The Witches
Based on the story by Roald Dahl. Luke is warned of the dangers of accepting anything from women with purple eyes. When his parents are killed in a car crash, Luke and his grandmother come to England where they encounter a convention of the RSPCC. This, however, is a cover for a coven of evil witches who plan to rid the land of children by feeding them a potion which transforms them into mice.
Cast & credits
Cast
- Miss Ernst, Grand High Witch Anjelica Huston
- Helga Mai Zetterling
- Mr Jenkins Bill Paterson
- Mrs Jenkins Brenda Blethyn
- Mr Stringer Rowan Atkinson
- Luke Jasen Fisher
- Bruno Jenkins Charlie Potter
- woman in black Anne Lambton
- Miss Irvine Jane Horrocks
- Marlene Sukie Smith
- Dora Rose English
- Elsie Jenny Runacre
- Nicola Annabel Brooks
- Millie Emma Relph
- Beatrice Nora Connolly
- Janice Rosamund Greenwood
- Henrietta Angelique Rockas
- lady 1 Ann Tirard
- lady 2 Leila Hoffman
- head chef Jim Carter
- witch chef Roberta Taylor
- elderly waiter Brian Hawksley
- waitress Debra Gillett
- Luke's mother Darcy Flynn
- Luke's father Vincent Marzello
- doctor Serena Harragin
- Norwegian witch Grethe Nordra
- Erica Elsie Eide
- child Helga Kristin Steinsland
- Erica's mother Merete Armand
- Erica's father Ola Otnes
- policeman Johan Sverre
- policeman Arvid Ones
- policeman Sverre Rossummoen
- puppeteer Steve Whitmore
- puppeteer Anthony Asbury
- puppeteer Brian Henson
- puppeteer David Greenaway
- puppeteer Robert Tygner
- puppeteer Sue Dacre
- puppeteer Donald Austen
Credits
Direction
- Director Nicolas Roeg
- Second Unit Director John Palmer
- 1st Assistant Director Barry Wasserman
- 1st Assistant Director Chris Newman
- 2nd Assistant Director Callum McDougall
- 3rd Assistant Director Mark Layton
- Assistant to Mr [Nicolas] Roeg Roy Hyatt
- Script Supervisor Mary Holdsworth
Rights
Production
- From Jim Henson Productions
- Lorimar Film Entertainment presents Lorimar Film Entertainment
- Distributed by Warner Bros.
- Executive Producer Jim Henson
- Producer Mark Shivas
- Line Producer Dusty Symonds
- Production Manager - Norway Hans Otto Nicolayssen
- Production Co-ordinator Clare St. John
- Production Accountant Brian Bailey
- Assistant Accountant Sarah Dean
- Assistant Accountant Ann Thrift
- Location Manager - Norway Philip Kohler
- Location Manager - England Liz Kerry
- Post-production Co-ordinator Jennie McClean-cooke
- Production Office Secretary Gay Whelan
- Production Runner Richard Whelan
- Production Runner Mark Challenor
- Floor Runner Sholto Roeg
- Filmed at Bray Film Studios
Casting
- Casting Director Celestia Fox
- Additional Casting Alderman & Andreas
Writing
- Screenplay by Allan Scott
- Based on the book by Roald Dahl
Photography
- Director of Photography Harvey Harrison
- 2nd Unit Camera John Palmer
- Director of Photography - Model Unit Paul Wilson
- Camera Operator Gordon Hayman
- Focus Puller Mike Evans
- Clapper Loader Dean Morrish
- Gaffer Steve Foster
- Camera Grip Kenny Atherfold
Stills
- Stills Photographer Stephen Morley
Special Effects
- Animatronics by Jim Henson's Creature Shop
- Animatronics Designer John Stephenson
- Animatronics Co-ordinator William Plant
- Mice Designs Pauline Fowler
- Puppet Mice Jane Gootnick
- Foam Lab Supervisor Mike Osborne
Editing
- Film Editor Tony Lawson
- 1st Assistant Editor Margaret Thompson
Design
- Production Designer Andrew Sanders
- Production Designer - Concepts Voytek
- Supervising Art Director Norman Dorme
- Art Director John King
- Assistant Set Designer - Norway Ingeborg Kvamme
- Set Decorator Robin Tarsnane
- Draughtsman Jonathan Mckinstry
- Draughtsman Cliff Robinson
- Storyboard Artist Mike Ploog
- Property Buyer Don Worts
- Property Master John Mills
- Chargehand Prop Micky Swift
- Standby Prop Alfie Smith
- Construction Manager Geoffrey Kingsley
- Assistant Construction Manager Robert Devine
Costumes
- Costumes Designed by Marit Allen
- Wardrobe Supervisor Richard Pointing
- Wardrobe Mistress Dorothea Smylie
Make-up
- Chief Make-up Artist Christine Beveridge
- Make-up Grand High Witch Steve Norrington
- Assistant Make-up Sally Sutton
- Assistant Make-up Sally Harrison
- Chief Hairdresser Tricia Cameron
- Prosthetic Make-up Nigel Booth
- Mecanical Designer Neal Scanlan
- Mecanical Designer Verner Gresty
- Mecanical Designer Chris Barton
- Mecanical Designer David Barrington Holt
Titles
- Title Design and Optical Effects Image to Image
Film processing
- Optical Effects Optical Film Effects
- Travelling Matte Medding's Magic Camera Company
- Laboratory Metrocolor (London)
- Filmed with Panavision Equipment
- Originated on Eastman Colour Film
- Originated on Eastman Colour Film from Kodak
Music
- Music by Stanley Myers
- Music Arranger Christopher Palmer
Sound
- Music Recorded by Chris Dibble
- Music Recorded and Mixed at CTS Studios (Wembley)
- [Production] Sound Mixer Peter Sutton
- Boom Operator John Salter
- Sound Re-recorded at Twickenham Film Studios
- Re-recording Mixer Gerry Humphreys
- Dubbing Editor Rodney Glenn
- Assistant Dubbing Editor Julian Rodd
- Dialogue Editor Derek Holding
- [Sound] Effects Editor Philip Alton
Consultant
- Special Thanks to Rusty Lemorande
- Special Thanks to Ileen Maisel
Supplier
- Camera and Electrical Equipment Samuelsons
- Sound Equipment Osborne Sound
Miscellaneous
- Also Thanks to Goldcrest Post Production Facilities