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 Ernst / Grand High Witch
Mai Zetterling	...	Helga
Jasen Fisher	...	Luke
Rowan Atkinson	...	Mr. Stringer
Bill Paterson	...	Mr. Jenkins
Brenda Blethyn	...	Mrs. Jenkins
Charlie Potter	...	Bruno Jenkins
Anne Lambton	...	Woman in Black
Jane Horrocks	...	Miss Irvine
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 England of all children.

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Plot Keywords:

witch | little boy | hotel | mouse | metamorphosis | 

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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:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery

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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:

Cookham Dean, Berkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Gross USA:

$10,360,553

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the book, Grandma is a retired witch hunter and that she lost her left thumb in an encounter with a witch. In the film, Grandma tells Luke that she searched the world for The Grand High Witch and unlike the book, Grandma lost her left little finger, not her left thumb.

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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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Crazy Credits

The opening credits zooms towards the camera above an unknown snow landscape.

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Alternate Versions

US version has happy ending added.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Master Ninja I (1992)

User Reviews

Stunning

The film adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic ``The Witches" is a breathtaking spectacle that will delight a variety of viewers. Anjelica Huston is simply outstanding as "The Grand High Witch." She is the perfect actress to portray the dark, albeit laughable, character.

Luke (Jasen Fisher) is a young boy living with his grandmother, Helga (Mai Zetterling). Mai is perfectly cast as the doting, adventuresome grandmother. Helga regales Luke with stories of witches, dangerous creatures who seek to harm children.

I particularly liked the lack of Americanization in this film, as opposed to a similar counterpart, the adaptation of ``Matilda." The film stays true to the book for the majority. Unfortunately, the happy ending, which was loathed by Roald Dahl himself, detracts from the seemingly perfect adaptation.

In any event, 'The Witches' is sure to be a hit among kids (and adults as well). Anyone who has enjoyed the book is sure to enjoy this film version.