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 film is based on "The Worst Witch" series of children's books, written by Jill Murphy. The series started in 1974 and concluded in 2018, with 8 books written. They cover 4 years in the life of protagonist Mildred Hubble.

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Goofs

At times you can tell they are using a green screen effect for the flying that the cast does and Miss Spellbinder when she is conducting a flying class when the group have got their kittens and learning to fly. Also when Mildred has turned the bad witches into snails in the TV version of the film they had squeaky voices dubbed for the snails but in the film if you watch the same scene when Mildred, Miss Cackle and Miss Hardbroom are talking to the snails the squeaky voices are not there! Just silence.

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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

Great for youngsters and the adults may like it as well.

The kids love this movie so much that I finally had to sit down and give it a beginning-to-end look. It's no wonder they love it but the odd adult who sees it will like it, too; a lot if you're disposed toward good children's entertainment, maybe a little less if you're approaching curmudgeonhood. But you'd have to be a real sourpuss to actively dislike it.

Charlotte Rae and Diana Rigg are fun to watch and I imagine they enjoyed these none-too-subtle roles. Rigg is especially wonderful, playing the unlovable mistress of a witch's academy for all it is worth. The young ladies boast several fine actresses as well. Fairuza Balk was an excellent performer at an early age, as anyone who saw 'Gas, Food, Lodging' will know, but my favorite here is Anna Kipling, who plays Ms. Balk's nemesis.

Some parents have religious concerns about showing children anything connected with the supernatural. I would encourage them to try to remember when they were children and think how they would have reacted to a film like this. It's probably the same way your kids will. Have some faith in them and give them a little credit for intelligence. If a parent watches this movie with a child and talks to him or her about their concerns, I don't think there will be any problems.

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