The Worst Witch (film)

*The Worst Witch*
The Worst Witch
	VHS cover
Based on	The Worst Witch; by Jill Murphy
Screenplay by	Mary Pleshette Willis
Directed by	Robert W. Young
Starring	Diana Rigg; Tim Curry; Charlotte Rae; Fairuza Balk
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
Production
Executive producer	Hilary Heath
Producer	Colin Shindler
Cinematography	Ian Hollands
Editor	Andrew Denny
Running time	70 minutes
Production company	Central
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	1 November 1986

The Worst Witch is a 1986 British musical fantasy television film based on the 1974 children's book of the same name by Jill Murphy.

Plot

The film follows the plot of the 1974 book. The story centres around Mildred Hubble, who is invariably the "Worst Witch" at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches.^[1] Mildred causes many mishaps, including being late for school, making all of her classmates fall down, Mildred and her friend unintentionally turning themselves invisible, and transforming the class bully Ethel into a pig. The climax surrounds Miss Cackle's notorious evil twin 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

Fairuza Balk as Mildred Hubble
Diana Rigg as Miss Hardbroom
Charlotte Rae as Miss Cackle/Agatha
Tim Curry as The Grand Wizard
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

The film was shot at St Michael's College in Tenbury Wells.^[2]

Soundtrack

Its opening and closing song "Growing Up Isn't Easy" was performed by Bonnie Langford and was composed by Charles Strouse with lyrics by Don Black. The pair also wrote "Anything Can Happen on Halloween". Denis King composed the film's score and wrote the song "My Little School".

References

^ Gilbert, Sophie (30 October 2015). "'The Worst Witch': An Appreciation of the Best/Worst Halloween Movie in 30 Years". The Atlantic. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
^ Heffley, Lynne (21 October 1986). "TV REVIEW: TRICKS SPOIL THE TREATS IN HBO'S 'WORST WITCH'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 January 2023.

External links

The Worst Witch at IMDb

[1] Gilbert, Sophie (30 October 2015). "'The Worst Witch': An Appreciation of the Best/Worst Halloween Movie in 30 Years". The Atlantic. Retrieved 12 January 2023.

[2] Heffley, Lynne (21 October 1986). "TV REVIEW: TRICKS SPOIL THE TREATS IN HBO'S 'WORST WITCH'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 January 2023.

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