 | |
| Released | February 16, 1990[1] |
| Duration | 91 minutes |
| Director | Nicolas Roeg |
| Written by | Allan Scott (adapted screenplay), Roald Dahl (book) |
| Music | Stanley Myers |
| Studio | Warner Bros. |
| Rated | PG |
Theatrical poster.
A press kit for the film was sold as part of The Jim Henson Company 70th Anniversary Auction.
The Witches is a 1990 film based on a book by Roald Dahl. The film adaptation was produced by Jim Henson Productions, with effects by the Creature Shop. Jim Henson himself received an executive producer credit.
Plot
A young orphan named Luke is staying with his grandmother in a large British hotel. While roaming the hotel, Luke discovers that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which is holding a convention in the hotel, is actually a coalition of witches. Luke overhears the Grand High Witch explaining their plan to turn the world's children into mice, but before he can make any attempt to stop them, he is caught eavesdropping and turned into a mouse himself. It is then up to Luke to survive the dangers of life as a rodent and foil the witches' scheme.
Production notes
- At the suggestion of Bernie Brillstein, two different endings were shot: An ending more like the ending of the book, in which Luke remains a mouse, and the ending that made it to the film, in which Luke becomes human again. Both endings were screened to test audiences. As a result of the test screenings, scenes deemed too scary were shortened or removed from the final version of the film.[2]
Cast
- Anjelica Huston as Miss Ernst/Grand High Witch
- Mai Zetterling as Helga
- Jasen Fisher as Luke
- Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Stringer
- Bill Paterson as Mr. Jenkins
- Brenda Blethyn as Mrs. Jenkins
- Charlie Potter as Bruno Jenkins
- Anne Lambton as Woman in Black
- Jane Horrocks as Miss Irvine
- Puppeteers: Steve Whitmire, Anthony Asbury, Brian Henson, David Greenaway, Rob Tygner, Sue Dacre, Donald Austen
Crew
- Storyboard Artist: Mike Ploog
- Animatronics Designer: John Stephenson
- Animatronics Co-ordinator: William Plant
- Make-up Grand High Witch: Steve Norrington
- Mice Designs: Pauline Fowler
- Prosthetic Make-up: Nigel Booth
- Mechanical Designers: Neal Scanlan, Verner Gresty, Chris Barton, David Barrington-Holt
- Puppet Mice: Jane Gootnick
- Foam Lab Supervisor: Mike Osborne
- Animatronics by: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Edits
- Often when shown on Channel 5 in the UK, the following moments were removed:
- The long shot of Luke returning to the hotel to escape the witches.
- Most of the scene where Luke is searching the Grand High Witch's room, before the scene cuts back to Mr. Jenkins and the Grand High Witch.
- The shot where the Grand High Witch leaves her room for dinner.
- Every use of the word "bloody".
Video releases
cropped to 1.33:1
cropped to 1.33:1
cropped to 1.33:1
cropped to 1.33:1
cropped to 1.33:1
1.85:1 original aspect ratio
cropped to 1.33:1
double feature release with the 2020 adaptation
cropped to 1.37:1
quadruple feature release with the 2020 adaptation, The Witches of Easwick, and Practical Magic
Sources
- ↑ The Orlando Sentinel "The Witches stirs its brew but for whom" by Jay Boyar, Feb 16, 1990
- ↑ Jim Henson's Red Book historical content entry