Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)

Two mysterious orphan children have extraordinary powers and are chased by a scheming millionaire. But where do these kids really call home?

Director:

John Hough

Writers:

Robert Malcolm Young (screenplay by), Alexander Key (based on the book by)

Stars:

Eddie Albert, Ray Milland, Donald Pleasence

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eddie Albert	...	Jason
Ray Milland	...	Aristotle Bolt
Donald Pleasence	...	Deranian
Kim Richards	...	Tia
Ike Eisenmann	...	Tony
Walter Barnes	...	Sheriff Purdy
Reta Shaw	...	Mrs. Grindley
Denver Pyle	...	Uncle Bene
Alfred Ryder	...	Astrologer
Lawrence Montaigne	...	Ubermann
Terry Wilson	...	Biff Jenkins
George Chandler	...	Grocer
Dermott Downs	...	Truck
Shepherd Sanders	...	Guru
Don Brodie	...	Gasoline Attendant

Storyline

Tia and Tony are two orphaned youngsters with extraordinary powers. Lucas Deranian poses as their uncle in order to get the kids into the clutches of Deranian's megalomanical boss, evil millionaire Aristotle Bolt, who wants to exploit them. Jason, a cynical widower, helps Tia and Tony "escape to witch mountain," while at the same time Tia and Tony help Jason escape the pain of the loss of his wife.

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Plot Keywords:

orphanage | escape | mind reading | orphan | magical power | 

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Taglines:

Escape To The Unknown!

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Genres:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

Escape to Witch Mountain

Filming Locations:

Bixby Creek Arch Bridge, Big Sur, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$20,000,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$20,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie included a $3 million replica of a Byzantine castle, built between 1926 and 1934 from lava rock from Mt. Vesuvius and materials all over Europe, which served as Aristotle Bolt's (Ray Milland's) kingly abode, Xanthus.

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Goofs

When Tia makes the gun float in the air, there is a close-up shot of the gun being cocked. Then, when the camera cuts back to distant shots, the gun is no longer cocked.

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Quotes

Tia Malone: Please, Mr. Bolt, you're too excited. You're going to make yourself sick.
Tony Malone: You should go right to bed, sir.

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Alternate Versions

Early video releases were missing the magic sequence with the dancing puppets. Disney's response to complaints was that music rights were not available.

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Connections

Referenced in Meatballs Part II (1984)

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Soundtracks

When You Wish Upon a Star
(uncredited)
Music by Leigh Harline
Lyrics by Ned Washington

User Reviews

Alexander Key's Magic Mountain

After their foster parents die, telepathic Kim Richards (as Tia Malone) and telekinetic Ike Eisenmann (as Tony Malone) must return to living in an orphanage. On an outing with ever-delightful Reta Shaw (in her last film role), the siblings' otherworldly powers are discovered, by Donald Pleasence (as Lucas Deranian), the devious driver for dastardly millionaire Ray Milland (as Aristotle Bolt). With help from heart-warmed Eddie Albert (as Jason O'Day), the children must escape from Mr. Milland, who has nefarious plans…

The usual Disney clichés - cute kids, lovable animals, old pros - but significantly better than what had, by the time this film was originally released, become the norm at the studio: mediocre to poor kid fare. Children deserve quality. "Escape to Witch Mountain" is more imaginative than insulting; and, as you'll see, it could arguably be called ahead of its time. The players and animals are nicely corralled by director John Hough; "Winkie" is the cat's meow, and the instrumental puppet dance is quite memorable.

******* Escape to Witch Mountain (3/21/75) John Hough ~ Ike Eisenmann, Kim Richards, Eddie Albert, Ray Milland