![\"Return](\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Return-from-Witch-Mountain-293x400.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
DVD Cover Copyright Disney<\/em><\/p>\n A sequel to Disney\u2019s 1975 film Escape to Witch Mountain<\/em>, Return from Witch Mountain <\/em>was theatrically released on March 10, 1978. The live action flick is 94 minutes in length.<\/p>\n Plot Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n Pasadena, California; the Rose Bowl. No, Michigan State is not playing Stanford in a New Year\u2019s Day college football extravaganza. Rather, Uncle Bene (Denver Pyle) is dropping off Tia (Kim Richards) and Tony (Ike Eisenmann), who are slightly yet noticeably older than they were in Escape to Witch Mountain<\/em>, for a vacation among earthlings in Los Angeles. Uncle Bene has to return to Witch Mountain, but he has secured a cab and a hotel room for his niece and nephew.<\/p>\n Sans adult supervision, things deteriorate for the siblings before they even exit the taxi. Tony has a vision that a man is going to fall off a building, and, when the driver (Wally Brooks) stops for gas, Tony runs down the street and saves the descending man, Sickle (Anthony James), from certain death through psychokinesis. Tony is a hero, but not all is well. You see, Sickle fell while working under the influence of two villains, Dr. Victor Gannon (Christopher Lee) and Sickle\u2019s aunt Letha Wedge (Bette Davis), who respectively crave fame and money, and Gannon saw Sickle hovering. Deeming Tony the proverbial gold at the end of the rainbow, Gannon and Wedge kidnap the \u201cboy\u201d and bring him to the former\u2019s laboratory for experimentation.<\/p>\n Concerned, Tia vacates the taxi but cannot locate her brother. She does, however, find a gang of four covertly kindhearted boys, Dazzler (Christian Juttner), Muscles (Brad Savage), Crusher (Poindexter), and Rocky (Jeffrey Jacquet), called the \u201cEarthquakes,\u201d who are determined to help her find Tony. Still, Los Angeles is a big place. Can they possibly succeed?<\/p>\n Reviews<\/strong><\/p>\n Critic Bill Kaufman contributed an enthusiastic review of Return from Witch Mountain <\/em>in Newsday<\/em>. Kaufman afforded the flick three out of four stars, saying it mixed \u201cjust the right quantity of chase sequences, just the proper amount of spookiness and just the precise number of laughs.\u201d Kaufman also praised the actors for solid performances. (1)<\/p>\n Janet Maslin of the New York Times <\/em>was not as enamored as Kaufman with the film, but she tried to be empathetic, saying, \u201cIf I were 10 again, I don’t think I’d mind the fact that the space vehicle featured in the opening of \u201cReturn From Witch Mountain\u201d looks like a flying pith helmet, or that the subsequent special effects are equally tinny. On the other hand, I think I’d very much enjoy watching telekinetically gifted kids from another planet applying their special powers to such earth-bound situations as car chases (when another vehicle gets in the way, they lift it) and fight scenes (they vanquish enemies with the flip of a flying garbage can). On balance, I think I’d be even more tickled by this Disney movie’s abundance of mischief than tired by its emphasis on good, clean, freckle-faced fun.\u201d (2)<\/p>\n Maslin was lukewarm on the performances of Eisenmann and Richards, saying, \u201cThe two young principals are serviceable, but not nearly as lively as some of their co-stars \u2014 Christian Juttner, as the tallest Earthquake, steals virtually every scene he doesn’t share with Miss Davis or Mr. Lee.\u201d (3)<\/p>\n I would agree with Maslin\u2019s assessment. I was not impressed with Eisenmann or Richards in either Escape to Witch Mountain <\/em>or Return from Witch Mountain<\/em>\u2014their performances are often monotonous and awkward\u2014but Juttner and the other actors portraying Earthquakes are hilarious.<\/p>\n Deeds<\/strong><\/p>\n As was the case in Escape to Witch Mountain<\/em>, Tony endures the wrath of the old saying \u201cno good deed goes unpunished\u201d by unknowingly saving the life of a villain.<\/p>\n Dark horse<\/strong><\/p>\n My favorite character in Return from Witch Mountain <\/em>is Mr. \u201cYo-Yo\u201d Yokomoto (Jack Soo), who, though a minor player, develops an emotional tie with the children as a worker for the Board of Education. He shows them that being bad is, well, not good. Indeed, they should go to school and take advantage of their potential.<\/p>\n Antagonists<\/strong><\/p>\n Gannon, Wedge, and Sickle are superior to the villains in Escape to Witch Mountain<\/em>, Lucas Deranian (Donald Pleasence) and Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland), but only because they play more visible roles. They feel like caricatures, and they will not augment your anger level.<\/p>\n Question<\/strong><\/p>\n Did Uncle Bene empower an adult to supervise Tony and Tia once they arrived at the hotel? The siblings never do reach the hotel, and no concern whatsoever is voiced on this subject for the duration of the movie.