Pufnstuf (1970)

H.R. Pufnstuf was the first of a long string of Saturday morning hits from Sid and Marty Krofft, the legendary team who also brought us The Bugaloos, Lidsville, Land of the Lost and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.

In this story of “a boy and his magic golden flute,” the Kroffts transported young viewers to Living Island, a psychedelic realm of dragons, witches and talking trees.

Reprising their roles from the TV series, Oliver! star Jack Wild played young Jimmy, and veteran musical actress Billie Hayes was cast as the outrageously funny Witchiepoo. For the feature version of the tale – titled Pufnstuf – Martha Raye did a wonderfully wicked turn as Boss Witch, and Mama Cass of the Mama’s and The Papa’s made her screen debut as Witch Hazel.

Jimmy is a British lad who is also the owner of a magical living flute named Freddie. After a bad day at school, Jimmy climbs aboard an enchanted boat and finds himself at the centre of a fiendish plot devised by Witchiepoo to steal Freddie the Flute. The witch’s plan goes awry when Jimmy jumps overboard, washing up on the shores of Living Island.

Town mayor H.R. Pufnstuf (a tall orange and green dragon with an easygoing Andy Griffith-like disposition) rescues the lad and protects him and his flute from Witchiepoo’s clutches.

Witchiepoo desperately wants Freddie the Flute to win the “Witch of the Year” crown at this year’s convention. Boss Witch and Witch Hazel lend her a wicked hand, and soon the baddies possess the prized instrument.

With Pufnstuf by his side, Jimmy and his new friends storm the witch’s castle to rescue Freddie and find a way back home.

Surprisingly, the show’s popular opening theme was shelved for the feature, but in its place came many memorable tunes from Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, who also penned, among other things, the Laverne and Shirley theme.

Included were Pufnstuf, Leaving Living Island and Different.

Like its Saturday morning counterpart, Pufnstuf was a colourful excursion into the world of fantasy, bigger and broader than the TV series, without losing any of the charm.

Martha Raye and Mama Cass both added a cackly touch of witchy zing, but the movie belonged to Billie Hayes and Jack Wild as the winsome witch and plucky lad, respectively.

Together, their chemistry brought the far-out Krofft vision to life in a way that was as magical as Living Island itself.

Marty Krofft died in Los Angeles on 25 November 2023 of kidney failure. He was 86.

Jimmy
Jack Wild
Witchiepoo
Billie Hayes
H.R. Pufnstuf
Al Melvin (voice)
Roberto Gamonet (costume)
Boss Witch
Martha Raye
Witch Hazel
‘Mama’ Cass Elliot
Shirley Pufnstuf
Sharon Baird
Cling
Joy Campbell
Orson Vulture
Don Messick (voice)
Joy Campbell (costume)
Clang
Angelo Rossitto
Seymore Spider
Walker Edmiston (voice)
Angelo Rossitto (costume)
Dr Blinky/Ludicrous Lion
Walker Edmiston (voice)
Johnny Silver (costume)
Googy Gopher
Don Messick (voice)
Billy Barty (costume)
Orville Pelican
Al Melvin (voice)
Billy Barty (costume)
Alarm Clock
Andy Ratoucheff
Polka-Dotted Horse
Al Melvin (voice)
Felix Silla (costume)
Miss Flick
Jane Dulo
Witch Way
Jan Davis
Freddy the Flute 
Don Messick (voice)
Joan Gerber (voice)
Henrich Rat/Stupid Bat
Al Melvin (voice)

Director
Hollingsworth Morse

Video