Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

**Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)** is a UK VHS release by Walt Disney Home Video on 8th November 1982, 3rd November 1986, 7th November 1988 and it got re-released by Walt Disney Home Video on 17th September 1990, 5th October 1992. It got re-released by Disney Videos on 15th May 1995, 2nd September 1996 and as a Special Edition on 2nd February 1998. It is a UK DVD release by Walt Disney Home Entertainment on 22nd July 2002 and it got re-released on DVD by Disney on 5th October 2009.

The film also aired on BBC One on 30th August 2004, 27th December 2005, Boxing Day 2006, New Year's Day 2008, 13th April 2009, 28th December 2011, 30th December 2012, 29th December 2014 and New Year's Eve 2017, BBC Two on 25th May & Christmas Eve 2015 and 26th August 2017 and ITV1 on Christmas Day 1987.

## Plot

In August 1940, during the Battle of Britain, three children named Charlie, Carrie, and Paul Rawlins are evacuated from London to Pepperinge Eye near the Dorset coast where they are placed in the reluctant care of Miss Eglantine Price, who agrees to the arrangement temporarily. The children attempt to run away back to London, but after observing Miss Price flying on a broomstick, they change their minds. Miss Price reveals she is learning witchcraft through a correspondence school with hopes of using her spells in the British war effort against the Nazis, and offers the children a transportation spell in exchange for their silence. She casts the spell on a bedknob, and adds only Paul can work the spell, as he is the one who handed the bedknob to her. Later, Miss Price receives a letter from her school announcing its closure, thus preventing her from learning the final spell. She convinces Paul to use the enchanted bed to return the group to London, and locate Professor Emelius Browne.

Browne turns out to be a charismatic showman who created the course from an old book, and is shocked to learn the spells actually work. He gives the book to Miss Price, who is distraught to discover the final spell, "Substitutiary Locomotion", is missing. The group travels to Portobello Road to locate the rest of the book. After an exchange with an old bookseller, Miss Price learns that the spell is engraved on the Star of Astaroth, a medallion that belonged to a sorcerer of that name. The bookseller explains that the medallion was taken by a pack of wild animals, given anthropomorphism by Astaroth, to a remote island called Naboombu. A 17th century lascar had claimed to have seen Naboombu, but the bookseller never found it. Paul confirms its existence by revealing a storybook he found in Mr. Browne's playroom.

The group travels to Naboombu a land in a lagoon; there, the bed goes underwater, where Mr. Browne and Miss Price enter a dance contest and win first prize. Just then, the bed is fished out of the sea by a bear, who informs the group that no human is allowed on the island by royal decree. They are brought before the island's ruler, King Leonidas the lion, who is wearing the Star of Astaroth. Leonidas invites Mr. Browne to act as a referee in a football match. The chaotic match ends in Leonidas' self-proclaimed victory, but Mr. Browne swaps the medallion with his referee whistle as he leaves, and the group escapes, Miss Price turning Leonidas into a white rabbit when he tries to chase them.

Back home, Miss Price exercises the spell, which imbues inanimate objects with life. When Miss Price is informed that the children can be moved to another home, she decides to let them stay, realizing she has come to love them and vice versa. The children declare they want Mr. Browne to be their father, but Mr. Browne, wary of commitment, bids goodbye to the group and attempts to take a train back to London. A platoon of Nazi German commandos land on the coast via U-boat as part of an exercise and invade Miss Price's house, imprisoning her and the children in the local museum. At the train station, Mr. Browne fends off two Germans cutting phone lines and heads back to Miss Price's house where he uses the white rabbit spell that he taught Miss Price so he can disguise himself to avoid the Germans. He finds Miss Price and the children at the museum and inspires Miss Price to use the spell to enchant the museum's exhibits into an army. The army of knights' armor and military uniforms chases the Germans away, but as they retreat, they destroy Miss Price's workshop, ending her career as a witch. Though disappointed her career is over, she is happy she played a small part in the war effort.