<\/p>\n Setting<\/strong><\/p>\n Whereas Escape to Witch Mountain <\/em>was set in secluded areas, such as the California coast and mountains, Return from Witch Mountain <\/em>transpires in Los Angeles. I think the former setting is superior as it produces a spookier vibe, but the latter setting is not a major detriment. The first film as a whole is shrouded in more mystery because we do not fully understand the backstories of Tony and Tia. Provided that you have seen Escape to Witch Mountain<\/em>, Return from Witch Mountain <\/em>is more straightforward, though still suspenseful.<\/p>\n Music<\/strong><\/p>\n No feature songs are included in Return from Witch Mountain<\/em>, but background music complements the story. A spooky tune played over a dark backdrop during the opening credits serves as an excellent beginning to the movie.<\/p>\n Humor<\/strong><\/p>\n Return from Witch Mountain <\/em>is much funnier than Escape to Witch Mountain<\/em>. Whereas the humor in the original flick was sporadic and mainly tied to the levitation powers of Tony and Tia, Return from Witch Mountain <\/em>supplements these levitations with numerous awkward lines and corny jokes. Said silliness commences with the first words of the film, uttered by Tia at the Rose Bowl, and continues throughout.<\/p>\n The levitating objects in Return from Witch Mountain<\/em> include an unidentified flying object, Tony, Sickle, garbage cans, wine barrels, bars of gold, a school bus, a guard stand, and a security guard.<\/p>\n My favorite lines in the movie come from Letha and the Earthquakes. The former issues a not-so-compassionate plea to Dr. Gannon for her nephew\u2019s safety early in the film, and two of the Earthquakes offer priceless guesses as to respective locations pictured in Tia\u2019s thoughts. The first of these guesses is issued by Dazzler after Tia mentions a stagecoach, dummies, gold, and clothing; the second guess comes from Muscles when Tia mentions a big round shape.<\/p>\n The taxi driver seems oblivious despite his impressive safety record. Sometimes people get lucky.<\/p>\n The old west featured its share of rowdiness, and related museum exhibits are apparently no exception when Tony is around. Touchdown 49ers!<\/p>\n Relationship to Other Disney Films<\/strong><\/p>\n Disney had released several live action sequels prior to Return from Witch Mountain<\/em>: Son of Flubber <\/em>(1963) followed The Absent-Minded Professor <\/em>(1961); Herbie Rides Again <\/em>(1974) and Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo <\/em>(1977) were sequels to The Love Bug <\/em>(1968); The Shaggy D.A. <\/em>(1976) was a sequel to The Shaggy Dog <\/em>(1959); and Now You See Him, Now You Don’t <\/em>(1972) and The Strongest Man in the World<\/em> (1975) were sequels to The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes<\/em> (1969). The last of these film series, the \u201cMedfield College Trilogy,\u201d is rendered hilarious by virtue of awful acting.<\/p>\n Eisenmann and Richards were given cameos in Disney\u2019s 2009 remake of Escape to Witch Mountain<\/em>, Race to Witch Mountain<\/em>.<\/p>\n In the Parks<\/strong><\/p>\n Crusher leads his fellow Earthquakes and Tia to a miniature golf course, and guests at Walt Disney World can partake in putt putt at \u201cFantasia Gardens\u201d or \u201cWinter Summerland.\u201d The former locale also features a miniature version of a regular 18-hole course with hazards, traps, and the like called Fantasia Fairways.<\/p>\n In Return from Witch Mountain<\/em>, Tony wants to surf. At Walt Disney World\u2019s Typhoon Lagoon water park, guests can schedule special surfing sessions or lessons, which are held in the park\u2019s wave pool.<\/p>\n \u201cBig Thunder Mountain Railroad,\u201d a roller coaster at both Walt Disney World\u2019s Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Park in California, exudes a western theme.<\/p>\n Overall<\/strong><\/p>\n Return from Witch Mountain <\/em>is inferior to its predecessor, but it is nonetheless entertaining. You are guaranteed some laughs.<\/p>\n Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n 1) Kaufman, B. (1978, July 15). MOVIE REVIEW: Disney’s mold. Newsday<\/em>, p. 26A. Retrieved November 17, 2015, from http:\/\/0-search.proquest.com.alpha1.suffolk.lib.ny.us\/docview\/966296380?accountid=35174<\/a><\/p>\n 2) Maslin, J. (1978, July 14). Earthbound Spacelings. New York Times<\/em>. Retrieved November 17, 2015, from http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/movie\/review?res=9E04E5D61E31E632A25757C1A9619C946990D6CF<\/a><\/p>\n 3) Ibid.<\/p>\n What do you think of Return from Witch Mountain? Let me know in the comments!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Return](\"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_world\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Return-from-Witch-Mountain-Pinterest.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n