Bedknobs and Broomsticks: Enchanted Musical Edition
T2 Rating: 2 1/2 out of 4 stars
Rated: G
Length: 139 Minutes
Another Disney Classic comes to DVD! Bedknobs and Broomsticks is available again on DVD and if you’re into the animation mixed with live-action this one is bound to be a favorite.
The movie originally released almost 40 years ago features a star studded cast including: Angela Lansbury (Murder She Wrote), Roddy McDowall (Planet of the Apes), Reginald Owen (Mary Poppins), David Tomlinson (Mary Poppins), Sam Jaffe (The Day The Earth Stood Still) and more!
This story begins in England during World War II in a similar fashion to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe. Three siblings are sent to live in the country away from the war with the Nazi’s. There arrival to the little village of Pepperinge Eye gets off to a rough start when placed with Miss Eglantine Price (who was forced to take them in). Their new home is full of mystery and one late night the children discover Miss Price is a witch in training. However, she intends using her witchcraft to end the war. This proves to be a challenge as her magic book is missing the spell that will help her complete her mission.
From here the true journey begins as Miss Price and the children along with a not so good magician head off to the Isle of Naboombu. Their goal is to meet the King and get the spell from his medallion (The Star of Astaroth). It proves to be a challenge, but one of the children find the words hidden in another place.
Now we return back to the War and here Miss Price is ready to practice her magic on the Germans.
Musically you get fun loving sing-along songs by the Sherman Brothers. This picture is presented in 1.66:1 aspect ration which is a nice treat for the many people with 16×9 tv’s. As far as the extras go this title misses the mark. The Sodium Vapor Process segment with Jennifer Stone doesn’t go far enough and we also get a segment called Music Magic: The Sherman Brothers that was previously featured on the Mary Poppins DVD.
Despite being nearly 40 years old this story filled with Disney gags proves to be entertaining to children, although their patience will be tested. Rarely do you see a movie of this genre run over two hours and it’s obvious why in this film.
-T2