Shortly afterwards, Miss Price has officially adopted and committed herself to raising the children, Mr. Browne also made a commitment to becoming the father of the children and moved in with them. Mr. Browne enlists in the army and departs with the local Home Guard escorting him, promising the children he will return soon. Paul reveals he still has the enchanted bedknob, hinting they can continue with their adventures Mr. Browne and local Home Guard choir.

## Description

An Academy Award winner for Best Visual Effects, BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS is a spellbinding mix of live action and animation that makes it one of Disney’s most endearing classics.

You’ll meet a delightful amateur witch (Angela Lansbury) who reluctantly takes in three precocious orphan children. The children soon find themselves aboard a flying bed, its magic brass bed knob their ticket to one fantastic adventure after another – including a visit to an island inhabited by wondrous animated animals! The foursome eventually joins forces with an amusing professor (David Tomlinson, Mary Poppins) to track down an ancient incantation that could save the country from hostile invaders!

Now it’s your turn to take a ride on BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS, a fun-filled flight of fantasy, music and Disney magic for all ages.

## Cast

* Angela Lansbury as Miss Eglantine Price, an apprentice witch
* David Tomlinson as Professor Emelius Browne, Miss Price's former teacher and headmaster of Correspondence College of Witchcraft
* Roddy McDowall as Mr. Jelk, the town curate.
* Sam Jaffe as the Bookman, an antiquarian book merchant
* John Ericson as Colonel Heller, leader of German invasion force
* Bruce Forsyth as Swinburne, the Bookman's assistant
* Tessie O'Shea as Mrs. Jessica Hobday
* Arthur Gould-Porter as Captain Greer
* Ben Wrigley as Portobello Road workman
* Reginald Owen as General Teagler, leader of the Home Guard
* Cyril Delevanti as Elderly farmer
* Rick Traeger and Manfred Lating as German sergeants

**The Children:**

* Ian Weighill as Charlie Rawlins
* Cindy O'Callaghan as Carrie Rawlins
* Roy Snart as Paul Rawlins

**The voices of:**

* Robert Holt as Mr. Codfish
* Lennie Weinrib as Secretary Bird and King Leonidas
* Dal McKennon as Fisherman Bear

### Uncredited

* Leon Alton - Soldier at Portobello Road
* Conrad Bachmann - German Soldier
* Frank Baker, Don Barclay, Ed Haskett, William H. O'Brien - Portobello Road Passerby
* Jane Betts, Milt Larsen, Edith Leslie - Spectator at Emelius' Failed Magic Performance
* Eric Brotherson
* James Brugman - Soldier Playing Tenor Saxophone
* Patrick Sullivan Burke - Soldier
* Cosmic Creepers - Cat
* Patrick Dennis-Leigh, Delos Jewkes, George Mann, Jack Raine, Arthur Space, Hank Worden - Old Home Guardsman
* Anthony Eustrel, Richard Peel - Vendor
* Morgan Farley - Old Piano Player
* Bobby Gilbert - Newspaper Vendor
* Ina Gould - Shopkeeper
* Sid Kane - Book Vendor
* Ysabel MacCloskey - Mrs. Mason
* Jimmy MacDonald - Animal Noises
* Chris Marks - Minor Role
* James McInnes - Home Guard Sergeant
* Gene Merlino - Chorus
* Barbara Morrison - Vendor with Hat and Boa
* Maria Pogee - Dancer
* Thurl Ravenscroft - Russian Portabello Road Vendor (singing voice)
* Maxine Semon - Portobello Dancer

## Songs

* The Soldiers of the Old Home Guard
* The Age of Not Believing
* With a Flair
* A Step in the Right Direction
* Eglantine, Don't Let Me Down
* Portobello Road/Portobello Street Dance
* The Beautiful Briny
* Nobody's Problems
* Substitutiary Locomotion
* The Soldiers of the Old Home Guard (Reprise, Finale)

