Matt from the Spectology podcast joins us to talk about one of his childhood faves, Bedknobs and Broomsticks. This is another one you can catch on Disney+ if you want to play the home game!
We talk witchcraft, imperialism, rigid enforcement of gender roles, and also a bunch of fun stuff.
Matt watched this one a bunch when he was a kid, but somehow forgot that it had animated bits???
Here’s his hazy summary:
“It is England during World War 2 and some children from the city are sent to live with a cool old witch who lives in the middle of nowhere in the countryside. They don't believe in either her, or magic (or the Nazis? or they're the only ones who do believe in the Nazis?), or any of the above, and she doesn't believe in children. Good thing the Nazis are...invading this tiny town via submarine? So it's up to the witch to use magic to animate a bunch of furniture which then becomes an army the children lead against the Nazis and they win and World War 2 is saved!”
Julia, meanwhile, remembered that this was live action and animated, but mashed it up with a movie starring Don Knotts called The Incredible Mr. Limpet. Clearly we’re going to have to take that one on at some point…
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