Bedknobs & Broomsticks (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Bedknobs & Broomsticks' (produced by Disney & directed by Robert Stevenson, Mary Poppins) tells the enchanting story of 3 cockney children evacuated from London during WWII to a quaint English seaside village to be reluctantly looked after by an apprentice witch, Miss Eglantine Price (Angela Lansbury). The would-be witch has plans to save England from the Nazis by casting a particularly tricky spell, which she awaits from the post office. Unfortunately, she receives word that the special spell ("substitutiary locomotion") will not arrive because her witchcraft correspondence college has been closed down.
She then enchants a bed knob and, along with the 3 children, travel by brass bed to London to meet her professor, Emilius Browne (David Tomlinson, of Mary Poppins). Eventually, their adventure takes them to the eccentric, animated world of Naboombu to find the aforementioned spell. The children - Charlie, Carrie, & Paul - help Miss Price & Professor Browne nab the spell from the animated creatures of Naboombu & then flee to their magical bed to return to the real world to fight off a Nazi invasion. Craziness (including a magical army to fend off the enemy) ensues.
What a joyous film this is. I loved it from beginning to end. Playing the apprentice witch who so wants to help England in WWII, Angela Lansbury shows off her pleasant singing ("The Age of Not Believing"), charming dancing, & astute comic skills. She makes for a wonderful heroine, here. The kids are scruffy, yet endearing. And as he was in Mary Poppins, David Tomlinson makes for a genial presence.
The special effects (combining animation & live-action) on display are a wonder of their time. And it's when the film dives into the realms of fantasy that it is most enjoyable. 1) When Eglantine is 1st trying out her broomstick outside her countryside estate. 2) When the magical flying bed takes the characters over hill & dale from the country to fog-infested London. 3) A trip through the underwater kingdom of the fishes - the song "Beautiful Briny Sea" will likely stay in your head for a while - as is the case with every song throughout. 4) and an animated football match on the isle of Naboombu btwn. jungle animals and a superimposed David Tomlinson refereeing. Kids & adults will enjoy the exaggerated characters & their silly shenanigans as they compete in this wackadoo soccer match.
All of these sequences are not only delights, but technical masterpieces. There's a dance routine in the middle of the film & a dramatic final battle scene at the climax that are wonderful to watch. Even though there's a war-time theme in the narrative, it doesn't detract from the overall uplifting feeling that's presented by the entire production. Kids will still enjoy themselves, despite the serious undertone. Though 'Bedknobs & Broomsticks' is not in the same league as Mary Poppins, it's still just a wonderful, wonderful movie that will (and has) likely become a favorite for many generations of children.
She then enchants a bed knob and, along with the 3 children, travel by brass bed to London to meet her professor, Emilius Browne (David Tomlinson, of Mary Poppins). Eventually, their adventure takes them to the eccentric, animated world of Naboombu to find the aforementioned spell. The children - Charlie, Carrie, & Paul - help Miss Price & Professor Browne nab the spell from the animated creatures of Naboombu & then flee to their magical bed to return to the real world to fight off a Nazi invasion. Craziness (including a magical army to fend off the enemy) ensues.
What a joyous film this is. I loved it from beginning to end. Playing the apprentice witch who so wants to help England in WWII, Angela Lansbury shows off her pleasant singing ("The Age of Not Believing"), charming dancing, & astute comic skills. She makes for a wonderful heroine, here. The kids are scruffy, yet endearing. And as he was in Mary Poppins, David Tomlinson makes for a genial presence.
The special effects (combining animation & live-action) on display are a wonder of their time. And it's when the film dives into the realms of fantasy that it is most enjoyable. 1) When Eglantine is 1st trying out her broomstick outside her countryside estate. 2) When the magical flying bed takes the characters over hill & dale from the country to fog-infested London. 3) A trip through the underwater kingdom of the fishes - the song "Beautiful Briny Sea" will likely stay in your head for a while - as is the case with every song throughout. 4) and an animated football match on the isle of Naboombu btwn. jungle animals and a superimposed David Tomlinson refereeing. Kids & adults will enjoy the exaggerated characters & their silly shenanigans as they compete in this wackadoo soccer match.
All of these sequences are not only delights, but technical masterpieces. There's a dance routine in the middle of the film & a dramatic final battle scene at the climax that are wonderful to watch. Even though there's a war-time theme in the narrative, it doesn't detract from the overall uplifting feeling that's presented by the entire production. Kids will still enjoy themselves, despite the serious undertone. Though 'Bedknobs & Broomsticks' is not in the same league as Mary Poppins, it's still just a wonderful, wonderful movie that will (and has) likely become a favorite for many generations of children.