The Worst Witch is a British fantasy television film released in 1986. It is based on the children's book series of the same name by Jill Murphy. The film follows the story of Mildred Hubble, a young witch-in-training at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. Mildred Hubble is portrayed as a clumsy and accident-prone student who often finds herself in humorous and embarrassing situations. She struggles to excel in her studies and is constantly compared to her talented and well-behaved classmate, Ethel Hallow. Despite her setbacks, Mildred possesses a kind heart and a determination to prove herself.
However, today we’re going to focus on the first adaptation of the books: A made-for-TV movie in 1986 that stars a very young Fairuza Balk (Return to Oz), Charlotte Rae (Facts of Life), and Tim Curry (Clue). Balk is Mildred Hubble, an oh-so-slightly clumsy first-year witch who is the only kid in this all-girls school who isn’t instantly perfect. Thus, she’s the “worst” witch who does things like stumble into other kids and not get her potion mixture right. This marks her for extreme persecution by fellow students and Miss Hardbroom, who I’m convinced was Severus Snape’s mother.
Rowling didn t conjure up Harry Potter out of thin air, as the idea of magicians being trained at boarding schools actually dates back to 1974 s The Worst Witch. To finish, The Worst Witch isn t perfect, but it s very entertaining, and I definitely recommend it, especially for Halloween, if you can fit it in to your undoubtedly busy schedule.
Despite her setbacks, Mildred possesses a kind heart and a determination to prove herself. The film showcases the daily life of the students at Miss Cackle's Academy, where they learn spells, potions, and other magical skills. The academy is led by Miss Cackle, a wise and strict headmistress, and her stringent deputy, Miss Hardbroom.
Not This Time, Nayland Smith
A particular Halloween favourite for many people over the years, The Worst Witch is a 1986 TV movie from Britain, about the misadventures of a magical schoolgirl.
At the witch school Cackle's Academy, Mildred Hubble is constantly failing. She's naturally clumsy, and has a bad memory, often leading to her getting into trouble, and causing her to be known as the 'worst witch' of the school. The worst might be the best, however, when a coven of evil witches attempt to invade Cackle's.
While The Worst Witch is a bit of a mixed bag, I can easily see how this is a treasured Halloween special. It's very enjoyable, well-written, and quite funny. Unfortunately it's very short at just over 70 minutes.
Onto the acting. It's very bizarre watching a Worst Witch movie with this cast (for reasons I'll get to later), but that wasn't too distracting once I got used to it. Fairuza Balk is adorable as Mildred Hubble, even if she doesn't even attempt to hide her accent (thankfully this isn't an environment where an American character would be totally unbelievable), while Diana Rigg is perfectly mean as the strict teacher Miss Hardbroom. Charlotte Rae on the other hand is terrible! She's ok as headmistress Miss Cackle, but as the evil Agatha Cackle she does dreadfully! Tim Curry isn't in the film long, but he shines as the Grand Wizard, especially in his musical number! The rest of the acting is all decent, minus the evil witches.
More on them-The evil witches in this film are such a drag! They're really annoying, and in one scene, they even get a musical number! Right when I was hoping for a scene change to hurry along!
The set design, as well as the general look of this film is very stylish, from the nifty uniforms, to the star-shaped blackboard, or the ooky skull ornaments. The effects (such as green screens for broomstick flying) in The Worst Witch are pretty bad, but in that endearing cheap TV kind of way.
The soundtrack is a mixed bag. The instrumental work is all great, especially the melody when the schoolgirls are getting their cats, but the songs themselves leave a bit to be desired. I like the opening tune (after all, it is sung by the awesome Bonnie Langford), but the aforementioned evil witch one, despite not being too bad in it of itself, caps off an annoying scene. The Halloween song sung by Tim Curry is. interesting! Thinking critically, the lyrics get worse and worse as the songwriter seems to be running out of words to use, but thinking naturally, however, it's a ridiculously entertaining musical number!
To finish, The Worst Witch isn't perfect, but it's very entertaining, and I definitely recommend it, especially for Halloween, if you can fit it in to your undoubtedly busy schedule! Meanwhile, come tomorrow morn, I'll start posting my reviews for the Worst Witch TV series.
. Yes there was a Worst Witch TV series. It ran for 40 episodes. I'm surprised that so many American fans of the movie don't know that.
The set design, as well as the general look of this film is very stylish, from the nifty uniforms, to the star-shaped blackboard, or the ooky skull ornaments. The effects (such as green screens for broomstick flying) in The Worst Witch are pretty bad, but in that endearing cheap TV kind of way.
The teachers and students at the academy are preparing for the Halloween festivities, but Mildred's constant mishaps create chaos. As Halloween approaches, Mildred's troubles intensify when she unwittingly befriends a group of witches from a rival school, Miss Bat's Academy. This alliance leads to a series of misadventures that threaten the reputation of Miss Cackle's Academy and put Mildred's future as a witch in jeopardy. The Worst Witch is a lighthearted and enchanting film that captures the spirit of the original books. It presents a positive message about perseverance, friendship, and embracing one's unique qualities. The performances by the cast, including Diana Rigg as Miss Hardbroom and Fairuza Balk as Mildred, bring the characters to life and make the film enjoyable for both children and adults. The film's success led to the creation of a television series based on the books, which aired from 1998 to 2001. This television adaptation further expanded the world of The Worst Witch and introduced new storylines and characters. Overall, The Worst Witch (1986) is a beloved film that has captured the hearts of audiences for decades. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless themes and lovable characters. Whether you are a fan of the books or new to the world of Mildred Hubble, this film is sure to entertain and inspire..
Reviews for "The Spellbinding Special Effects of 'The Worst Witch' 1986: Magic on the Big Screen"
1. Sandra - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Worst Witch" from 1986. The story felt rushed, and the acting was subpar. The characters lacked depth, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The special effects were also very dated and took away from the overall experience. I wanted to like this movie, but unfortunately, it fell short for me.
2. Mark - 1/5 - "The Worst Witch" from 1986 was a complete waste of time. The acting was atrocious, and the plot was predictable and unoriginal. The dialogue felt forced, and I found myself cringing at several points throughout the movie. The production quality was low, and it felt like a low-budget TV show rather than a feature film. I would recommend avoiding this movie if you're looking for something entertaining or well-made.
3. Emily - 2/5 - I had heard so many good things about "The Worst Witch" from 1986, but I was disappointed. The storyline was disjointed and lacked cohesiveness. The acting was mediocre at best, and I found myself bored throughout the entire film. The costumes and set design were underwhelming and didn't transport me into the magical world of witches like I had hoped. Overall, "The Worst Witch" was a forgettable movie that didn't live up to the hype.
4. Peter - 2/5 - "The Worst Witch" from 1986 was a major letdown. The acting was over-dramatic and unconvincing, and the story felt flat and formulaic. The special effects were laughable, even for its time. I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in this movie, and I was constantly checking my watch, waiting for it to be over. Perhaps the book or other adaptations of the story are better, but this one missed the mark for me.