The Witches (1990 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Witches |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Nicolas Roeg |
| Screenplay by | Allan Scott |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Stanley Myers |
| Cinematography | Harvey Harrison |
| Editing by | Tony Lawson |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | 25 May 1990 (United Kingdom) 24 August 1990 (United States) |
| Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
| Money made | $15.3 million |
The Witches is a 1990 fantasy film with some funny parts. It was directed by Nicolas Roeg and produced by Jim Henson. The movie stars Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling, Rowan Atkinson, and Jasen Fisher.
This film is based on the 1983 book of the same name by Roald Dahl. The story is about evil witches who pretend to be normal women. They hate children and try to harm them. A brave boy and his grandmother must find a way to stop their evil plans.
The film was made by Jim Henson Productions. Critics really liked the movie. However, it did not make much money at the box office when it first came out. Over the years, many people have discovered and loved the film, making it a cult classic.
Contents
Plot Summary
Luke Meets Witches
The story begins with an 8-year-old American boy named Luke Eveshim. He is on vacation in Norway with his grandmother, Helga. Helga warns Luke about witches. She says they are evil women who hate children. Witches use different ways to hurt or change kids.
Helga teaches Luke how to spot a real witch. Witches have claws instead of fingernails, so they wear gloves. They are bald and wear wigs, which often give them rashes. Their feet are square with no toes, so they wear sensible shoes. Witches also have a purple tint in their eyes. They have a very strong sense of smell. They can smell children, who they think smell like dog droppings! The dirtier a child is, the less a witch can smell them. Helga tells Luke about her childhood friend, Erica. A witch cursed Erica, trapping her in a painting. Erica slowly aged in the painting until she disappeared years later.
Moving to England
Later, Luke's parents are sadly lost in an accident. Helga becomes Luke's guardian, and they move to England. One day, while Luke is playing in his treehouse, a witch tries to trick him. She offers him a snake and a chocolate bar. Luke stays safe in his treehouse, and the witch eventually leaves.
For Luke's 9th birthday, Helga becomes ill with diabetes. Her doctor suggests they spend the summer by the sea. They check into a seaside hotel. There, Luke meets a friendly boy named Bruno Jenkins, who loves to eat. Luke also gets into trouble with the hotel manager, Mr. Stringer. Luke's pet mice scare Mr. Stringer's maid girlfriend.
The Witches' Convention
A large group of witches is also staying at the hotel. They are pretending to be the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The Grand High Witch, who is the most powerful witch in the world, is there. She is using the name Eva Ernst.
Luke hides in the hotel ballroom and secretly watches the witches' meeting. Eva shows off her newest invention: a magic potion. This potion can turn all the children in the world into mice! The witches plan to put this potion into sweets and candy. Eva will give them money to buy these sweets. Bruno, who was given some of the potion earlier, is brought into the room. He turns into a mouse and runs away.
Luke's Plan
The witches discover Luke and chase him. He runs to Helga in their room, but she is resting after a dizzy spell from her diabetes. The witches catch Luke and take him back to the ballroom. They force him to drink the potion, and he also turns into a mouse. Luke manages to escape. He finds Bruno and reunites with Helga, who has now recovered.
Luke comes up with a plan to defeat the witches. He will sneak into Eva's room to steal a bottle of the potion. Then, he will sneak into the kitchen and pour it into the soup for the witches' special party. Luke and Helga try to show Bruno to his parents. But they do not believe Helga's story and are scared of the mouse.
Defeating the Witches
Mr. Jenkins orders the soup. Helga stops him from eating it. The Jenkins family finally realizes Bruno is a mouse when he speaks up. As the witches enter the dining room, Miss Susan Irvine, Eva's assistant, quits. Eva has treated her badly and banned her from the party.
The potion turns all the witches into mice! The hotel staff and guests help to get rid of them. This unknowingly frees England from its witches. In all the confusion, Helga sees the transformed Eva. She traps Eva under a water jug. Then, Helga points her out to Mr. Stringer. He quickly gets rid of her. Helga then returns Bruno to his surprised parents.
Luke and Helga go home. Eva's trunk arrives, full of money and a list of all the witches in the United States. This allows them to plan how to get rid of all the witches in America. That night, Miss Irvine, who is now a good witch, drives to Luke and Helga's house. She turns Luke back into a human. She also returns his pet mice and glasses. She leaves to visit Bruno, and Luke and Helga wave goodbye.
See also
In Spanish: The Witches para niños
