The Worst Witch (film)
The Worst Witch is a 1986 British musical fantasy television film based on the 1974 children's book of the same name by Jill Murphy.
| The Worst Witch | |
|---|---|
 VHS cover | |
| Based on | The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy |
| Screenplay by | Mary Pleshette Willis |
| Directed by | Robert W. Young |
| Starring | Diana Rigg Tim Curry Charlotte Rae Fairuza Balk |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Hilary Heath |
| Producer | Colin Shindler |
| Cinematography | Ian Hollands |
| Editor | Andrew Denny |
| Running time | 70 minutes |
| Production company | Central |
| Distributor | ITV Studios |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Original release |
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Plot
The film follows the plot of the 1974 book. The story centres around Mildred Hubble, who is invariably the "Worst Witch" at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches, a school of magic. Mildred causes many mishaps, including being late for school, making all of her classmates fall down, Mildred and her friend unintentionally turning themselves invisible, and transforming Ethel into a pig. The climax surrounds Miss Cackle's notorious evil twin sister, Agatha, plotting to take over the Academy. Ultimately Agatha is foiled by Mildred, and Mildred establishes herself as the hero for the academy.
Cast
- Fairuza Balk as Mildred Hubble
- Diana Rigg as Miss Hardbroom
- Charlotte Rae as Miss Cackle/Agatha
- Tim Curry as The Grand Wizard
- Sabina Franklyn as Miss Spellbinder
- Su Elliot as Delilah
- Danielle Batchelor as Maud Warlock
- Anna Kipling as Ethel Hallow
- Kate Buckley as Donna
- Leila Marr as Pixie Brown
- Liz May Brice as Zoe Chant-Vestry
- Katrina Heath as Sophie Hattrick
- Tara Stevenson as Gloria Hobgoblin
- Laura Heath as Misty Meadow
- Sophie Cook as Natalie Sinister
- Sophie Millett as Verity Sinister
- Julia J. Nagle as Bubble Toil
- Kathryn Lacey as Goodie Twocharm
- Nevena Kaley as Dawn Undercover
- Caroline Woolf as Julie Vanishing
- Amy Shindler as Spinner Webb
- Pui Fan Lee as Prefect
Production
The film was shot at St. Michael's College in Tenbury Wells.
Soundtrack
Its opening and closing song "Growing Up Isn't Easy" was sung by Bonnie Langford. It was composed by Charles Strouse with lyrics by Don Black.
They also wrote "Anything Can Happen on Halloween". This song was covered by British rock band Stonegarth in 2008. Denis King composed its score and wrote the song "My Little School".