Family Fun Saturday - Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Disney, 1971
Starring Angela Landsbury, David Tomlinson, Ian Weighill, and Cindy O'Callaghan
Directed by Robert Stevenson
Music and Lyrics by Robert and Richard Sherman

This adaptation of the 1940's children's books was originally ear-marked as a live-action/animated hybrid as far back as 1961 as a replacement for Mary Poppins when Disney had a hard time getting the rights. After that got off the ground, it went on the back burner at the studio after they realized how close it was to Poppins. They returned to this one in the late 60's when Poppins was a huge success, bringing on Landsbury to play one of the most unusual witches in film history. How does the story of a witch, her charges, and a con-man who want to find a spell to help stop World War II come off now? Let's head to the small town Pepperinge Eye in Northern England, home of apprentice witch Eglantine Price (Landsbury), and find out...

The Story: Ms. Price is a reclusive woman who lives alone in a large house by the sea, and she's not too happy to take in London orphans Carrie (O'Callaghan), Paul (Roy Snart), and Charlie (Weighill) after they were displaced by the Blitz. She's even less happy when they witness her practicing flying on the broom sent to her by Professor Browne's witch correspondence school. The kids convince her to give them something to keep them quiet. She agrees to a spell on a bed knob that will allow them to travel anywhere on the bed.

They need to travel sooner than they think. Horrified when the college closes without revealing the final spell, Ms. Price and her charges take the bed to London. The head of the college turns out to be Professor Emelius Browne (Tomlinson), a con-man whose "college" is really just his way of making money off an old book he found. He's a huckster and a showman who can't believe Ms. Price can actually get these spells to work. Ms. Price, Professor Browne, and the kids go from London's Portobello Road to the fantasy island of Naboombu to Pepperinge Eye, searching first for the words to the spell to make inanimate objects move, and then how to get the spell to work and keep the Nazis off their doorstep.

The Animation: Par for the course for Disney in this time period. Naboombu looks remarkably like Robin Hood with a nautical and soccer theme, rather than Medieval England. King Leonidas even bears a resemblance to King Richard in the end of the film.

The Song and Dance: Landsbury is the thing in this charming tale. She works well with the kids and makes a delightful witch, whether she's trying to get her broom to work or attempting (and failing) to change people into toads. The animated sequence is hilarious, especially once that wild soccer game gets going. This was the only time Tomlinson got to play anything like a leading man at Disney, and he runs with it, romping through his "With a Flair" number and having a great time with the slapstick  in the soccer game.

The other nifty aspect of this one are the special effects. They won an Oscar in 1971 and generally still look pretty decent, especially that finale with every bit of armor Disney could get their hands on at the time literally kicking Nazi rear!

Favorite Number: "Age of Not Believing" is a gentle but pointed ballad that Ms. Price sings to a skeptical Charlie as she and the other two kids prepare to leave for London. It was nominated for an Oscar, and it comes off well in a simple and sweet moment. Professor Browne gets two great solos, "With a Flair" as he shows off his cheap illusions for the crowds in London and "Eglantine" when he's trying to talk Ms. Price to join him in an act as she's attempting to find that all-important spell. "Portobello Road" is the big number for Professor Browne and the chorus as the citizens of London join him in saluting its major shopping street. "The Beautiful Briny Sea" takes us into animation as the Professor and Ms. Price describe the bright citizens of the ocean floating past them and even take part in a well-animated dance contest.

Trivia: Other women considered for Landsbury's role included Julie Andrews, Leslie Caron, Lynn Redgrave, and Judy Carne. Ron Moody was wanted for the Professor but asked for too much money.

"The Beautiful Briny Sea" was originally written for a sequence in Mary Poppins where Mary spun a compass and let the children choose any exotic location they wanted to explore.

The movie was edited from 139 to 112 minutes for its regular theatrical release. Most of the footage was restored in 1996, and this is what I reviewed.

The armor was originally used for the Spanish epic El Cid and were shipped to the US for the King Arthur musical Camelot. Disney rented it for the big finale with the amour coming to life.

What I Don't Like: I am glad they re-added "With a Flair," which explains the Professor's charlatan personality better than any words could, and a short scene in the beginning with Carrie telling Ms. Price how the kids were orphans and ended up in her care was welcome, but most of the other additional scenes don't do much besides pad out the film. "Portobello Road" goes on for way, way, way too long, too. We don't need to see every group in London do their thing.

The biggest problem is...yeah, I can see why Disney thought this was too close to Mary Poppins. There are some close resemblances - magical woman leads kids into a fantasy world with a maybe-love-interest in tow - and it can occasionally come off as too cliched or derivative.

The Big Finale: This is an old favorite of mine. In some ways, I prefer the linear story, tougher kids, and earthier flavor to the flightier Poppins. It's equally recommended, especially for fans of Landsbury or kids' musicals.

Home Media: I have the original 2001 Special Edition. It's since been re-released on DVD and streaming. For some reason, the Blu-Ray only has the theatrical version.

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