Escape to Witch Mountain is a 1975 American fantasy-children's film, adapted from the 1968 science fiction novel of the same name written by Alexander H. Key. The film was produced by Walt Disney Productions, released in March 1975 by Buena Vista Distribution Company and directed by John Hough.
Escape to Witch Mountain is the first film in the Witch Mountain franchise.
Plot[]
The film focuses on siblings Tony and Tia, who only know their surname as Malone, from their late adoptive parents. They are placed in an orphanage where they encounter challenges due to their unusual psychic/psionic abilities: Tony has the power to psychokinetically move and control objects with his harmonica, while Tia can telepathically communicate with Tony, empathically connect with animals, and has premonitions. Tia also has slight telekinetic powers. She always carries a "star case," which later unveils a mysterious map. Tia's fragmented early childhood memories include a maritime accident and a man named Uncle Bené, whom they presume perished during their rescue.
On a field trip, Tia has a premonition and cautions the affluent lawyer Lucas Deranian about a looming dangerous incident. Deranian reports to his boss, the wealthy Aristotle Bolt, about the children's extraordinary powers. Bolt, fascinated by the paranormal, insists that Deranian bring the children to him by any means necessary. Deranian tracks them to an orphanage, where he pretends to be Tia and Tony's uncle and whisks them away to Bolt's estate. Initially wary of Bolt's intentions, Tia and Tony are enticed by the opulence of his home. Bolt eventually discloses his surveillance of the children through a closed-circuit TV system and acknowledges their special abilities. Upon learning this, Tia and Tony flee, using their powers to telekinetically control a wild mustang, the guard dogs, and the security fence, and they exploit Winkie, Tia's cat, to distract the allergic security guard and escape.
Bolt dispatches Deranian and a henchman, Ubermann, to chase the children. Tia and Tony find refuge in a green-and-white Winnebago motorhome belonging to a grumpy widower named Jason O'Day. Initially unwelcoming, Jason slowly starts to acknowledge their abilities and the veracity of their tale; Tia's faint recollections of a maritime calamity captivate him. He consents to escort the children following the path Tia's star case suggests, leading to Witch Mountain, a site of mysterious occurrences. Eluding Bolt, law enforcement, and a riled mob that deems the children to be witches, they finally ascend Witch Mountain, with Deranian, Ubermann, and Bolt in pursuit by helicopter. As their memories fully resurface, the children understand that their sea mishap was not with a ship but a spaceship. Tony and Tia are revealed to be aliens; the twin star insignia on the star case represents the binary star system of their home planet.
Having fled to Earth as their own planet was perishing, the survivors journeyed to Witch Mountain and established a community to await the children who survived, each duo carrying a star case to guide them to their new home. Tony and Tia are the first to arrive. The siblings are joyfully reunited with their Uncle Bené (who, against all odds, survived with the help of a telepathically persuaded "accommodating" shark, and they embark on another spacecraft). As Bolt and his group depart in defeat, Jason observes the spaceship's return, soaring above to bid a final farewell before landing near the new settlement of the inhabitants.
Cast[]
- Eddie Albert as Jason O'Day, an embittered widower traveling across the country from home.
- Ray Milland as Aristotle Bolt, a ruthless and greedy multi-millionaire obsessed with the paranormal and occult. He tries to expose Tony and Tia and increase his wealth.
- Donald Pleasence as Lucas Deranian, Mr. Bolt's well-to-do attorney.
- Kim Richards as Tia Malone, a nine-year-old orphan with psychic powers.
- Ike Eisenmann as Tony Malone, Tia's older brother, orphan with telekinetic powers.
- Walt Barnes as Sheriff Purdey, a sheriff bribed by Bolt to pursue the children.
- Reta Shaw as Mrs. Grindley, owner of the orphanage Tia and Tony are sent to after mourning their foster parents.
- Denver Pyle as Uncle Bené, the children's uncle.
- Alfred Ryder as Mr. Michaeljohn, Mr. Bolt’s Astrologer.
- Lawrence Montaigne as Ubermann, a henchman assisting Deranian in his pursuit of the siblings.
- Terry Wilson as Biff Jenkins.
- George Chandler as Grocer
- Dermott Downs as Truck, a child from the orphanage who bullies Tony to the point he reveals the power.
- Don Brodie as Gasoline Attendant
- Paul Sorenson as Sergeant Foss
- Harry Holcombe as Captain Malone
- Sam Edwards as Mate
- Dan Seymour as Mr. Bolt’s Psychic
- Eugene Daniels as Cort
- Shepherd Sanders as Ali, Mr. Bolt's guru
- Kyle Richards as young Tia Malone (in "elder Tia's" memories) (uncredited)
Production[]
Differences from the novel[]
Escape to Witch Mountain is based on the novel by Alexander Key. Significant differences from the book include its tone and plot elements. For example, in the book, the children are befriended by Father O'Day, an athletic, young Catholic priest, rather than crusty widower Jason O'Day. The children's ship is shot down, rather than crashed, and the children are olive-skinned, though with light-colored hair, rather than fair-skinned and blonde-haired. In the book, Deranian is the main antagonist, and he is working for a shadowy European cabal who are trying to capture the children for their special powers, instead of for Aristotle Bolt. The novel is set along or near the Atlantic Coast of the United States, whereas the film was shot along the Pacific Coast in California.