The Worst Witch (1986)

Mildred Hubble (Fairuza Balk) 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. The headmistress of ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Young

Writers:

Jill Murphy (book), Mary Pleshette Willis (adapted for television)

Stars:

Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rae, Tim Curry

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Kate Buckley	...	Donna
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

Storyline

Mildred Hubble (Fairuza Balk) 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. The headmistress of the school, Miss Cackle (Charlotte Rae), has an evil twin sister (Agatha) who plans to destroy the school. Can Mildred foil the plan before the Grand Wizard (Tim Curry) comes to the Academy for the Halloween celebration you'll never forget?

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Plot Keywords:

school of magic | flying broomstick | good witch | evil witch | halloween song | 

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Taglines:

Things never go right for Mildred Hubble...

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "Worst Witch" book series belongs to the traditional British genre of boarding-school stories, combined with fantasy elements.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Miss Constance Hardbroom: Morning, Miss Cackle.
Miss Cackle: Good morning, Miss Hardbroom. Lovely morning.

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Connections

Referenced in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

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Soundtracks

Wizard Song (Anything Can Happen on Halloween)
By Charles Strouse and Don Black
Performed by Tim Curry

User Reviews

Harry Potter / 1986

In my opinion, any film where Tim Curry sings is a delight. Although I am not a fan of a lot of the horror Mr. Curry has created, he is perfect in the Worst Witch. Seeing this for the first time at the age of eight back on the Disney Channel in 1986, I was blown away with the story and the actors in the movie. Balk, only a child at the time was a wonderful actress before she hit the big screens. She would later go on to do the sequel to the Wizard of Oz as Dorothy. A lot of the cast members in this movie went on to do other notable movies including The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Overall, a perfect Halloween movie for girls and boys. It's funny that Harry Potter has a lot of similar tones and scenes that are equal to the Worst Witch.

Still a great movie almost 20 years later. Check it out!

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Worst Witch

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Central Independent Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1