Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

John Hough

Writers:

Robert M. Young (screenplay)
Alexander Key (book)

Release Date:

21 March 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Family | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Escape To The Unknown!

Plot:

Two mysterious orphan children have extraordinary powers and are chased by a scheming millionaire. But where do these kids really call home?

Plot Keywords:

Millionaire | Escape | Orphan | Widower | Helicopter Accident

Cast

Eddie Albert	...	Jason O'Day
Ray Milland	...	Aristotle Bolt
Donald Pleasence	...	Lucas Deranian
Kim Richards	...	Tia Malone
Ike Eisenmann	...	Tony Malone
Walter Barnes	...	Sheriff Purdy
Reta Shaw	...	Mrs. Grindley
Denver Pyle	...	Uncle Bene
Alfred Ryder	...	Astrologer
Lawrence Montaigne	...	Ubermann
Terry Wilson	...	Biff Jenkins
George Chandler	...	Grocer
Dermott Downs	...	Truck
Shepherd Sanders	...	Guru
Don Brodie	...	Gasoline Attendant

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Germany:o.Al. | Canada:G (video rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Big Sur, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

At one point during the fight scene between Tony and Truck, the actor who plays Truck punched the bat so hard, it hit 'Ike Eisenmann (II)'. In some scenes you can see a greenish bruise under his left eye.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the start of the dancing puppets scene, Tia tells Tony to try using his powers without using his harmonica and Tony responds that he can't. However at the start of the movie, he used his powers to manipulate a baseball mitt and a baseball bat without his harmonica.

Quotes:

Jason O'Day: I wonder... I wonder how I'd handle you kids if you were mine. Well, maybe that's why I never married, eh?
Tia Malone: But Mr. O'Day. You were married.
Jason O'Day: What?
Tia Malone: Long, long time ago. And she was so pretty. And you had a little house.
Tony Malone: Yeah, I can see it. It was white, with yellow shutters. And there was a big elm branch over the whole roof.
Tia Malone: Tony knows about people. He can see places they've been.
Jason O'Day: [Angry] What else?
Tia Malone: Well, your wife died only a few months after you were married. And you were so sad. You took an oath that you'd never give your love to another woman, or to anyone. And you never have.... I'm sorry, Mr. O'Day.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Popcorn (1991)

Away to witch mountain we go!

The 1970's was not a good time for the Disney Studios. Much of the stuff that came from Disney at this time were corny and fluff. This movie however is a rare exception, esp. for it's time.

This film is about a bother and sister, Tony & Tia (Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards)who have powers(ESP, Levitation and the like)but they don't know how or where these powers come from. Tia is being bothered by memories of an accident that she can't piece together. However, as the film progresses-the pieces come together like a puzzle and they figure out the answer to the question: "Where are we from?"

I must say that the chemistry between Eisenmann & Richards worked so well, people actually believe that they are brother & sister. It's really remarkable how well they worked together-no wonder it looked so real. This is remarkable acting talent on the part of these two and no one could have done it better. This is why I think these two actors are underrated.

I'm not going to go into detail of the rest of the film. Read the other reviews for that. One thing I need to mention is that the special effects were great for it's time. Maybe They were a little Cheesy, but the essence of the story is not the powers these kids have, but they are searching for their home and looking for answers about where they come from. To me, this is the real story-not the special effects.

I just got my DVD copies of both films This and "Return From witch mountain" They done a good job remastering the soundtrack in THX, 5.1 Dolby surround sound. It sounds as good as it does in the theater if you have a home theater system.