Escape to Witch Mountain is an original Disney movie that was released in 1975. The film is based on the novel of the same name written by Alexander Key. It tells the story of two orphaned siblings, Tony and Tia, who possess supernatural powers. The movie starts with Tony and Tia living in an orphanage, but they soon realize that they are different from the other children. They have telepathic abilities and can move objects with their minds. They also have a mysterious box that acts as a key to their past.
Rather than a coming of age story, then, Race to Witch Mountain is a dark family action-adventure movie, with moderate doses of X-Files paranoia and Galaxy Quest sci-fi fandom satire, and a sometimes obnoxious rock soundtrack. It’s slicker, darker and funnier than the original films, though wall-to-wall action makes it a bit of a one-trick pony, and prevents the characters from catching their breath and displaying more than one side.
This carries over into the kids-versus-adults storyline as a wealthy recluse named Aristotle Bolt Ray Milland and his even-tempered henchman Lucas Deranian Donald Pleasence seek to exploit the children s powers, aided at one point by a complacent sheriff Walter Barnes who detains the children for a promised reward. Regrettably, Father O Day, the novel s savvy, stand-up priest, has been replaced by Jason O Day Eddie Albert , a crusty-but-lovable widower driving a Winnebago motor home.
They also have a mysterious box that acts as a key to their past. When a wealthy businessman named Lucas Deranian learns about their powers, he decides to exploit them for his own gain. He poses as their uncle and takes them to his mansion, where he tries to control their abilities and use them for evil purposes.
Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Tia (Kim Richards) and Tony (Ike Eisenmann) Malone are orphans who possess extrasensory perception and powers which brings them to the attention of ruthless multi-millionaire Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland) who will stop at nothing to use their talents for his gain.
Cinema Cat: Tia and Tina’s companion is Winkie the black cat. Winkie was in the original novel by Alexander H. Key and in the book the children were sent to a juvenile detention home which is where Tia befriended her. In the movie the children are sent to a child welfare home. Winkie appears when a bully named Truck (Dermott Downs) takes Tina’s star case. The cat is watching the exchange and then leaps at Truck, knocking the case from his hands.
Winkie climbs into a tree and meows. Tony says, “Nice goin’, Winkie!” as the cat winks at them. This is achieved by the film being run back and forth as the cat actor closes one eye. According to the film’s director John Hough in the commentary track for the DVD, the shot of Winkie climbing into the tree was shot by a specialist who waited for the right situation to get the correct shots. Several cats were used in the making of the film. As for Winkie’s wink, it was eventually achieved by spraying some kind of harmless liquid into the cat’s eye, which was carefully supervised by an animal cruelty prevention officer. Hough explained that Disney was always adamant about the safety of the animals used in his pictures (the White Wilderness controversy notwithstanding).
Winkie is a close companion of the children and accompanies them when they are adopted by their supposed uncle Lucas Deranian (Donald Pleasance). They are taken in a limousine to the home of Deranian’s employee, Artistotle Bolt.
Eventually the children realize they are in danger in the mansion and decide to escape. They take Winkie with them and Winkie helps them escape from the gate by making Lorko (Tiger Joe Marsh) the guard sneeze. Winkie then jumps from the guard house into the arms of Tony on the back of Thunderhead the horse. Actor Ike Eisenmann explained on the DVD commentary that Winkie the cat was thrown at him and landed with all claws out. Unfortunately the scene had to be shot several times. Both Ike and Kim commented on the cat actor scratching them.
The children stow away in the Winnebago of a lone drifter named Jason O’Day (Eddie Albert). He sees Winkie and is friendly to the cat but not as friendly to the children at first.
Later O’Day can’t find his keys and he thinks the children have taken them to force him to take them where they want to go. As Tina starts the Winnebago with her mind, Winkie finds the keys in the sand and brings them back to O’Day.
Winkie also saves the say when Deranian and his henchman find the Winnebago and approach it threateningly. Winkie has heard them and climbs into a tree then jumps down, knocking the gun from the henchman’s hand and alerting the others inside of the danger.
At the end of the film the children ask O’Day to keep Winkie for them. Winkie meows her approval.
O’Day holds Winkie up as the spaceship takes off. It would have been nice if Winkie could have winked again but it was not to be. Winkie also did not return for any of the film’s sequels.
Final Mewsings: Both witches and aliens appreciate black cats!
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However, the siblings manage to escape and find themselves on a journey to Witch Mountain, a place they believe holds the answers to their true identity. Along the way, they encounter a kind-hearted loner named Jason O'Day, who becomes their ally and helps them navigate through dangerous situations. As they make their way to Witch Mountain, the siblings face various obstacles and encounter strange characters, some of whom are also interested in their powers. They also receive help from a talking cat named Winky, who turns out to be an extraterrestrial being. In the end, the siblings reach Witch Mountain and discover that they are actually from another planet. They learn about their powers and the purpose behind them. With the help of Jason and Winky, they defeat the villainous Deranian and find a new home where they can live among others like them. Escape to Witch Mountain is a classic Disney film that combines elements of adventure, fantasy, and science fiction. It explores themes of identity, belonging, and the struggle between good and evil. The movie was well-received for its engaging storyline, charming characters, and imaginative concept. It has since become a beloved film among audiences of all ages and continues to be praised for its timeless appeal..
Reviews for "Fantasy and Adventure: Exploring the Themes of 'Escape to Witch Mountain' Original"
1. John - 1/5
I found "Escape to Witch Mountain" to be incredibly boring and uninteresting. The plot was predictable and lacking in depth. The characters were one-dimensional and I struggled to connect with any of them. The special effects were also dated and laughable. Overall, I was incredibly disappointed with this film and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling or engaging movie experience.
2. Sarah - 2/5
"Escape to Witch Mountain" was a mediocre film at best. The storyline was all over the place and lacked coherence. I found myself constantly questioning the motives of the characters and their actions often didn't make sense. The acting was subpar and didn't bring any depth or emotion to the story. The special effects were outdated and took away from the overall viewing experience. I was hoping for more from this film but was ultimately left disappointed.
3. Mike - 1/5
I couldn't stand "Escape to Witch Mountain". The story was incredibly dull and uninspired, with cliched plot points that were predictable from the start. The acting was wooden and lacked any sense of realism, and the characters were poorly developed. The special effects were laughably bad, even for the time it was released. Overall, this film was a complete waste of time and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a quality movie experience.