The Worst Witch is a British television series that aired in 1986. The show is based on a series of children's books written by Jill Murphy. The Worst Witch follows the story of Mildred Hubble, a young witch who attends Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. The cast of The Worst Witch is made up of a talented group of actors and actresses. Georgina Sherrington plays the lead role of Mildred Hubble. Sherrington captures the clumsiness and charm of Mildred perfectly, bringing the character to life on screen.
With Mildred’s increasing misfortune and her rivalry with bully Ethel (Kipling), it all leaves the door open for Agatha to execute her devilish plan.
It features a few well-known faces, including what is basically a glorified cameo from Tim Curry, but it was also one of the early movies of Fairuza Balk, probably best known for movies such as Return to Oz , The Craft and American History X. I m not one that often that talks about the books film comparison, mainly because I don t often read books, but The Worst Witch is certainly a much better book than movie, and this is probably because they try to cram the entire story into just 69 minutes.
Sherrington captures the clumsiness and charm of Mildred perfectly, bringing the character to life on screen. Miss Cackle, the headmistress of the academy, is played by Una Stubbs. Stubbs portrays Miss Cackle with a mixture of sternness and warmth, making her a beloved character among fans of the show.
The Worst Witch
So you know when a film from your childhood just randomly comes into your head? Well, that’s what happened to me on Wednesday evening as “The Worst Witch” (1986 version) came into my thoughts. I have no idea why or how. I haven’t seen it since my age hit double digits (I’m now 37, for reference), so not entirely sure why it’s like this, but there you go.
I have memories of “The Worst Witch” being a decent enough watch, without being spectacular. It features a few well-known faces, including what is basically a glorified cameo from Tim Curry, but it was also one of the early movies of Fairuza Balk, probably best known for movies such as “Return to Oz”, “The Craft” and “American History X”.
Whether it is still hold up or not is very much a different matter, as, in the seven years since I started this site, I’ve rewatched many films from my childhood for the purposes of reviewing, and so many have not aged well.
Plot
Mildred (Balk) is a well-meaning, but an ultimately calamitous student as the witching school of Miss Cackle (Rae), such as creating an invisibility potion when they were supposed to make one supposed to make them laugh. She is regularly reminded by Mrs Hardbottom (Rigg) that she is a disaster and is unlikely to graduate.
The following morning, Miss Cackle announces that the school is expecting a visit from the Grand Wizard (Curry), but little does she realise that her sister Agatha (also Rae) is outside plotting the retake over of the school.
With Mildred’s increasing misfortune and her rivalry with bully Ethel (Kipling), it all leaves the door open for Agatha to execute her devilish plan.
So does it hold up after all of these years?
It’s always tricky reviewing a movie that is 35 years old because you automatically want to compare to the standards of movies made these days. but even then, there are some really odd choices in this movie.
The acting throughout is pretty poor, especially from Charlotte Rae, who, despite given two roles, can’t give a good performance in either, but this probably isn’t helped by a screenplay that could best be described as lacklustre. For example, early on Miss Cackle is having a conversation on the phone, Mildred sitting nearby, and she ends the call by saying “Goodbye Donna”…..and then immediately says “That was Donna” to Mildred. Yeah, no shit.
There is also a remarkably odd sequence in which they play something called “terror-tag”, in which you get points if you make the other team scream in terror. It simply doesn’t work because it’s basically girls screaming at stuff that just isn’t scary, such as someone pulling a silly face.
I’m not one that often that talks about the books/film comparison, mainly because I don’t often read books, but “The Worst Witch” is certainly a much better book than movie, and this is probably because they try to cram the entire story into just 69 minutes. It’s almost like the reverse of the “The Hobbit” trilogy, in which they stretched one book into three movies. “The Worst Witch” tries to cram far, far too much into a very short runtime.
I’m going to forgive the soundtrack and special effect oddities due to the film being made in the mid-80s and clearly not having the budget of a full-on movie. I didn’t actually realise until watching for the review that this was a made-for-TV film, shown in my native UK first. Now, in my defence, it came out in November 1986, and I had only just turned two at the time.
Summary
“The Worst Witch” has not aged well, but even then, for the time the graphics would have been acceptable, but the same can’t be said for the acting or silly plot points.
This is one of the examples where the book is most certainly better than the movie, and this isn’t helped by poor acting and trying to cram too many things into a short runtime.
The entire movie is on Youtube, if you decide to watch it.
Kate Duchêne portrays Miss Hardbroom, a strict and no-nonsense teacher at the academy. Duchêne's performance is both captivating and intimidating, making Miss Hardbroom a memorable character in the series. The ensemble cast also includes talented actors such as Clare Coulter as Miss Bat, Charlotte Rae as Miss Granite, and Raquel Cassidy as Miss Drill. Each actor brings their own unique energy to their respective characters, adding depth and complexity to the show. The cast of The Worst Witch 1986 does an excellent job of bringing the beloved characters from the book series to life. Their performances are engaging and entertaining, making the series a hit among viewers of all ages. Overall, The Worst Witch 1986 cast is a talented group of actors and actresses who bring the magical world of Miss Cackle's Academy to life. Their performances are memorable and enchanting, capturing the hearts of viewers around the world..
Reviews for "Exploring the Diversity in the Cast of 'The Worst Witch' 1986"
1. Emily - 1 star
I found "The Worst Witch" 1986 cast to be extremely disappointing. The acting was subpar, and the overall production quality left much to be desired. The characters lacked depth and felt like cardboard cutouts, and the dialogue was cheesy and predictable. The special effects were laughable, even for the time period it was made in. I had high hopes for this film but ultimately was left feeling bored and unimpressed. I cannot recommend it to others.
2. Mark - 2 stars
I watched "The Worst Witch" 1986 cast with high expectations, as I've heard about its cult following. However, I was let down by the film. While the concept of a school for witches is intriguing, the execution fell flat. The performances lacked energy, and the pacing was slow. The storyline felt disjointed and rushed, leaving me confused at times. The cheesy special effects were a distraction and made it difficult to take the film seriously. Overall, I was disappointed by the film and would not watch it again.
3. Sarah - 1 star
I had a difficult time watching "The Worst Witch" 1986 cast. The acting was largely over-the-top, with exaggerated performances that felt more like caricatures than real characters. The plot was weak, and the story had little depth or substance. It felt like a made-for-TV movie with low production values. The costumes were tacky, and the visuals were dated. I would not recommend this film to anyone looking for a well-made fantasy movie. It simply missed the mark for me.
4. David - 2 stars
"The Worst Witch" 1986 cast left me unimpressed. The acting was mediocre, and the film lacked the charm and magic that I was hoping for. The story felt predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional. The production quality was underwhelming, with lackluster special effects and set design. While it may have been a decent film for its time, it does not hold up well in comparison to more recent fantasy films. I was hoping for a nostalgic experience but was left feeling disappointed.
5. Hannah - 1 star
I regret watching "The Worst Witch" 1986 cast. The film felt cheap and poorly made overall. The acting was cringe-worthy, with wooden performances that failed to engage me. The dialogue was cheesy and cliché, and the story lacked substance. The special effects were laughable and looked extremely dated. I had high hopes for this film but was let down by the poor execution and lack of quality. I would not recommend it to others unless they have a strong nostalgia factor for it.