The Good Witch (TV 2008)

A mysterious woman comes in to town and inhabits the local haunted mansion, making everyone wonder if she's a witch or "The Grey Lady".

Director:

Craig Pryce

Writer:

Rod Spence

Stars:

Catherine Bell, Chris Potter, Catherine Disher

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Catherine Bell	...	Cassandra Nightingale
Chris Potter	...	Jake Russell
Catherine Disher	...	Martha Tinsdale
Peter MacNeill	...	George O'Hanrahan
Allan Royal	...	Walter Cobb
Matthew Knight	...	Brandon Russell
Paula Boudreau	...	Nancy Perkins
Hannah Endicott-Douglas	...	Lori Russell
Jesse Bostick	...	Kyle
Noah Cappe	...	Derek
Murray Oliver	...	Bill
Alexander De Jordy	...	Dillon
Paul Miller	...	Tom
Nathan McLeod	...	Michael
Aaron Berg	...	Rusty

Storyline

Jake Russell, the friendly police chief in town so small initially worries about outsider heiress Cassandra 'Cassie' Nightingale, who moved into the house held to be haunted by the 'grey lady', and opens a weird shop full with attributes of occultism, soon causing the rumor she's a wicked witch. After Cassie kindly helps his brave son Brandon (and his sissy sister Lori) with a dog, bully Kyle -abused by his own poor dad- and their own fears, Jake soon makes friends with her, even romantically interested. Yet the 'chief' is professionally obliged to handle a flood of complaints and harassment started by the mayor's mean wife, her busy bodies-bunch and teenage brats. Finally Derek Sanders, Jakes's only deputy, hits on Cassie's hidden background.

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Plot Keywords:

witch | father son relationship | bully | vandalism | dog | 

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Genres:

Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Bruxa do Bem

Filming Locations:

Dundas, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Channel, The, Whizbang Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The main casting of the movie were well-known by some TV shows: Catherine Bell by JAG, Chris Potter by Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Catherine Disher by Forever Knight and Peter McNeill by Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future.

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Goofs

Cassie gives George a pendant containing what she calls a shamrock however, it holds a four-leaf clover. The shamrock, a traditional symbol of Ireland, has only three leaves. It was used to explain the concept of The Trinity by St. Patrick.

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Quotes

Deputy Derek Sanders: Nosy old bat. I think she wants to be mayor more than her husband.
Jake Russell: More like emperor.

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Connections

Followed by The Good Witch's Charm (2012)

User Reviews

My kind of movie

I'll admit, I was predisposed to like this movie -- Catherine Bell and Chris Potter, two of TV's most telegenic actors, and two of my favorites, in the same feel-good family movie -- what could be better! (The grandfather and granddaughter are particularly well-cast as well.)

Although the script follows a typical stranger-in-town plot, combining mystery, conflict, and redemption, the whole thing is very well executed with nary a misstep. The explanations regarding the title character's background make total sense when revealed, and can even let viewers who don't analyze by thinking ahead enjoy a surprise or two.

If TV movies were all there were, I'd rate this a 10, but in the larger context -- after all, it's not "great art" -- I gave it an 8.

(Note: When I originally wrote this comment, the running time for this movie was not yet listed, so I noted here that, as shown on the Hallmark Channel, it runs for 89 minutes, plus commercials to fill out the two-hour time slot. The running time has since been added where it belongs.)

Addendum: Rewatching this movie two years later, I find it has lost none of its charm, and indeed is even more endearing upon second viewing.