard | Teacher | Witch | Evil Twin

Cast

Diana Rigg	...	Miss Hardbroom
Charlotte Rae	...	Miss Cackle / Agatha
Tim Curry	...	The Grand Wizard
Fairuza Balk	...	Mildred Hubble
Sabina Franklyn	...	Miss Spellbinder
Su Elliot	...	Delilah
Danielle Batchelor	...	Maud Warlock
Anna Kipling	...	Ethel Hallow
Leila Marr	...	Pixie Brown
Liz May Brice	...	Zoe Chant-Vestry (as Lisa Brice)
Katrina Heath	...	Sophie Hattrick
Tara Stevenson	...	Gloria Hobgoblin
Laura Heath	...	Misty Meadow
Sophie Cook	...	Natalie Sinister
Sophie Millett	...	Verity Sinister

Runtime:

USA:70 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:G

Filming Locations:

St. Michael's College, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, England, UK

Company:

Central Independent Television

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Mildred and Maud have reappeared and are sitting talking, when Mildred says, "If I live to have any," the actress playing Maud is mouthing the line as Mildred says it.

Quotes:

Mildred Hubble: Miss Hardbroom hates me.
Maud Warlock: Miss Hardbroom hates everyone.

Movie Connections:

Version of "The Worst Witch" (1998)

Soundtrack:

The Worst Witch (Growing Up Isn't Easy)

I delight in this movie!

First, I must admit two things. 1. I am a fan of Tim Curry. 2. I am a reader and I devour everything I get ahold of including the /Worst Witch/ book that this movie was based on. One of those books series of course is Harry Potter, and I think this movie comes off very well in comparison!

In 1986, the idea for this movie was "a wrap" and no one had even conceived (except JK) there was to be a huge following of a boy who attends a school for wizards. This movie is about a batch of girls who attend a witch school. The potions master in the currently internationally famous movie (Alan Rickman, pants!) is a mean, nasty man who dislikes the lead character. The first scene we have with Diana as Miss Hardbroom is a potions scene.

You might note other similarities, trust me. I especially chuckled watching the flight-teacher "surfing" on her broom. Nahhhh. Don't know where Chris Columbus got that idea do we? Smiles.

Despite all the above, I am seeking a copy of this movie for my son and myself. I think it's a cute movie. Just like the (coughsHPcoughs) other movie, there are supernatural elements in WW, but I think today's children can handle them just fine. If not, we'll turn Queen Aggie on them!

If you get a chance, do watch this one. It's a keeper.

**** out of *****