The Witches (1990)

A young boy stumbles onto a witch convention and must stop them, even after he has been turned into a mouse.

Director:

Nicolas Roeg

Writers:

Roald Dahl (book), Allan Scott (screenplay)

Stars:

Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling, Jasen Fisher

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anjelica Huston	...	Miss Eva Ernst / Grand High Witch
Mai Zetterling	...	Helga Eveshim
Jasen Fisher	...	Luke Eveshim
Rowan Atkinson	...	Mr. Stringer
Bill Paterson	...	Mr. Jenkins
Brenda Blethyn	...	Mrs. Jenkins
Charlie Potter	...	Bruno Jenkins
Jane Horrocks	...	Miss Irvine
Anne Lambton	...	Woman in Black
Sukie Smith	...	Marlene
Rose English	...	Dora
Jenny Runacre	...	Elsie
Annabel Brooks	...	Nicola
Emma Relph	...	Millie
Nora Connolly	...	Beatrice

Storyline

A young boy, recently orphaned, is taken to England by his grandmother. At a hotel in which they are staying, a group of witches have gathered to prepare a plot to rid the world of all children.

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Plot Keywords:

boy | grandmother | witch | hotel | convention | 

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Taglines:

Saving the world from witches is a tall order for a boy they've turned into a mouse!

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Genres:

Fantasy | Family | Horror

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

La maldición de las brujas

Filming Locations:

Bergen, Hordaland, Norway

Box Office

Gross:

$10,360,553 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jim Henson Company, The, Jim Henson Productions, Lorimar Film Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last film Jim Henson personally oversaw.

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Goofs

As Luke lies down on the bed, the position of his drawing changes.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Helga: When your father was a boy like you, and living with me here in Norway, I told him about witches too, so that he would always be aware. Now, the most important thing you should know about real witches is this - now listen very carefully! Real witches dress in ordinary clothes, and look very much like ordinary women. They live in ordinary houses, and they work in ordinary jobs.

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Connections

References Battleship Potemkin (1925)

User Reviews

i've always thought this was a great movie

i've always thought this was a great movie since i was little, it was one of those movies that you'd go over to see at your grandma's on Halloween, just scary enough for a kid, where the'd be afraid, but not usually enough to give nightmares(although i can remember having a few from this- those with very small children be warned!) i felt that the tales that the grandmother spins are the tantalizing part of the movie, with them being treated as a joke in the beginning, but then going on to, not only back them up, but to show that they actually happened. i feel that this was a very well put together movie, and Anjelica Huston as the grand high witch gives the movie a special flavor, like she was meant to play the role. If i talk much more i'll end up giving the thing away, so i'll leave you with this- it's a wonderful movie for kids, and, for hose adults who haven't seen it, when watching, keep in mind that this is a children's movie:) enjoy!!