Because we are dedicated to honest customer opinions Bedknobs And Broomsticks (DVD), we have also included Amazon's customer reviews for this item (of which 6 are displayed below). Amazon customers have given Bedknobs And Broomsticks an average rating of 4.5/5.
Top Amazon Review
Angela Lansbury plays a good witch who uses her powers against the Nazis in World War II and is aided by three children in the effort. This 1971 movie directed by Disney stalwart Robert Stevenson (Mary Poppins) was never up to the studio's best efforts--the music isn't all that good and the idea just doesn't quite catch on. But Lansbury, David Tomlinson and the late Roddy McDowall are good and there are some clever sequences blending animation and live action, most memorably a soccer game between the kids and some cartoon animals.
Customer Review 1
A Magical Film. When writing this review it's only eight days until Christmas, and at this time of year I always pick out some of my childhood favioutes to watch - its became sort of a Christmas tradition. Along with "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "The Wizard Of Oz", this film (Bedknobs and Broomsticks) will always be one of them.
Based during the Second World War, Miss Eglantine Price (Angela Lansbury) is an (somewhat poor) amateur witch, hoping to play some part in defending England from the Germans. She is some what forced to take responsibility of three evacuated children from London (Carrie, Charlie, and Paul). To begin with, the children are unhappy staying with Miss Price, and try to leave and make their way back to London. In the midst of doing so they discover that she is a witch, and they want something in exchange for keeping her secret. Miss Price therefore bewitches a bed that can take them anywhere. Where her mail order course is canceled they all set out to try and find Professor Amelius Brown, only to discover that he is a fraud who could never get any of the spells to work himself.
What follows is an adventure for them all and includes several musical numbers, a trip to the Island of Naboombo with a host of talking animals, some people being transfigured into rabbits, and a confrontation with a Nazi raiding party. Throw in some great humor, brilliant effects, and exciting acting, and you've got Bedknobs And Broomstricks, a classic masterpiece.
Don't worry if the plot sounds a little strange, or even disjointed, Bedknobs and Broomstricks is a very entertaining and enjoyable film. The sets really are impressive and must have seemed immense at the time. The acting from all is great throughout, especially from the children who were excellent and very convincing in their roles. Even Miss Price's cat delivers and play's a wonderful part. The film is part real time and part cartoon (but with real people along side with the cartoon characters). It works very well considering, and even to this day is still impressive.
This is the kind of film that you will simply have to watch from beginning to end, as you'll be hooked within a matter of minutes.
My favorite scenes would have to be the Portobello Road dance routine, and the absolutely brilliant scene when the Germans are held back by an army of museum pieces.
This was one of my favourite films as a kid, and has to be one of the most watched films of my life, one I still enjoy on each and every viewing. For a film of it's age, it really stands up well.
Generally a good, fun family film that can be enjoyed by both young and old. It has to be one of the best Disney films ever made, and is really worth the watch.
Customer Review 2
Classic Film - Terrible Edition. Another childhood favorite, Bedknobs and Broomsticks is as fascinating now as what it was when I was growing up as a child. By chance I looked on Amazon to see how expensive it was, and was amazed to see it so cheap (in comparison to other Disney classics). So as ever, it was in the basket!
Because of the sheer diversity in the plot and length of the film, I would imagine those that haven't seen this film to be deeply confused by all the talk of Witchcraft and so forth, so I'll try my best to consolidate the main themes...
It's 1940 and three young children have been evacuated to Scotland in search of a home. Grudgingly for a dashing Angela Landsbury, the kids are handed over to her, and so they must put up with the different way of life. Though they soon find out that the strange antics of this woman are because she is training to be a witch! And has been ever since signing up to a mailing list for spells and tricks. However, she fails to receive her last newsletter, and so must find the man who is head of this 'organization'. Let it be known however that this is merely the beginning...
One of the obvious talking points we always talk about with this film are the splendid animation scenes, shot quite flawlessly. In a day and age of tiresome computer graphics, it's fascinating to watch our live characters swim through a whole sea of painted drawings, and trek in a island that seems it could gape forever (thanks to the size of the massive stages used). Theirs also "that" scene were a whole army of ancient battle-dresses get up and fight the Germans... But without people inside them! As a kid, I was laughably scared of this scene because it's so darn real - even once you know how they did it, you can't fault the production and editing.
An interesting apsect of Disney films around this era is the hybrid between 70's culture and the intended WW2 theme. The haircuts of characters typically out-grown for the time.. The wierd and wacky nature of the Hastings/Medevil title sequence.. The charisma of the animals on the island, very similar to the latter Robin Hood (as is the animation). This is certainly a film you can sit down and really analyze - their are more themes going on than you actually think.