## Credits

* Directed by: Robert Stevenson
* Produced by: Bill Walsh, Walt Disney (credited)
* Screenplay by: Bill Walsh, Don DaGradi
* Based on the Book by: Mary Norton
* Director of Photography: Frank Phillips, A.S.C.
* Animation Directors: Ward Kimball, Wolfgang Reitherman (credited)
* Animation: Art Stevens, Milt Kahl, Eric Larson, John Lounsbery, Hal King, Julius Svendsen, Jack Boyd, Fred Hellmich, Jack Buckley
* Animation Story by: Ted Berman, Ralph Wright
* Layouts by: Joe Hale, Don Griffith
* Backgrounds: Dick Kelsey, Al Dempster, Bill Layne, Ralph Hulett
* Animation Film Editor: James W. Swain
* Animation-Live Action Design: McLaren Stewart
* Second Unit Director: Arthur J. Vitarelli
* Technical Consultants: Milt Larsen, Manfred Lating, Bob Baker, James McInnes, Spungbuggy Works
* Art Directors: Peter Ellenshaw, John B. Mansbridge
* Set Decorations: Emile Kuri, Hal Gausman
* Film Editor: Cotton Warburton, A.C.E.
* Assistant to the Designer: Shelby Anderson
* Costumes Designed by: Bill Thomas
* Title Design: David Jonas
* Special Effects: Eustace Lycett, Alan Maley, Danny Lee
* Sound Supervisor: Robert O. Cook
* Sound Mixer: Dean Thomas
* Costumes by: Chuck Keehne, Emily Sundby
* Hair Stylist: La Rue Matheron
* Make-up by: Robert J. Schiffer
* Assistant Director: Christopher Hibler
* Script Supervisor: Lois Thurman
* Assistant to the Conductor: James MacDonald
* Assistant Choreographer: Carolyn Dyer
* Dance Accompanist: Albert Mello
* Music Editor: Evelyn Kennedy
* Music and Lyrics by: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
* Music Supervised, Arranged and Conducted by: Irwin Kostal
* Choreography by: Donald McKayle
* Color by: Technicolor
* Distributed by: Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc.
* MPDDA/MPAA Number: 22759
* Copyright (c) MCMLXXI Walt Disney Productions. All rights reserved.

## Opening (1992 Re-release)

1. Blue Warning Screen (1990-1992)
2. Coming Soon from Walt Disney Home Video
3. Cinderella trailer [announced by Mark Elliott]
4. Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too [announced by Brian Cummings]
5. Also Available from Walt Disney Home Video
6. Basil the Great Mouse Detective (Now Available on Video) [announced by Rik Mayall]
7. Walt Disney Classics children's trailer from 1992 [announced by Brian Cummings]
8. Walt Disney Home Video Ident (1986-1995)
9. Buena Vista Film Distribution Logo (Bedknobs and Broomsticks Variant)
10. Start of Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

## Closing (1992 Re-release)

1. End of Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
2. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) Closing Credits
3. The End: Walt Disney Productions

## Opening (1995 Re-release)

1. Blue Warning Screen (1992-1995)
2. National Captioning Institute Warning Screen (1993-1995)
3. Also Available from Disney Videos [announced by John Sachs]
4. Pinocchio trailer [announced by John Sachs]
5. Walt Disney Classics Range children's trailer from Early 1995 [announced by John Sachs] (UK Pitched)
6. Coming Soon from Disney Videos [announced by John Sachs]
7. Growing Up With Winnie the Pooh Videos [announced by John Sachs]
8. Stay Tuned (1995-1996) [announced by John Sachs]
9. Disney Videos Ident (1995-2001)
10. Buena Vista Film Distribution Logo (Bedknobs and Broomsticks Variant)
11. Start of Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

## Closing (1995 Re-release)

1. End of Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
2. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) Closing Credits
3. The End: Walt Disney Productions
4. Coming Soon from Disney Videos [announced by John Sachs]
5. The Lion King trailer [announced by John Sachs]
6. Watch Out for Future Releases from Disney Videos [announced by John Sachs]

