The Witches

Anjelica Huston Director: Nicolas Roeg Nicolas Roeg

Overview

In Nicolas Roeg's adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel The Witches, a young boy is vacationing at the seaside with his grandmother when he discovers that the hotel he is staying at is hosting a convention of witches. Eavesdropping on the witches, he learns that the Grand High Witch (Anjelica Huston) has devised a plan to turn all of the children in England into mice. With creature-effects by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, The Witches was the last film Henson worked on before passing away in 1990.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/20/2019
UPC:	0883929692354
Original Release:	1990
Source:	Warner Archives
Time:	1:32:00
Sales rank:	17,829

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Anjelica Huston	Mrs. Ernst/ Grand High Witch
Mai Zetterling	Helga
Jasen Fisher	Luke
Rowan Atkinson	Mr. Stringer
Bill Paterson	Mr. Jenkins
Brenda Blethyn	Mrs. Jenkins
Jane Horrocks	Miss Irvine
Merete Armand	Erica's Mother
Annabel Brooks	Nicola
Jim Carter	Head Chef
Nora Connolly	Beatrice
Elsie Eide	Erica
Rose English	Dora
Darcy Flynn	Luke's Mother
Debra Gillett	Waitress
Rosamond Greenwood	Janice
Serena Harragin	Doctor
Brian Hawksley	Elderly Waiter
Leila Hoffman	Lady
Anne Lambton	Woman in Black
Vincent Marzello	Luke's Father
Greta Nordra	Norwegian Witch
Arvid Ones	Policeman
Ola Otnes	Erica's Father
Charlie Potter	Bruno Jenkins
Emma Relph	Millie
Angelique Rockas	Henrietta
Sverre Rossummoen	Policeman
Jenny Runacre	Elsie
Sukie Smith	Marlene
Kirstin Steinsland	Child Helga
Johan Sverre	Policeman
Roberta Taylor	Witch Chef
Anne Tirard	Lady

Technical Credits

Allan Scott

Nicolas Roeg	Director
Marit Allen	Costumes/Costume Designer
Christine Beveridge	Makeup
Nigel Booth	Special Effects
Norman Dorme	Art Director
Dusty Symonds	Producer
Harvey Harrison	Cinematographer
Jim Henson	Executive Producer,Special Effects
Tony Lawson	Editor
Stanley Myers	Score Composer
Steve Norrington	Special Effects
Christopher Palmer	Musical Direction/Supervision
Andrew Sanders	Production Designer
Allan Scott	Screenwriter
Mark Shivas	Producer
John Stephenson	Special Effects
Robin Tarsnane	Set Decoration/Design
Roald Dahl	Source Author

Editorial Reviews

Most scary children's films are frightening in a conventional, highly confrontational manner. The Witches has these kind of moments, but it also has moments that are scary in a more subtle, sinister and disturbing manner, such as the sequence involving the child who disappeared into a painting. Nicolas Roeg has done an admirable job of keeping the macabre atmosphere of Roald Dahl's original book, softening it only by replacing the impressively mature ending of the original with a more directly happy (and therefore weaker) conclusion. He also creates a surreal visual quality for the film, aided greatly by Jim Henson's clever animatronic designs for the witches and mice. The cast is uniformly excellent. The coldly imposing Anjelica Huston is a fierce and determined Grand High Witch, creating one of the most memorable and delightfully frightening villainesses in the history of children's cinema. Mai Zetterling is her perfect foil, capturing both the charm of the grandmother and her hidden formidableness. Jasen Fisher never hits a false note, and Jane Horrocks and Brenda Blethyn turn in valuable support. Inventive, entertaining and sprightly paced, Witches was initially a disappointment at the box office but has achieved a greater following in the years since.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler