This Disney classic is not complete without a flying bed that takes you anywhere in the world. The post-war film of Bedknobs and Broomsticks revisits a war-torn London and follows the evacuated children that are placed in the hands of a witch.

Set during World War II, the plot of the movie revolves around ending the war with a magical spell. Released in 1971, this film doesn’t fit the bill of WWII propaganda. Despite its release date the movie’s underlying theme of waiting for the war to end places the movie with other war classics of the 1940s.

While the film took place in England, most of the real filming happened on the west coast of America. The setting of the movie takes you from real-world London streets, through layers of the imagination, to the bottom of the sea.

The characters in the movie show a broad range of creative genius. Similar to Mary Poppins, the creative team uses both real actors with a mix of animation and voice acting.

While the film glorified the use of the cartoon and imaginative effects it does not mean their intended audience was primarily for children. Movies in the 1970s filled a creative gap in the film industry. Companies started to include family movies, which is why Bedknobs and Broomsticks fits perfectly in the classic children’s movie canon. There are many characteristics of the film that appeal to an older audience. In fact, animation has a longer history dating back before the use of film and screen acting.

The movie’s main appeal to children comes with the main characters and their sorrow over moving out of London. While the situation they are in is not ideal, the chance encounter with an apprenticed witch and swindling magician captures the attention of a young audience.

The action itself is topped with the inclusion of Angela Lansbury’s acting. Playing the witch that’s reluctant to take the children in, Lansbury executes the role with precision and grace.

Her interaction with the inanimate objects around her proves a point of contention with reality. Her captivating relationship with magic makes children follow their imagination and enjoy the magical implications of the movie.

The movie faces iconic scenes such as a suit of armor fighting the Nazis and incantations saving the day, but the fact the musical numbers are so entertaining takes the cake. Classics like Portobello Road, The Old Home Guard, and Substitutionary Locomotion make children want to sing along (they tend to remember the words) and sing about a mix of serious content and complete made-up nonsense.

I first watched this movie when I was really young, and I loved it. I can still recall the lyrics to the songs and certain parts of the movie that stuck with me. The magical elements in the movie played to my young imagination. Looking back at the movie, there are so many adult themes, such as fighting a war and losing your parents, that I didn’t truly understand as a child.

Releasing a movie in the 70s with the setting of the 40s may not appeal to the children, but the adults raised post-war would have a different connection to the movie entirely. Parents would have experienced the war in real life, and looking back at their childhood setting makes the imaginary parts of the movie seem more real.

This iconic Disney film really captures the idea of a family movie. It relates to the older audiences in its setting, entertains the younger ones with its imagination, and poses interesting questions and thoughts to the rest.

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