The Worst Witch (film)
| The Worst Witch | |
|---|---|
 VHS cover | |
| Genre |
Fantasy Musical |
| Based on | The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy |
| Screenplay by | Mary Pleshette Willis |
| Directed by | Robert W Young |
| Starring |
Fairuza Balk Diana Rigg Charlotte Rae Tim Curry |
| Theme music composer |
Denis King Songs: Charles Strouse (music) Don Black (lyrics) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) |
Hilary Heath (executive) Lewis Rudd (executive) Colin Shindler |
| Cinematography | Ian Hollands |
| Editor(s) | Andrew Denny |
| Running time | 70 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Central Independent Television |
| Release | |
| Original network |
Central Independent Television HBO |
| Original release |
|
The Worst Witch is a 1986 British musical fantasy television film based on the children's book of the same name by Jill Murphy. It was produced by Central Independent Television and HBO.
Plot
The film follows the plot of the 1974 book. The movie centers around Mildred Hubble, who is invariably the "Worst Witch" at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches; a school of magic. Mildred creates many mishaps, including being late for school and making all of her classmates fall down, the incidents of when Mildred and her friend unintentionally turn themselves invisible, and transforming Ethel into a pig. The climax surrounds Miss Cackle's notorious twin evil sister, Agatha, plotting to take over the Academy. Ultimately Agatha is foiled by Mildred and Mildred establishes herself as the hero for the academy.
Cast
- Diana Rigg as Miss Hardbroom
- Charlotte Rae as Miss Cackle/Agatha
- Tim Curry as The Grand Wizard
- Fairuza Balk as Mildred Hubble
- Sabina Franklyn as Miss Spellbinder
- Su Elliot as Delilah
- Danielle Batchelor as Maud Warlock
- Anna Kipling as Ethel Hallow
- Kate Buckley as Donna
- Leila Marr as Pixie Brown
- Liz May Brice as Zoe Chant-Vestry
- Katrina Heath as Sophie Hattrick
- Tara Stevenson as Gloria Hobgoblin
- Laura Heath as Misty Meadow
- Sophie Cook as Natalie Sinister
- Sophie Millett as Verity Sinister
- Julia J. Nagle as Bubble Toil
- Kathryn Lacey as Goodie Twocharm
- Nevena Kaley as Dawn Undercover
- Caroline Woolf as Julie Vanishing
- Amy Shindler as Spinner Webb
- Pui Fan Lee as Prefect
Production and broadcast
The film was shot at St. Michael's College in Tenbury Wells. Its opening and closing song "Growing Up Isn't Easy" was sung by Bonnie Langford. It was composed by Charles Strouse with lyrics by Don Black. They also wrote "Anything Can Happen on Halloween". This song was covered by British rock band Stonegarth in 2008. Denis King composed its score and wrote the song "My Little School".
This television film aired on HBO in the 1980s and The Disney Channel during its Halloween season from 1986 to 1996.
Home media
Prism Entertainment released this television movie on VHS on 19 October 1994. It was also released by Reel Corporation PTY LTD. in 2000 Bfs Entertainment re-released this television film on video on 28 December 1999 and on DVD on 24 August 2004.