Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Wow -- caught this in cable day before yesterday and boy, it just is not very good is it? Has not aged well at all. With the exception of 'Beautiful Briney Sea' and the animated soccer match, it's really kind of a drag. Angela Lansbury -- who I think is a terrific actress -- offers nothing really as the lead -- she's neither sexy nor motherly -- just bleh. And David Tomlinson, so great in 'Mary Poppins' is just sort of a cardboard cut out. The 'British Kids' come right out of Central Casting and are mostly annoying. I was watching and thought -- what's the point? Travelling around on a bed and stealing a medal from the King of Naboom-boom -- who cares? 7 years after 'Mary Poppins' and they were still trying to 'do what Walt did.'
Originally Posted By mawnck IIRC, Disney bought the rights to this book in case PL Travers really was able to stop Mary Poppins from being completed, the idea being that they could shift much of the work they'd done to Bedknobs without too much retooling. Didn't know this was "bash mediocre live-action Disney musicals week" or I would've prepped better. "The Happiest Millionaire" - uh yeah.
Originally Posted By leemac It is pretty faithful to Mary Norton's wonderful books (she also wrote The Borrowers). The Magic Bed Knob & Bonfires and Broomsticks are two classic British children's novels. Eglantine Price is a reluctant carer for the children and she learns to tolerate them. I'll always have a fondness for the film - it doesn't quite capture all of the magic of the books but there is enough to like. The original Portobello Road sequence and the finale are exquisitely shot. I just don't think we learnt enough about Price in the movie. I'll always have a
Originally Posted By leemac <<Angela Lansbury -- who I think is a terrific actress -- offers nothing really as the lead -- she's neither sexy nor motherly -- just bleh.>> She isn't supposed to be either - she is supposed to be a gruff insular loner who has the kids forced upon her. I think The Age of Not Believing is a wonderful number. The problem was that a lot of the musical numbers were jettisoned in editing to get it under 120 minutes. Tomlinson's role was supposed to be played by Ron Moody but he dropped out. Moody would have had more gravitas in that role especially as Professor Emelius Browne was a shyster - a con artist of the highest order. David was just too slick for that role.
Originally Posted By leemac Jim - there is a great soundtrack out there that has a lot of the deleted material. Most would argue that it wasn't the Shermans' finest work but I actually think it was their most adult and complex work - they would have advanced the storyline far more than DaGradi and Walsh did with their screenplay.
Originally Posted By Tikiduck Well, when I first saw this film in theaters as a kid, I was pretty blown away. True, it's no Poppins, but there is still a lot to like. The Old Home Guard march was right up there with the whistling number from Bridge On The River Kwai. Lots of wonderful Ellenshaw special effects paintings add dimension. Animation is classic, and many of the old veterans contributed. The final battle scenes with the armor vs the Nazis is epic. Portobello Road seems weak compared to the Step In Time dance number, but it's still fun to watch. Musical direction by Irwin Kostal, who did Mary Poppins, Sound Of Music, and West Side Story. The Sherman Brothers seem to have lost a little inspiration with the songs. Unfortunately, Roddy McDowall is totally wasted. But hey! Who doesn't like the idea of tripping around on a big brass bed?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I never really watched the movie when I was younger, and by the time I saw it I think I was old enough to know better. The final battle with the armor is pretty neat, but everything else just seemed like a tired retread of stuff we've seen before. There are only so many singing nannies in an animated world that can come out of one studio without feeling tired (that limit appears to be 1) >>The problem was that a lot of the musical numbers were jettisoned in editing to get it under 120 minutes.<< I hate to think of what the extended cut of Portabello Road might be. As it stands, it's something like 17 minutes long. It's a true show stopper in every sense of the term.
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I like Bednobs. No it isn't as good as Mary Poppins but I think it has a wonderful score and it has a very Disney feel about it. For me it is very represntative of the Disney Studios at that time
Originally Posted By mawnck >>I hate to think of what the extended cut of Portabello Road might be.<< It's on at least one of the DVD editions, and I remember thinking it was pretty awesome. Disclaimer: I'm a fan of big production numbers.
Originally Posted By TheRedhead The Disney channel showed an uncut version of the movie back in the late 90s. I had always felt meh about the movie, but the uncut version changed my mind. It's clear they were going for something bigger. Roddy Mcdowal had a purpose (EIEIO). Angela Lansbury had at least two extra songs which helped give her more presence in the film. And the Portabello Road number is out of control in the best of ways. The cut version feels hodge-podgey. And everything reminds you so much of Poppins that the film had to be greater than great to be great. And it's not. Yeah, it feels like post-Walt second-guessing Robin-Hood-making Disney Studios. But it has its moments.
Originally Posted By basil fan >>Unfortunately, Roddy McDowall is totally wasted. Favourite actor EVER! He has a bit more personality stuff in the extended version. I love this movie. Phil's Hero Rules <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/disney/hero.html">http://www.whatsitsgalore.com/...ero.html</a>
Originally Posted By Bellella I. Love. Bedknobs. Yeah, it's not quite in the same league as "Mary Poppins" but it comes pretty close. I find it very magical and entertaining and fun. I have the fully-restored edition on DVD and it's one of my favorites. My favorite parts are Isle of Naboombu sequence, Portobello Road, and any scenes with David Tomlinson. Angela Lansbury makes the perfect modern witch. One thing I don't like about the restored version is the all-too-obvious ADR dub-overs. (Damn you, Radio City!!!!!)
Originally Posted By tonyanton Always loved this film...my sister and I wore out the old VHS tape circa 1980 (remember the white clamshell packaging for all early Disney tapes?)... I agree about the odd dubbing on the newer/restored version. I also felt like perhaps it was "cleaned up" too much? The wires were much more evident on DVD than on my old VHS tape...I'm not a tech person, so I don't know if the newer format hides these things less?
Originally Posted By mawnck >>I'm not a tech person, so I don't know if the newer format hides these things less?<< Yep. And they'd be even more obvious on the Blu Ray (if any). FWIW, they also would have been more obvious on the original 35mm film prints, assuming a good projection system. I wonder if the Mary Poppins Blu Ray will try and digitally "help" the special effects? I'd prefer they leave the wires alone, thanks, but there are arguments to be made for both sides.
Originally Posted By tonyanton Thanks for the info...I thought so...ironic that "Bedknobs..." one Oscar was for visual effects!
Originally Posted By Tikiduck "I wonder if the Mary Poppins Blu Ray will try and digitally "help" the special effects? I'd prefer they leave the wires alone, thanks, but there are arguments to be made for both sides." I believe they took care of that in the 40th edition. The wires surely will not be on the Blu-Ray. Speaking of which, has anyone seen it yet?
Originally Posted By mawnck >>ironic that "Bedknobs..." one Oscar was for visual effects!<< You have to put it in the context of the time. OF COURSE you could see the wires. You could see them in every movie that used them if you looked hard enough. Your job as an audience member was to ignore them and enjoy the story.
Originally Posted By Bellella tonyanton- if you ever see "In Search of the Castaways" on DVD, look closely at a certain scene where a group of cannibals are climbing up a flaming rope. Blatant exposure.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: My sisters and I actually like Bedknobs & Broomsticks better than Mary Poppins because it has more of a plot to it. ORWEN: The songs from Mary Poppins are obviously better though. ORDDU: But we'd have to disagree that it doesn't hold up well today. It's a classic that deserves movre credit than some are willing to give. ORWEN: I always thought it would be neat if they used the entire Portabello Road number as a parade around Epcot's World Showcase. What a show stopping moment that would be!!!
