TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Bedknobs And Broomsticks [1971]


RRP: £17.99
Our Price: £4.70 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Angela Lansbury plays a good witch who uses her powers against the Nazis in World War II and is aided by three children in the effort. This 1971 movie directed by Disney stalwart Robert Stevenson (Mary Poppins) was never up to the studio's best efforts--the music isn't all that good and the idea just doesn't quite catch on. But Lansbury, David Tomlinson and the late Roddy McDowall are good and there are some clever sequences blending animation and live action, most memorably a soccer game between the kids and some cartoon animals. --Tom Keogh


A Collector DVD for Sure
Review date: 2008-03-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is one of those dvds you can get out any time of year over and over again and it still appeals. Who would have thought combining a witch, a doctor and WWII would create such wonder.

The characters created by Angela Lansbury (Miss Price the good witch) and David Thomlinson (Dr Amelius Brown)are wonderful and the combination of settings, singing, dancing and animation are very well balanced. Our whole family love this film.

Similar Products

Reviews


Lovely, one of their finest live action films!
Review date: 2007-08-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks is probably one of the greatest films to ever come out of the studio. It is often compared to Mary Poppins and criticized for their similarities, but I however feel that Bedknobs and Broomsticks is an improvement over Mary Poppins, even when Mary Poppins had little to improve. The main reason for Bedknobs and Broomsticks' criticism is due to having been made in the period after Walt Disney's death, in which all of their films were criticized, even when they were superior to many Walt Disney era films such as the weak 101 Dalmatians (1961), The Sword in the Stone (1963) or The Jungle Book (1967). Bedknobs and Broomsticks is yet another Disney '70s jewel in the lights of The Rescuers (1977) or Pete's Dragon (1977).

World War II is haunting England and children are being evacuated from the city of London into the safer countryside. All children have found a nice home with a stranger family, except for the last three, Carey, Charles and Paul Rawlings who are then sent with Miss Eglantine Price into her large home. The children aren't happy about being with Miss Price at first, they wish to go back to London, even though they have practically nowhere to go there. This all changes when they discover Miss Price's secret, she is in fact a witch, an apprentice witch studying through correspondence and taught by Professor Emilius Browne, who is in fact nothing but a fake who takes his spells out of an old book. However, Mr. Browne is a nice person and he is amazed to find that his senseless words work for Miss Price and they soon start working together. With the aid of Mr. Browne's Traveling Spell, Miss Prince, Mr. Browne and the three children are able to travel around England by means of a bed and its magic bed-knob to search for only one thing, the missing spell of Substitutiary Locomotion, a spell fit for bringing the help needed to end the terrible war.

As corny and out of place as the plot may seem, Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a rather deep and serious film. Comparing it to Mary Poppins is silly, for Mary Poppins was a light-hearted comedy with no real plot, where Bedknobs and Broomsticks features a fantastic plot and clever dialog. Another similarity may include two new live-action/animation scenes, "The Beautiful Briny", an underwater animated musical festival and a wild soccer match with King Leonidas. The acting is fabulous, Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson play Miss Eglantine Price and Emilius Browne. Special effects in this film are top-notch and help to fully capture some scenes, the flying bed parts are some of my favorites. The music and songs are gorgeous! The Sherman brothers once again made a memorable and excellent soundtrack, songs include "The Old Home Guard", the Academy Award® Nominated "The Age of Not Believing", "Portobello Road", "The Beautiful Briny", "Substitutiary Locomotion" and the newly added "With a Flair" and "Nobody's Problem's for Me". Indeed, a lot of new scenes and previously cut segments were re-added to the movie, and the entire film has been remastered for better picture and audio performance.

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a wonderful film and I'll recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Mary Poppins or Pete's Dragon or to anyone who wants a new and magical way to travel back in history to the era of War World II. This one is a classic!! 10/10.

great fun.
Review date: 2007-03-01 Rating: 10 out of 10

A childrens film it may have been created , but maturity over the years has developed it into a multi aged morsel. Good , NO - superb acting by Lansbury and Tomlinson ; a decent and believeable storyline ; excellent special effects ( especially for the year ) and very passable music ,make this an essential for anyones DVD library. Special points : Lansbury's singing ( I am suprised she has not ventured into the the field as a female Bing Crosby) ; cameos from Bruce Forsyth and Tessie O'shea ; a very amusing and entertaining finale and , of course the soccer match.
Highly recommended !!!

Great film for all the family
Review date: 2006-04-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is an excellent film, often unfairly overlooked.
The plot is entertaining and solid (within its own world of magic and etc.), with some lovely musical numbers and great special effects (at least when considering its production date).

Good fun all-round, and one of my favourite Disney films, Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a must for any family - young or old - and I urge anyone considering buying it to do so!

perfection
Review date: 2005-09-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

As a child I grew up with the book, but found (through Amazon) the film in 2003. For someone who enjoyed for example Mary Poppins, it provides the same magic and enjoyment. Skillful combination of real acting blended with animation. Our toddler loved it, but now he's 2 years older, he likes it better!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Roddy McDowall
John Ericson
Sam Jaffe
David Tomlinson
Angela Lansbury

Creators:
Angela Lansbury (Primary Contributor)
David Tomlinson (Primary Contributor)
Frank V. Phillips (Cinematographer)
Bill Walsh (Producer)
Bill Walsh (Writer)
Don DaGradi (Writer)
Mary Norton (Writer)
Ralph Wright (Writer)
Ted Berman (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Walt Disney Home Video
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Home Video
EAN: 5017188884433
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Animated, PAL,
Release date: 2002-07-22
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 112 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1971-12-13
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: German (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional