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Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Widescreen) | 
| Director: Robert Stevenson
Actors: Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, Roddy Mcdowall, Sam Jaffe, John Ericson
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Category: DVD
List Price: CDN$ 24.99
Buy New: CDN$ 14.66
You Save: CDN$ 10.33 (41%)
New (14) Used (2) from CDN$ 11.06
Avg. Customer Rating:  48 reviews
Sales Rank: 1244
Format: Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
DVD Layers: 2
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Letterbox
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: D19608D
ISBN: 0788821482
UPC: 717951008596
EAN: 9780788821486
ASIN: B00004R9A4
Theatrical Release Date: December 13, 1971
Release Date: March 2, 2004
Availability: Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW items direct from the USA. Please allow 8 to 12 business days for delivery. Customs charges apply.
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| Editorial Reviews:
From Amazon.com
When a mail-order apprentice witch (Angela Lansbury) is saddled with three sibling refugees from London during World War II, the outlook is grim. But the kids soon discover her secret and sign on for adventure in the name of England. With the aid of a magical bed, they track down her fraudulent headmaster (David Tomlinson) to find the spell that will aid the Allies. Fascinated that she has actually achieved results with his lessons, he joins forces. The quintet does battle with corrupt booksellers, animated-lion royalty, and, eventually, invading Germans. Songs include Lansbury's Oscar-nominated "The Age of Not Believing." This film is often compared to director Robert Stevenson's earlier effort, Mary Poppins, and for good reason. In addition to Tomlinson, the movies share a fondness for magic at the hands of a good woman, light romance with an understanding male, and wide-eyed children. Stevenson also graces both films with interaction between humans and animated animals. Disney is wise to play up that aspect on its box this time around as both the underwater ball and the subsequent island soccer match are the most visually interesting and appealing parts of the film. Adults may find the 1971-vintage mixing of actors and animation a bit creaky, but kids used to a variety of animation quality will find the action a hoot. Ages 4 and up. The movie has been recut several times but was restored to the original length of 139 minutes for its 30th anniversary in 2001. --Kimberly Heinrichs
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| Customer Reviews: Read 43 more reviews...
Poppins-lite July 11, 2004
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Made during the Disney wilderness years following Walt's death, Bedknobs is a re-tread of the hugely successful Mary Poppins. However, if you're going to re-tread a film, it might as well be a classic! Check off the ingredients: - initially cold matronly female lead who the children and audience quickly warms to, capable and charming child leads, a perky male side-kick, an animated/live action interlude that has nothing to do with the plot, a Sherman brothers score, an episodic structure, a general magical story-book quality to the film etc.
Angela Lansbury gives her most likable screen characterisation (apart from perhaps Jessica Fletcher!) and shows to those not familiar with her Broadway career that she can sing and dance. David Tomlinson brushes off the stuffy ghost of Poppins' George Banks and plays a buffoon with great relish. The children are all well cast and shine in slightly cliched and under-written roles. Special mention must go to Roddy McDowell for a lovely cameo as a scheming cleric and to British-favourite Bruce Forsyth as a flick-knife toting 'spiv'.
The animated sequence involving the 'Beautiful Briney' is wonderful and, once the characters reach dry land, the soccer game with the animals is as 'Looney Tunes' as Disney would probably dare be! The rest of the film is slightly slow in places but has some excellent set-pieces, in particular the Portabello Road musical interlude, the clothing being 'magic-ed' to life and the final 'Armour vs. Nazis' showdown. The special effects are very good for the age, especially the animated object scenes. The score, by the Shermans, isn't a patch on their Mary Poppins but includes some real gems including the afore-mentioned 'Beautiful Briney' and 'Portabello Road' as well as the catchy 'Substituciary Locomotion'.
This edition includes around fifteen minutes of previously cut scenes and lines of dialogue that have been re-inserted into the main body of the film. Unfortunatly, the audio from these clips has been lost, and so the lines had to be re-recorded with varying degrees of success. Lansbury and McDowell have supplied their own voices but Tomlinson's, the children's and Tessy O'Shea's have been 'impersonated' quite poorly, meaning that those with relatively keen ears can tell when a newly inserted scene is playing. The audio for the songs survived, meaning that 'Eglantine' and 'Portabello Road' have been extended, although some of the film quality in the latter also draws attention to the cut scenes. These quibbles do not, however, spoil the film and the re-inserted scenes at least clarify McDowell's character's intensions towards Miss Price. Prior to this edition, we were not aware that he was wanting to marry her for her 'nice, sturdy house' - which is why he is jumping up and down on her porch when she answers the door to him!
Overall, this is a film that plays well to all ages (I loved it as a child and now sit and watch it often with my son). It's unfortunate that it will forever live in Mary Poppins' substantial shadow (along with the weaker Pete's Dragon), but at least it lives as one of the better Disney films made in those wilderness years prior to The Little Mermaid'.
Thouroughly recommended.
 A Magical Disney Adventure July 10, 2004
While the special effects on this movie are rather outdated (they were really quite good for the era) the story line still delivers an enjoyable experience, and is hightened by the fabulous acting of Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson and superb song and dance scenes.
While the youngest viewers will delight in the scenes where live action and animation mix, and where everyday objects take on lives of their own, I recommend this movie primarily for older kids and adults. The movie is to some extent a little slow paced compared to many modern childrens movies, which may cause the smaller children to grow a little restless, and much of the plot will be lost on the younger audience. I first saw this movie when I was four or five years old, and enjoyed it thuroughly, but it wasn't until years later that I was able to understand what was going on with the Nazis and the war and was able to truly appreciate it.
Now as an adult I'm able to fully enjoy every aspect of Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and think it's great fun!
 SLOW May 12, 2004
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
I bought this for my 3-year old since she just loves Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang and it just doesn't have any comparison. Amazon made the suggestion and I fell for it. Bad move! Very slow moving movie!!!
Magic May 12, 2004
This is a very good movie for every one. The story is very nice and the characters are fun for every body. I really can't think of any complaints. A rated acting and scenery.
Angela Lansbury and the flying brass bed. April 30, 2004
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I enjoy Walt Disney films and shows on television and had grown to like the tv show The Wonderful World of Disney. I had not been to Disneyland yet, but had seen pictures and images on television. Bedknobs and Broomsticks was probably the first Walt Disney motion picture I saw at a drive-in. I had never seen a magical film like this. To be honest, I wasn't too taken by Lansbury (I like her now!). I was probably thinking of a different actress on another bewitching show. But I enjoyed the special effects and the flying brass bed. The knights with invisible people inside stuck in my mind. They had an exhibit at the drive-in snack bar where the knights suit of armor was displayed. I was too young to figure it all out about the special effects, but what was nice is that the Walt Disney Company could make magical films and give me nice dreams. I have learned to respect all that is Disney. Now I am 41 and have an almost grown daughter. I just saw the restored version of Bedknobs and Broomsticks. I found the film to still be a delight. Like Angela Lansbury! Still like Walt Disney films. Still like the fantasy of it all. And have been to Disneyland many times. Wouldn't we all like to have a bedknob that could do that. That poor scruffy black cat. I did have a nice black cat for 13 years.
The 30th Anniversary edition is the restored version with nearly 23 minutes of footage found and added into the film. This time the film is more fun, enjoyable and easier to understand. At the end of the film is a featurette with Angela Lansbury and the Sherman Brothers.
Trvia Note: Did you know the Walt Disney Company and Angela Lansbury have the same birthdate? Shorter prints run 98 min. and 117 min. This newly restored version runs 2 hours, 19 minutes.
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