## Opening (1998 Re-release)

1. Blue Warning Screen
2. European Captioning Institute Warning Screen (1995-2005)
3. Available Now on Disney Videos [announced by John Sachs]
4. Peter Pan trailer [announced by John Sachs]
5. Cinderella trailer [announced by John Sachs] (UK Pitched)
6. Winnie the Pooh's Most Grand Adventure trailer [announced by Ringo Starr]
7. Walt Disney Classics children's trailer from 1998 (short version) [announced by John Sachs] (UK Pitched)
8. Coming Soon from Disney Videos [announced by John Sachs]
9. Hercules trailer [announced by John Sachs]
10. Lady and the Tramp trailer [announced by John Sachs]
11. Disney Videos Ident (1995-2001)
12. Buena Vista Film Distribution Logo (Bedknobs and Broomsticks Variant)
13. Start of Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

## Closing (1998 Re-release)

1. End of Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
2. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) Closing Credits
3. The End: Walt Disney Productions
4. Gentleman Scene
5. Bedknobs and Broomsticks Closing Credits restoration (1996)
6. Dolby logo (silent)
7. Walt Disney Pictures (1985-2006) (silent) (Black Background)

## Trailers and info (VHS)

### 1986 Re-release

The Walt Disney Home Video's children's trailer from 1986 with clips of "Mary Poppins", "The Love Bug", "Pete's Dragon", "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", "The Disney Bunch" and "Mickey's Christmas Carol".

### 1986 Re-release (2)

The Walt Disney Home Video's children's trailer from 1986 with clips of "Mary Poppins", "The Love Bug", "Pete's Dragon", "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", "The Disney Bunch" and "Mickey's Christmas Carol".

### 1988 Re-release

The Walt Disney Home Video's children's trailer from 1988 with clips of Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, The Sword in the Stone, Return to Oz, Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Pete's Dragon, Mickey's Magical World, The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Disney's Sing Along Songs: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, Mickey's Christmas Carol and Walt Disney's Cartoon Classics.

### 1992 Re-release

1. Cinderella (Coming to Home Video) (announced by Mark Elliott)
2. Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too (announced by Brian Cummings)
3. Basil, The Great Mouse Detective (Now Available on Video) (announced by Rik Mayall)
4. Walt Disney Classics children's trailer from 1992 with clips of "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", "Pete's Dragon" and "Mary Poppins".

### 1995 Re-release

#### **Opening**

1. Pinocchio (Coming to Video) (announced by John Sachs)
2. Walt Disney Classics Range (Early 1995) - Basil, The Great Mouse Detective, The Sword in the Stone, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Dumbo, Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Song of the South, Mary Poppins and Pete’s Dragon (announced by John Sachs)
3. Growing Up with Winnie the Pooh Videos with clips of "Making Friends", "Sharing and Caring", and "Helping Others". (announced by John Sachs)

#### **Closing**

1. The Lion King (Coming to Video + Roaring onto Video Soon) (Coming Soon to Video) (announced by John Sachs)

### 1998 Re-release (The 25th Anniversary Special Edition)

1. Peter Pan (Now Available on Video) (announced by John Sachs)
2. Cinderella (Now Available on Video) (announced by John Sachs)
3. Winnie the Pooh's Most Grand Adventure (Available Now on Video) (announced by Ringo Starr)
4. Walt Disney Classics 1998 Trailer with clips of "Mary Poppins", "Dumbo", "Alice in Wonderland" and "Bedknobs and Broomsticks". (announced by John Sachs)
5. Hercules (Coming Soon on Video) (announced by John Sachs)
6. Lady and the Tramp (Coming Soon on Video) (announced by John Sachs)

## Trailers and info (DVD)

### Original 2002 release

1. Walt Disney Classic Collection on Disney DVD and Video with clips of "The Fox and the Hound", "Oliver and Company", "The Aristocats", "Dumbo", "Pocahontas", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "Bedknobs and Broomsticks", "Pete's Dragon", "The Rescuers Down Under" and "The Rescuers". (announced by Rupert Farley)
2. Beauty and the Beast: Special Edition (with American voiceover, Mark Elliott)
3. Peter Pan in Return to Neverland (UK Teaser Trailer) (Coming Only to Theaters)
4. Monsters, Inc. (On Video and Disney DVD) (announced by Ringo Starr)