Produced by Jim Henson (The Muppets), whose famed Creature Shop provided the amazing special effects, The Witches is a fanciful and exciting story about orphaned nine-year-old Luke (Jasen Fisher) and his grandmother (Mai Zetterling) who turn the tables on a witch’s plot to turn all the children of Britain into mice.
Although the movie doesn’t quite live up to Roald Dahl’s novel, Academy Award-winner Angelica Huston is splendidly horrid as the Grand High Witch and the prologue is truly upsetting.
Co-starring comedy legend Rowan Atkinson (of Mr Bean and Black Adder fame), and Jason Fisher (Parenthood). The US version has a tacked-on happy ending.
This was the final project for Jim Henson before his untimely death.
Miss Ernst/Grand High Witch
Anjelica Huston Helga
Mai Zetterling Luke
Jasen Fisher Mr Stringer
Rowan Atkinson Mr Jenkins
Bill Paterson Mrs Jenkins
Brenda Blethyn Bruno Jenkins
Charlie Potter Miss Irvine
Jane Horrocks Marlene
Sukie Smith Dora
Rose English Elsie
Jenny Runacre Nicola
Annabel Brooks Millie
Emma Relph Beatrice
Nora Connolly Woman in Black
Anne Lambton Janice
Rosamund Greenwood Henrietta
Angelique Rockas Luke’s Mother
Darcy Flynn Luke’s Father
Vincent Marzello Doctor
Serena Harragin Norwegian Witch
Grete Nordrå Erica
Elsie Eide
Director
Nicolas Roeg
Video
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