The Witches

Director: Nicolas Roeg, Robert Zemeckis

Overview

In Nicolas Roeg's adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel Witches, a young boy is vacationing at the seaside with his grandmother when he discovers that the hotel he is staying at is hosting a convention of witches. Eavesdropping on the witches, he learns of their plan--devised by the Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston) to turn all of the children in England into mice. Jim Henson's workshop provided the witches and mice, and they are excellent; sadly, this was the last film to feature Henson's work.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/10/2009
UPC:	0883929084647
Original Release:	1990
Rating:	PG
Source:	WARNER HOME VIDEO
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:32:00
Sales rank:	17,716

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Anjelica Huston	Mrs. Ernst/ Grand High Witch
Mai Zetterling	Helga
Jasen Fisher	Luke
Rowan Atkinson	Mr. Stringer
Bill Paterson	Mr. Jenkins
Brenda Blethyn	Mrs. Jenkins
Jane Horrocks	Miss Irvine
Charlie Potter	Bruno Jenkins
Anne Lambton	Woman in Black
Sukie Smith	Marlene
Rose English	Dora
Jenny Runacre	Elsie
Annabel Brooks	Nicola
Emma Relph	Millie
Nora Connolly	Beatrice
Rosamud Greenwood	Janice,Janice
Anjelique Rockas	Henrietta,Henrietta
Jim Carter	Head Chef
Roberta Taylor	Witch Chef
Brian Hawksley	Elderly Waiter
Debra Gillett	Waitress
Darcy Flynn	Luke's Mother
Vincent Marzello	Luke's Father
Serena Harragin	Doctor
Greta Nordra	Norwegian Witch
Elsie Eide	Erica
Kirstin Steinsland	Child Helga
Merete Armand	Erica's Mother
Ola Otnes	Erica's Father
Ann Tirard	Actor
Leila Hoffman	Lady
Johan Sverre	Policeman
Arvid Ones	Policeman
Sverre Rossummoen	Policeman
Anne Hathaway	Actor
Jahzir Bruno	Actor
Stanley Tucci	Actor
Angus Wright	Actor
Philippe Spall	Actor
Simon Manyonda	Actor
Grete Nordr?	Norwegian Witch
Stanley Myers	Composer

Technical Credits

Allan Scott

Robert Zemeckis

Kenya Barris

Roald Dahl

Nigel Booth	Special Effects
Jim Hensen	Executive Producer
Steve Norrington	Special Effects
Mark Shivas	Producer
Allan Scott	Screenwriter
John Stephenson	Special Effects
Guillermo del Toro	Producer
Robert Zemeckis	Screenwriter
Kenya Barris	Screenwriter
Jim Henson	Executive Producer,Producer,Special Effects
Alexander Gunn	Special Effects
Roald Dahl	Screenwriter
Rodney Glenn	Sound Effects
Derek Holding	Sound Effects
Gerry Humphreys	Sound Effects
Julian Rodd	Sound Effects
Dusty Symonds	Producer

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- The Witches
1. Broomstick's Eye-View Credits [2:10]
2. Real Witches [2:33]
3. The Story of Erica [4:02]
4. Witches' Sense of Smell [2:50]
5. Sad news [2:17]
6. "Little Boys Like Snakes." [3:03]
7. Luke's Birthday [2:16]
8. The Hotel Excelsior [2:37]
9. Bruno - and a Mice-Hating Manager [3:59]
10. Afternoon Tea - With Aftereffects [3:04]
11. The GRand High Witch's Plot [3:47]
12. Punishment [1:11]
13. Forumla 86 [4:32]
14. Brunno Transformed [4:18]
15. Luke Discovered [2:32]
16. Cornered and Transformed [4:33]
17. Reunion with Bruno [4:15]
18. Cluing Helga In [3:18]
19. Across a Black Cat's Path [2:18]
20. Close Call [5:17]
21. Skeptical Parents [2:20]
22. The Maid's Discovery [1:35]
23. Kitchen Intrigue [3:59]
24. Mouse Mayhem [1:44]
25. Splat! Goes a Warning [1:23]
26. Saving Jenkins [3:13]
27. The Soup at Work [4:13]
28. Special Delivery [2:16]
29. Magic in the Night [3:27]
30. End Credits [2:13]

Menu

Disc #1 -- The Witches
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Editorial Reviews

Most scary children's films are frightening in a conventional, highly confrontational manner. The Witches has these kind of moments, but it also has moments that are scary in a more subtle, sinister and disturbing manner, such as the sequence involving the child who disappeared into a painting. Nicolas Roeg has done an admirable job of keeping the macabre atmosphere of Roald Dahl's original book, softening it only by replacing the impressively mature ending of the original with a more directly happy (and therefore weaker) conclusion. He also creates a surreal visual quality for the film, aided greatly by Jim Henson's clever animatronic designs for the witches and mice. The cast is uniformly excellent. The coldly imposing Anjelica Huston is a fierce and determined Grand High Witch, creating one of the most memorable and delightfully frightening villainesses in the history of children's cinema. Mai Zetterling is her perfect foil, capturing both the charm of the grandmother and her hidden formidableness. Jasen Fisher never hits a false note, and Jane Horrocks and Brenda Blethyn turn in valuable support. Inventive, entertaining and sprightly paced, Witches was initially a disappointment at the box office but has achieved a greater following in the years since.