Sadly however, the 'product' in question isn't as perfect as the film. 2hrs 15mins later, I witnessed a re-edited, ADR'd (After-dubbed-recording) and poorly mastered film that most likely proves why it's so cheap in comparison to other Disney classics. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for film studio's wanting to revitalise old cans of film and presenting them, but it should be an option. The final product, in my own opinion, is too drawn out in sections where there were no need to tamper scenes. Most poorly of all, there were scenes where the voices had been over-dubbed! And on many occasions, out of sync with the lips. This is not a DVD problem - scan Google and you'll find that many, many people are voicing the same problems as myself.
Even when it was originally released, Disney shortened the film to that of it's premiere showing to make it more suitable for cinemas. I fear in these times that many kids may not have the patience to sit through such a film, which would be sad but it's a genuine reality that (dare I say it...) 'brats' enjoy - Joke-a-minute CGI movies with little human interaction.
But let it be known, the frames have all been squared off nicely which is a joy to see on a large TV, and the general cleaning up is great. I believe their was only one scene that needed computer-colorization, and that was a part of the Portobello Road dance/song sequence (which again, didn't need editing).
You're probably thinking "This is all nice, but is he being too critical?". If you've never watched this film, then do get it - No-one can deny it's a wondrous film. I just can't help but raise the issues above as someone who's watched this film hundreds of times since I was younger, so all I can suggest is if you're a "true" Disney enthusiast, consider one of their more sought after special editions. If you're not a deep analyst like moi, then consider buying this while it's cheap!
Customer Review 3
Bad Influence. What looked like fun actually ends up making witch craft look ok for kids. It quite simply is not.
Customer Review 4
A Collector DVD for Sure. This is one of those dvds you can get out any time of year over and over again and it still appeals. Who would have thought combining a witch, a doctor and WWII would create such wonder.
The characters created by Angela Lansbury (Miss Price the good witch) and David Thomlinson (Dr Amelius Brown)are wonderful and the combination of settings, singing, dancing and animation are very well balanced. Our whole family love this film.
Customer Review 5
Lovely, one of their finest live action films!. Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks is probably one of the greatest films to ever come out of the studio. It is often compared to Mary Poppins and criticized for their similarities, but I however feel that Bedknobs and Broomsticks is an improvement over Mary Poppins, even when Mary Poppins had little to improve. The main reason for Bedknobs and Broomsticks' criticism is due to having been made in the period after Walt Disney's death, in which all of their films were criticized, even when they were superior to many Walt Disney era films such as the weak 101 Dalmatians (1961), The Sword in the Stone (1963) or The Jungle Book (1967). Bedknobs and Broomsticks is yet another Disney '70s jewel in the lights of The Rescuers (1977) or Pete's Dragon (1977).
World War II is haunting England and children are being evacuated from the city of London into the safer countryside. All children have found a nice home with a stranger family, except for the last three, Carey, Charles and Paul Rawlings who are then sent with Miss Eglantine Price into her large home. The children aren't happy about being with Miss Price at first, they wish to go back to London, even though they have practically nowhere to go there. This all changes when they discover Miss Price's secret, she is in fact a witch, an apprentice witch studying through correspondence and taught by Professor Emilius Browne, who is in fact nothing but a fake who takes his spells out of an old book. However, Mr. Browne is a nice person and he is amazed to find that his senseless words work for Miss Price and they soon start working together. With the aid of Mr. Browne's Traveling Spell, Miss Prince, Mr. Browne and the three children are able to travel around England by means of a bed and its magic bed-knob to search for only one thing, the missing spell of Substitutiary Locomotion, a spell fit for bringing the help needed to end the terrible war.
As corny and out of place as the plot may seem, Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a rather deep and serious film. Comparing it to Mary Poppins is silly, for Mary Poppins was a light-hearted comedy with no real plot, where Bedknobs and Broomsticks features a fantastic plot and clever dialog. Another similarity may include two new live-action/animation scenes, "The Beautiful Briny", an underwater animated musical festival and a wild soccer match with King Leonidas. The acting is fabulous, Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson play Miss Eglantine Price and Emilius Browne. Special effects in this film are top-notch and help to fully capture some scenes, the flying bed parts are some of my favorites. The music and songs are gorgeous! The Sherman brothers once again made a memorable and excellent soundtrack, songs include "The Old Home Guard", the Academy Award® Nominated "The Age of Not Believing", "Portobello Road", "The Beautiful Briny", "Substitutiary Locomotion" and the newly added "With a Flair" and "Nobody's Problem's for Me". Indeed, a lot of new scenes and previously cut segments were re-added to the movie, and the entire film has been remastered for better picture and audio performance.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a wonderful film and I'll recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Mary Poppins or Pete's Dragon or to anyone who wants a new and magical way to travel back in history to the era of War World II. This one is a classic!! 10/10.
