Review of Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) by Selcuk O — 26 Jun 2011

Decent, but not trully engaging actors, except for Lansbury, (without whom the movie would be unwatchable), hold up a movie that starts and ends well, but has too many bad, cloying songs, and a slapstick animation sequence in the middle that is severely dated, though possibly funny to small children, but noone else. The king lion's voice is particularly boorish and grating, and the only American voice in the film. It doesnt seem to have been an accident.

Just when you're had enough and are ready to hit eject, the movie shifts back to an exciting sequence of elaborate wire work for a nighttime battle between Nazi invaders and a ghost army made up of the greatest warriors in England's history. Here the story makes sense again and wraps up tidily, and offers some actual impressive effects and excitement shot on real film that isn't ruined by dated animation compositing.

If you watch this movie, fast forward the songs, and some of the middle fantasy section, and it canbe a decent hour's worth of entertainment. Adults will enjoy the historical touches, as the movie seems like it was made in the 50s more than 1971, and the English production team could still represent the WWII era well. It's also a more traditional, lighter, look at witchcraft, which is refreshing in these Potter melodrama-heavy days.