Bedknobs and Broomsticks

1971
G
1h 57m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

41K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer1:32

Adventure Animation Comedy Family Fantasy Musical

An apprentice witch, three kids, and a cynical magician conman search for the missing component to a magic spell to be used in the defense of Britain in World War II.An apprentice witch, three kids, and a cynical magician conman search for the missing component to a magic spell to be used in the defense of Britain in World War II.An apprentice witch, three kids, and a cynical magician conman search for the missing component to a magic spell to be used in the defense of Britain in World War II.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

41K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

4,691

422

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Oscar
- 2 wins & 5 nominations total

Trivia
Julie Andrews initially turned down the role of Miss Eglantine Price. She eventually reconsidered, believing she owed her movie career to Walt Disney Studios and wanted to work there again. When she told the studio she'd changed her mind, Dame Angela Lansbury had already been cast.

Goofs
Miss Price's house is minutes from the coast, and the White Cliffs of Dover are shown. Children wouldn't have been evacuated to that location. Children and many adults had already been evacuated from that area due to the risk of invasion.

Quotes
Eglentine Price: Treguna, Mekoides, Trecorum, Satis Dee!

Crazy credits
The opening credits are based on the Bayeux Tapestry, a full account of the 1066 Norman conquest of Britain.

Alternate versions
The video of the 1979 theatrical re-release cuts a further twenty minutes and runs 97 minutes. All songs are cut, except for "Portobello Road", "Beautiful Briny Sea" and some parts of "Substitutiary Locomotion". Other sequences are reduced (such as Professor Browne's wait at the train station) or cut altogether (such as the disappearance of the magical necklace).

Connections
Edited into The Magical World of Disney: Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1987)

Soundtracks
Overture/The Old Home Guard
(uncredited)
Performed by Male Studio Chorus
Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

User reviews131

Review

Featured review

10/10

One of the few films so good...

This is one of the few films where I consider the film rendition to be an improvement on the original book. The story is clear, accessible, amusing and interesting and the musical numbers are without a doubt exceptional. I adored the cyclical rendition of 'The old home guard' and the charming 'Portobello Road', a great combination of early animation + real actors techniques which, though dated do not detract from the charm of the piece. The background of the Second World War worked well and was not omitted as the film got under way, which so often happens in 'evacuee' stories.

An often far too underrated film, it produces no end to enjoyment for people of all ages. The performances from the actors are exceptionally well done and the entire text is neatly tied together and well designed. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face!