Bedknobs And Broomsticks (Special Edition) [DVD]

I've given 5 stars for the original film which I first saw in the cinema in 1971 as a child and have seen many times on TV since. I (and my brothers) loved everything about the film, especially the lovely catchy songs, the magical story and the intermixing of animation and live action which was unusual then (the only other film of this type I'd seen was Mary Poppins). Now my 7 year old enjoys it just as much as I did way back then!
***However, please be aware that this version of the DVD (with a light blue background) has added scenes not shown in the original film release, which adds nothing to the story in my opinion, and which spoils it for me. So much so that I've sold on this 'extended' version and will be buying the other (original) so called 'special edition' version (with a dark blue background).
The deleted scenes which have been added to this version are dreadfully dubbed using different actors' voices (apart from Angela Lansbury who did her own voice over), presumably, because they had lost the original soundtrack.
It completely ruins the continuity of the film as the postmistress (Tessie O'Shea) has a Welsh accent at the beginning, a Scottish accent (yes, they even dubbed her using the wrong accent) in the middle and a Welsh accent again at the end. And Charlie, the eldest, sounds like a frightened 4 year old in the added scenes. Professor Brown's voice is also noticeably different but not as bad as the others.
Shame on Disney, it ruins it for me. I respect the fact that many people will disagree and will buy it just to see the additions, which add about half an hour to the film, so I just wanted to make it clear which version was uncut - as it seems that the same Amazon reviews appear on both versions - and as a result I bought the wrong one.
This version also has an added song in the extras "A Step in the Right Direction" which is made up of stills from a scene with Angela Lansbury and her broomstick.
I don't think that this wonderful film has ever had the recognition is deserves and I would recommend it to anyone.
I hope this has helped.

As wonderful as this movie is, your better off getting the original dvd to get your money's worth. This is the original 1971 version, many scenes were cut and one wonderful musical scene from David Tomlinson "With a flare". When it says its a special edition, the real extra is "the wizards of waverly place" special effects clip, which personally is not worth the time as it seems as if disney really could not be asked to make a proper documentery.

It really breaks my heart that disney would recut a wonderful film just to put some tacky extras on just to make extra money.

This is the story of Miss Eglantine Price (Angela Landsbury), a proper English spinster who believes that her mail-order course in witchcraft will allow her to greatly help her country in its struggle with Nazi Germany. Unfortunately, Miss Price is not a very good witch. When she finds three young evacuees from London are housed with her, her secret is discovered, and she is forced to buy their silence with an enchanted bed knob that will allow them to travel anywhere on their bed.

Disaster strikes when the mail-order course in cancelled, and Miss Price must use the magic bed to find the teacher of the course, Dr. Emelius Browne (David Tomlinson). Finding that he is a charlatan, she, the children and Dr. Browne set off to find the spell that she needs; this being in the hands of a group of intelligent (cartoon) animals that live on their own island. Returning to her home, Miss Price's talents are required when a Nazi raiding party storms ashore. [Color, created in 1971, with a running time of 1 hour, 57 minutes, rated G.]

This is one of my favorite Disney movies ever. The movie is quite eclectic, with wonderful scenes of dancing soldiers from across the Empire, a hilarious soccer game involving the animal kingdom, and a fantastic battle between the German soldiers and magically animated armor. This is a wonderful movie, with something for all ages.

[Please consider reading the wonderful book Bedknob and Broomstick by Mary Norton. Though Disney maintained the title, virtually the entire story was changed in the making of the movie.]