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[[Image:Witchestitle.jpg|thumb|300px]] |
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| − | {{movie|date=Feb. 16, [[1990]]|runtime=91 minutes|director=[[Nicolas Roeg]]|writer= |
+ | {{movie|date=Feb. 16, [[1990]]<ref>''The Orlando Sentinel'' [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27564382/thewitchesstirsitsbrewbutforwhom/ "The Witches stirs its brew but for whom"] by Jay Boyar, Feb 16, 1990</ref>|runtime=91 minutes|director=[[Nicolas Roeg]]|writer=Allan Scott (adapted screenplay), [[Roald Dahl]] (book)|composer=[[Stanley Myers]]|studio=[[Warner Bros.]]|rating=PG}} |
| − | '''The Witches''' is a 1990 film based on a book by [[Roald Dahl]]. The film adaptation was produced by [[The Jim Henson Company|Jim Henson Productions]], with effects by [[Jim Henson's Creature Shop|the Creature Shop]]. [[Jim Henson]] himself received an executive producer credit. |
+ | '''''The Witches''''' is a 1990 film based on a book by [[Roald Dahl]]. The film adaptation was produced by [[The Jim Henson Company|Jim Henson Productions]], with effects by [[Jim Henson's Creature Shop|the Creature Shop]]. [[Jim Henson]] himself received an executive producer credit. |
==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==Production notes== |
==Production notes== |
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| − | * 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.<ref>[ |
+ | * 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.<ref>[https://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/2010/11/11191988/ Jim Henson's Red Book historical content entry]</ref> |
| − | * In North America, the film has yet to be released in its original 1.85:1 screen-aspect ratio on DVD. All copies there are presented in a cropped 1.33:1 full-screen ratio. |
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| − | <gallery> |
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| − | Image:Witches 16872 JH-Letter-Alt-End.jpg|Jim Henson's letter to Penguin Book Ltd regarding the ending for ''The Witches'' from 1988. |
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| − | Image:Witches 11612 SB187.jpg|Storyboard from ''The Witches'' featuring the Creature Shop's transformation process from boy to mouse from 1988. |
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| − | </gallery> |
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==Cast== |
==Cast== |
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*[[Anjelica Huston]] as Miss Ernst/[[Grand High Witch]] |
*[[Anjelica Huston]] as Miss Ernst/[[Grand High Witch]] |
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*[[Mai Zetterling]] as Helga |
*[[Mai Zetterling]] as Helga |
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| − | *[[Jasen Fisher]] as Luke |
+ | *[[Jasen Fisher]] as [[Luke as Mouse|Luke]] |
*[[Rowan Atkinson]] as Mr. Stringer |
*[[Rowan Atkinson]] as Mr. Stringer |
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*[[Bill Paterson]] as Mr. Jenkins |
*[[Bill Paterson]] as Mr. Jenkins |
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*[[Brenda Blethyn]] as Mrs. Jenkins |
*[[Brenda Blethyn]] as Mrs. Jenkins |
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| − | * |
+ | *Charlie Potter as [[Bruno Jenkins]] |
*[[Anne Lambton]] as Woman in Black |
*[[Anne Lambton]] as Woman in Black |
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*[[Jane Horrocks]] as Miss Irvine |
*[[Jane Horrocks]] as Miss Irvine |
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| Line 28: | Line 23: | ||
==Puppeteers== |
==Puppeteers== |
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*[[Steve Whitmire]], [[Anthony Asbury]], [[Brian Henson]], [[David Greenaway]], [[Rob Tygner]], [[Sue Dacre]], [[Donald Austen]] |
*[[Steve Whitmire]], [[Anthony Asbury]], [[Brian Henson]], [[David Greenaway]], [[Rob Tygner]], [[Sue Dacre]], [[Donald Austen]] |
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| + | ==Edits== |
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| + | *Often when shown on [[Channel 5]] in the UK, the following moments were removed: |
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| + | **The long shot of Luke returning to the hotel to escape the witches. |
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| + | **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. |
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| + | **The shot where the Grand High Witch leaves her room for dinner. |
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| + | **Every use of the word "bloody". |
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==Video releases== |
==Video releases== |
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| − | <gallery |
+ | <gallery spacing=small orientation=portrait> |
| − | Thewitches-vhs-uk.jpg|UK VHS |
+ | Thewitches-vhs-uk.jpg|UK VHS<br>cropped to 1.33:1 |
| − | Thewitches1994usvhs.jpg|US VHS, 1991 cover |
+ | Thewitches1994usvhs.jpg|US VHS, 1991 cover<br>cropped to 1.33:1 |
| − | Thewitches-vhs-us.jpg|US VHS, 1999 cover |
+ | Thewitches-vhs-us.jpg|US VHS, 1999 cover<br>cropped to 1.33:1 |
| + | TheWitches-Bluray-2019.jpg|[[Blu-ray]], 2019 cover<br>1.85:1 original aspect ratio |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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==Sources== |
==Sources== |
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<references /> |
<references /> |
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| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | __NOWYSIWYG__ |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | {{DEFAULTSORT:Witches, The}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
Latest revision as of 23:57, 20 March 2024
| Released | Feb. 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 |
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
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
UK VHS
cropped to 1.33:1
cropped to 1.33:1
US VHS, 1991 cover
cropped to 1.33:1
cropped to 1.33:1
US VHS, 1999 cover
cropped to 1.33:1
cropped to 1.33:1
Blu-ray, 2019 cover
1.85:1 original aspect ratio
1.85:1 original aspect ratio
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