Bedknobs And Broomsticks (DVD 2002)

After absolutely falling in love with this film at the age of 6 and watching it almost every Christmas time when it was doing the Christmas television rounds, I thought it would be a good time to introduce this to my younger nephews (culture and all that!).

I had completely forgotten how fantastic this film is which is often completely over looked! The songs stick in your head for days (Portabello Road!) and the animations, considering the age of this film (1971) are just magical.

The story is about Angela Lansbury, an amateur witch, who volunteers to take in 3 children who are evacuees in the war. They find out that Miss Prim (Angela) is a witch and try and blackmail her so she agrees to put a spell on their bed which will take them anywhere they wish. They all travel on many adventures on this bed including visiting an island of animated animals.

The extras on the dvd were just as good as the film - one of them being the recording of the song Portobello Road.

This film isn't just for children, its for everyone - i would highly recommend it!

Angela lansbury stars as prim and proper eglantine pricean amateur english witch who joins up with cockney waifs to help save war-torn britan from nazi invaders a film for all ages bednobs and broomsticks features ingenious animation...an hilarious soccer game where crocodiles,elephants and other animals really kick up a stormbrass beds fly,nightgowns dance and airborne brooms sweep away young and old alike...to a fun filled world of fantasy.

During World War II, children are sent to the country for their safety from the bombing. Three orphans find themselves co-habiting with a novice witch, and with the help of her sometime Professor of Witchcraft go on some magical adventures, before eventually seeing off an army of invading German soldiers. Starring Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson - also look out for a young Bruce Forsyth - didn't he do well!

This film can't really be held up against Disney's finest films - its a mish mash of animationa and live action that is horrendously outdated in today's CGI world. The songs arent among the strongest either. Whether future generations of children will hold this film in the same regards as mine did - we can only wait and see. For those of us who grew up with this film over the holiday periods though....its brilliant.

Its a film for the whole family. We love to sit and watch it whilst eating crumpets. Its great now to have it on DVD, so we can watch it more regulary. The film is a comedy but also with a serious note of children when they where shipped out to the country during the war.

We have had this story on VHS tape for years and have started to upgrade to DVD. It was at a bargain price and hopefully we will watch it over and over again like the tape. great live action with anamation.