Just in time for the remake, Race To Witch Mountain, Disney has released new special editions of the original Escape to Witch Mountain and Return from Witch Mountain films on DVD. It’s a common trend to re-release an original film the week a remake or sequel is released in theaters. I generally applaud such practices as the result is usually a rather spiffy special edition with all the trimmings. That is definitely the case with these reissues as there are some nice features contained on these discs as well as being nice quality versions of each film.
The Movies
I don’t remember the first time I saw Escape To Witch Mountain, I just know I was still in my single digits. Most likely it was on TV. This film tells the tale of two orphans, Tony (Ike Eisenmann) and Tia (Kim Richards) Malone. Both posses various forms of telekinesis and can communicate with each other telepathically, although they suffer from amnesia and. as a result, only remember fragments of their early childhood. These fragments center around some sort of accident at sea involving their Uncle Bene (Denver Pyle). Using their powers to help a not very nice person, Lucas Deranian (Donald Pleasence), lands them in the custody of billionaire Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland). Quickly surmising that Bolt wishes to exploit them, the two siblings make their escape and, with the help of kindly curmudgeon Jason O’Day (Eddie Albert), find their way back to their Uncle while learning the truth of who they are and where they come from.
The second film, Return From Witch Mountain picks up three years later as Tony and Tia are granted a break from their life secluded in Witch Mountain and are dropped by Uncle Bene in Los Angeles. The dubious notion of dropping off a couple of young teenagers by themselves in the middle of LA, even with supernormal mental powers, is proven a bad idea as the two are quickly separated. Tony is observed using his powers and is quickly taken control of by Dr. Victor Gannon (Christopher Lee) and Letha Wedge (Bette Davis). Tia happens into better circumstances as she falls in with a gang of would-be street toughs, the Earthquake Gang, whose biggest criminal act is constantly evading hapless truant officer Mr. Yokomoto (the late Jack Soo in his final film role). Tia must figure out a way to rescue Tony from Gannon’s mind control and get back to Uncle Bene.
Both films follow the 1970s Disney formula of having no one get seriously injured and no matter the dire stakes, a happy resolution is waiting at the end. While this may seem quaint and naive by today’s film standards, there is something to be said about a couple of films that the entire family can sit down and enjoy. And the first film remains one of Disney’s most successful live-action films to date. I’m sure I have a soft-spot for these films, as they are childhood favorites of mine, but I highly recommend them for you and your family.
The Special Features
There is a nice commentary track from the director, John Hough, with added bits from Eisenmann and Richards. The trio are also featured on the really fun featurette “Making the Escape”, which also features Dermott Downs (Truck). It’s clear that the three actors and the director have a great deal of affection for not only the film, but having had made it. The Making Of feature is enhanced by the “Conversations With John Hough” piece where Hough gets to talk about his films and directing style. “Disney Sci-Fi” is just downright strange. It takes clips from various Disney sci-fi type films and edits them together with a club dance track. “Disney Effects, Something Special” gets back to the good stuff as it showcases the use of visual effects in some of Disney’s early live-action films. The “1975 Disney Studio Album” is basically and electronic press kit for what was going on at Disney Studios in 1975 and is a terrific historical featurette. The final goody here is the 1940 animated short Pluto’s Dream House, which was shown before Escape during it’s original theatrical run.
Return From Witch Mountain features “Making The Return Trip” with more reminiscing from Hough, Eisenmann and Richards. Perhaps most interesting, though, is “Lost Treasure: Christopher Lee, The Lost Interview” which is a great vintage 1978 interview with Christopher Lee with a Spanish journalist. “Disney Kids With Powers” is another clips piece from various Disney films. “The Gang’s Back In Town” is a short featurette that reunites three of the actor’s from the film’s Earthquake Gang. The “1978 Disney Studio Album” is another fascinating look at all things Disney, this time for the year 1978. Lastly, there’s the animated short that was attached to Return, this one being 1945’s Donal Duck and Pluto cartoon The Eyes Have It.
Again, these two films may not offer anything you haven’t seen before, but they make for great family viewing and I highly recommend them both.