(1986)
Directed by Robert W. Young
Written by Mary Pleshette Willis, from a novel by Jill Murphy
Starring Fairuza Balk, Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rae, Tim Curry, Sabrina Franklyn
IMDB Entry
Despite what some people might think, J.K. Rowling was not the first person to write about life in a boarding school for wizards. A far earlier example is The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy* from 1974, which was made into a TV movie in 1986.
Mildred Hubble (Fairuza Balk) attends Miss Crackle's Academy for Witches and is hopeless in her attempt to perform magic: he spells go wrong, and one teacher, Miss Constance Hardbroom (Diana Rigg) constantly belittles her. Miss Amelia Cackle (Charlotte Rae) tries to be patient with her, and sees something of a talent, but Mildred's problems, coupled with teasing and practical jokes from the other girls, make life miserable for her. When Grand Wizard Hellibore (Tim Curry) attends for Halloween, Mildred is sabotaged when doing precisions brook flying and embarasses the whole school. Meanwhile, Miss Crackle's twin sister Agatha (also Charlotte Rae) plots to take over the school and turn everyone into toads.
Now, the cast certainly sounds first rate. I became a fan of Fairuza Balk for her performance in the criminally underrated Return to Oz. I've been a fan of Diana Rigg even longer, since The Avengers. Charlotte Rae was successful in The Facts of Life.** And Tim Curry is Tim Curry.
The problem is, it never works.
The special effects are cheap and not charming. There's a lot of flying on broomsticks, but it's painfully obvious that they're in front of a green screen. More importantly, the cast overacts and seems to think that a movie for children must be performed in the broadest way possible. Tim Curry appears in one scene (with a musical number) and then once more at the end to justify everything. Charlotte Rae as her evil twin overacts everything. Everything is resolved far too easily.
Book author Jill Murphy started it at age 15 and finished when she was 18, which does help account for the point of view. It was based upon her experiences in school and was published when she was 24. It has been the basis for a series of books and various TV and stage adaptations. Not J.K. Rowling level, but very solid.
There are still some compensations. Fairuza Balk manages to perform well, keeping things centered while the others chew the scenery. I liked the fact that she was unable to get a black cat, so has a gray and white one she names "Tabby."
The title song, "Growing Up Isn't Easy," was written by Charles Strouse and Don Black. Strouse was a major Broadway composer, writing Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, Annie, and other hits. The theme was sung by Bonnie Langford, a star in the West End and soon to be one of Doctor Who's companions. I think I spotted her in one of the scenes with a couple of lines, but can't find any confirmation of that.
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*It may be the first to include magic as part of it.
**I saw her live on stage in Leading Ladies with John Astin at Ford's Theater (yes, that Ford's Theater).
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