The Worst Witch [DVD]

My nan bought this film on video when i was a little nipper and i would put it on whenever i went to visit her. Me and my cousins would sit and sing along with the songs and knew the whole script! The video is still going strong and my cousins 3 and 8 year old daughters sit and sing along to it too. Was very happy to find it now comes on DVD. An absolute classic!

This is the first TV film adaptation of Jill Murphy's book 'The worst witch', made around 1986. The original book was published ten years earlier (1975), and there are now another four books in the series. All the books are an easy read for preteens (8+ or less if being read to). These Worst Witch stories are based around Mildred Hubble, a young witch starting at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches (a secondary boarding school for witches). Despite good intentions Mildred is always getting into trouble and it seems that she can't do anything right. Plus there are plenty of snooty enemies in her class who are more than happy to make her look bad. This film follows the preparation of the school for The Halloween Festival and the unwelcome appearance of Headmistress Agatha Cackle's evil twin sister. There are also a few decent musical numbers as well (e.g. `Growing up isn't easy' and `Halloween is my favourite time of the year'). The Worst Witch is often cited as an inspiration for Harry Potter, but it lacks those book's home life and complete world view, and is generally as humorous but far less dark. Plus Mildred's charm, like eternal preteen schoolboy 'Just' William, is that she never grows up. In fact HP and Worst Witch follow on from the British boarding school literary tradition of classic books like Stalky & Co, Malory Towers, Jennings, St. Clare's, Billy Bunter, How to be topp, and St. Trinians (hi-jinks away from parental control).

This film has an all star cast including Brits Diana Rigg (good as the strict Miss Hardbroom) and a flamboyant Tim Curry (The Grand Wizard), plus Americans Charlotte Rae (Miss Cackle and her evil twin) and Fairuza Balk (Mildred Hubble, the worst witch - Fairuza had starred as Dorothy in the film 'Return to Oz' a year earlier). The mix of accents, cheesy production, `adaquate' picture quality and the relatively poor special effects in this film are the main negatives, and it now compares a little unfavourably with ITV's later classy effort in 1998 (essential viewing for girls over six). However this film does have its devoted followers, largely those who first saw it as a child. This is a TV movie aimed directly at youngsters, and still seems to hit the spot. This Worst Witch DVD comes with a few extras: Elements of witch potions and spells [an all text PowerPoint type presentation of the best herbs, oils and stones for say 'Health and happiness' or 'Good luck' spells], plus there's Cast Trivia and Cast Profiles - all text again but not uninteresting [e.g. In 1985 when she was 12, Fairuza moved to the UK and spent a while here honing her acting and ballet skills. In 1995, she bought the oldest occult shop in the US and is still a co-owner]. The DVD has no subtitles and audio language is English only.

I got this DVD for my daughter (when 9) and she has happily watched it many times, despite having and loving all three seasons of the later ITV Worst Witch. So in spite of it's age this film can still attract a young, probably all girl, audience. That said my son [8] has watched the movie a few times with his sister and quite enjoyed it. So definitely try this film if your child likes the later ITV Worst Witch (1998) and New Worst Witch (2005) TV series, as it's different enough to be seen as a prequel. Plus it is now going very cheaply on Amazon for 70 minutes entertainment - and you can actually buy it in the UK, unlike much of ITV's Worst Witch and New Worst Witch series. So 5* from the young ladies.

I love this film!! I was so happy to find this dvd on Amazon. I remember watching this one Halloween when I was very young, and didnt have a halloween party to go too. This film made me feel a part of the spooky fun and I wasnt missing out. My mum taped in onto video and I watched it for years!! I was fasinated with the flying, my dad even flew me around the garden on a broom! ha,ha. So many great childhood memories and they all came flooding back when I watched this again last year when I bought this dvd. Watched it again this Halloween and still enjoy it now...... feels just the same. ;) I never forgot the song either " Growing up isn't easy,wish the time would hurry by, will I ever learn to fly,mirror mirror on the wall, whos the worst witch of them all"...