Tim Curry is an actor known for his iconic portrayal of the character Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the 1990 TV miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's "It." However, Curry's talents extend far beyond this role, and he has had an impressive and diverse acting career. One of Curry's most memorable roles is that of a witch in the 1985 film "Legend." In the movie, he plays the character of "Darkness," a powerful and malevolent being who seeks to bring eternal darkness to the world. Curry's portrayal of this character is captivating, as he manages to bring a sense of both terror and charm to the role. Curry's performance as the witch in "Legend" is characterized by his distinctive voice and physicality.
Timothy James Currey
The nadir is during Curry s big number, but a scene in which Mildred tries to master her broomstick and persuade her wayward kitten, Tabby, to cling on is almost as hokey. And HBO and Central Independent Television inexplicably partnered to produce a 70-minute children s movie featuring some of the greatest actors and worst special effects of the past three decades.
Curry's performance as the witch in "Legend" is characterized by his distinctive voice and physicality. He utilizes his deep, commanding voice to convey a sense of power and authority, while also infusing it with a sinister undertone. His ability to play with his voice in this way adds another layer of complexity to the character.
The Worst Witch: A Halloween Appreciation
1986 wasn’t a spectacular year, especially if you were Oliver North, or one of the few hundred people who purchased the first New Kids on the Block album and were promptly blinded by Donnie’s sweater. Still, there were highlights: The Oprah Winfrey Show debuted. Pixar Studios was founded. Lady Gaga was born. And HBO and Central Independent Television inexplicably partnered to produce a 70-minute children’s movie featuring some of the greatest actors and worst special effects of the past three decades.
The Worst Witch was based on a British children’s book series by Jill Murphy, and is almost like a feminist precursor to Harry Potter—except all the characters are constantly trying to undermine each other, and students and teachers alike share a ferocious crush on the lone male character (the Grand Wizard, played with demented panache by Tim Curry). The heroine is Mildred Hubble (Fairuza Balk), an endearing but terrible student at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches. Mildred is, Miss Cackle (Charlotte Rae) informs her early on in the movie, “the worst witch in the entire school.”
The obvious question is: What is Charlotte Rae, star of The Facts of Life, doing in this movie? The answer: playing not one but two roles. Rae is both Miss Cackle, a good witch with a refined British accent who nevertheless could use some advice on the art of the pep talk, and Miss Cackle’s evil sister, Agatha, a witch with bright pink hair, a Southern drawl, and a coven of punk-inspired crones, who’s disgusted at her sister’s goodness and hell bent on turning all the girls at Miss Cackle’s Academy evil. She even has a song explaining her plan:
If you’re filthy
Smelly
Evil wicked and cruel
You’ll be right at home
In my little school
Does this sound familiar? Agatha is indeed the Voldemort to Miss Cackle’s Dumbledore (with sibling rivalry adding an extra frisson of tension in the relationship), while Mildred, like Harry, is plagued by two school bullies, the patrician and snotty Ethel Hallow (Anna Kipling), and the terrifying potions mistress Miss Hardbroom, played by the former Bond girl and old-school Avenger Diana Rigg. Rigg’s Miss Hardbroom is more Professor Snape than Snape himself: She appears out of nowhere in a puff of green smoke while Mildred and her friend Maud are gossiping about her late at night, and terrifies Mildred every time their paths cross in the school hall. She sports a topknot. She embodies the word “glacial.” She is the best thing in the movie apart from Tim Curry.
At some point during the casting of The Worst Witch, someone decided it wasn’t enough to have Charlotte Rae, and Diana Rigg, aforementioned icon and classical actress, and Fairuza Balk, tiny moppet star of Return to Oz and future coven regular. So they added Tim Curry, whose resume included playing a transvestite alien in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a child-murdering clown in Stephen King’s IT, and Rooster, Miss Hannigan’s no-good brother, in Annie. And decided to make his appearance the centerpiece of a 1986 music video accompanying the song “Anything Can Happen on Halloween,” in which he stands in front of a green screen and serenades a skeleton, a pumpkin, and a giant black cat whose eyes expand until they fill the entire screen, and Curry’s head pops out of the pupil.
Much of the kitschy splendor of The Worst Witch lies in its transparently low-budget special effects, which are of a kind not seen since the VHS home-workout boom of the late ’80s. The nadir is during Curry’s big number, but a scene in which Mildred tries to master her broomstick—and persuade her wayward kitten, Tabby, to cling on—is almost as hokey. But to pick apart the mechanics of stunts that presumably thrilled children at the time is to miss the heart of the film. Unlike The Boy Who Lived, Mildred is an outcast, a misfit, and a terrible, sloppy, disorganized student, but she redeems herself by being brave and gets to fly around on Halloween with the most desired man in witchdom. But none of this matters as much as the fact that all these people are in the movie.
So, if you watch one Halloween-themed production this weekend, you could do worse than The Worst Witch. It’s inspirational (mostly in that it’s a reminder of how valuable CGI actually is, and how everyone has something on their resume they’d rather not remember). It’s got groovy musical numbers. And most importantly of all, it’s available to watch in its entirety on YouTube.
Originally, Curry rehearsed the character with a German accent and peroxide blond hair, but the character evolved into the sly, very upper-class English mad scientist and transvestite that carried over to the movie version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and made Curry both a star and a cult figure. He continued to play the character in London, Los Angeles and New York until 1975.
In terms of physicality, Curry's portrayal of the witch is incredibly expressive. He uses his body language and facial expressions to convey a wide range of emotions, from rage and cruelty to subtler moments of vulnerability. His ability to transform himself physically into such a menacing and otherworldly being is a testament to his talent as an actor. Overall, Tim Curry's portrayal of the witch in "Legend" is a prime example of his ability to bring depth and nuance to his roles. Through his voice and physicality, he brings this character to life in a way that is both terrifying and captivating. Curry's performance as the witch is just one example of his versatility as an actor and his ability to leave a lasting impression on audiences..
Reviews for "Tim Curry's Witch Characters: A Celebration of Gender and Identity"
1. Bob - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Tim Curry Witch". The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, and the acting was subpar. Tim Curry's performance was lackluster and didn't live up to his previous work. Overall, it fell flat and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Tim Curry Witch" was a complete waste of time. The plot was convoluted and made no sense, and the special effects were laughable. Tim Curry's acting was mediocre at best, and I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters. I regret watching this movie and would advise others to skip it.
3. John - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Tim Curry Witch", but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the expectations. The pacing was off, making the movie drag on, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Tim Curry's performance was underwhelming, and I couldn't help but feel bored throughout the film. It had potential, but ultimately, it fell short.
4. Emily - 3 stars - While "Tim Curry Witch" had its moments, overall, it didn't resonate with me. The story lacked depth and failed to engage me emotionally. Tim Curry's acting was decent, but not exceptional. The film felt like it was trying too hard to be unique, resulting in a disjointed narrative. It had some redeeming qualities, but it wasn't enough to make it a memorable viewing experience.
5. Mike - 2 stars - I was hoping for a thrilling and suspenseful experience with "Tim Curry Witch", but I was left disappointed. The plot was predictable and offered no surprises, and the character development was weak. Tim Curry's performance didn't captivate me like his past work has. Overall, it was a forgettable film that failed to leave a lasting impression.