Escape to Witch Mountain (1975 film)

Infobox Film
name = Escape to Witch Mountain


image_size = 200px
caption = Promotional movie poster for the film
director = John Hough
producer = Ron Miller
Jerome Courtland
writer = Robert M. Young
starring = Eddie Albert
Ray Milland
Donald Pleasence
Kim Richards
Ike Eisenmann
music = Johnny Mandel
cinematography = Frank V. Phillips, ASC
editing = Robert Stafford
distributor = Buena Vista Distribution
released = United States:
March 21, 1975
Australia
August 21
runtime = 97 min.
country = United States
language = English
amg_id = 1:16048
imdb_id = 0072951

"Escape to Witch Mountain" is a 1975 film based on the book of the same name. It was directed by John Hough.

Difference from book

In the film version, the story is considerably different from the darker, original novel, and the children's powers have been amplified. While Tony is somewhat clairvoyant and telepathic (he can only hear Tia's projected thoughts), his greatest gift is telekinesis. Unaided, he can telekinetically move small objects, but playing his harmonica helps him utilize his power to even greater effect.

Tia possesses a greater degree of clairvoyance and telepathy; she can communicate with animals and Tony, who can only hear her psychic voice but cannot respond in kind. She also possesses the ability of telekinesis, though to a lesser extent than Tony, displaying a talent in working small mechanisms, such as locks and vehicle ignitions. At one point, considering the differences in the facility of their powers, such as Tony's need of the harmonica as a focus while Tia needs none, Tony muses, "Maybe it's because you're a girl." While Tia's telepathy proves to be very useful, such as when she turns guard dogs upon their pursuers, or taming a rebellious horse, it can also create problems, as she is prone to rescuing animals at inconvenient times, like releasing a captive bear during an escape.

Both Tia and Tony have fragmented memories of their early childhood, including an accident at sea and a man they later remember as their Uncle Bené (pronounced Ben-ay), whom they believe drowned during their rescue. After the death of their foster parents, Mr. & Mrs. Malone, they are placed in an orphanage, and are ostracized by the other children because of their abilities. They later uncover a clue to their true origins: a map hidden on Tia's "star case", a box-shaped purse with a double-star emblem that has been in her possession for as long as they can remember.

Responding to a premonition from Tia, Tony warns well-to-do attorney Lucas Deranian of an impending accident with his limousine, saving him from serious injury. Deranian promptly relates the incident to his employer, Aristotle Bolt, a ruthless and power-hungry multi-millionaire obsessed with the paranormal and the occult. Hoping to exploit the children's gifts to further expand his wealth and influence, Bolt backs Deranian with the resources to forge documentation of Deranian's blood relation to the twins in order to gain custody. Though somewhat suspicious, knowing Deranian is not truly their uncle, the twins are at first entranced by the luxurious trappings of wealth, even a home for their pet black cat Winkie, offered at Bolt's mansion. However, Tony and Tia's worst fears are realized when Bolt later reveals to the children that they have been under camera surveillance since their arrival, witnessing marionettes dancing to Tony's harmonica music, and Tia taming Bolt's rebellious horse, Thunderhead. As Bolt reveals his plans to exploit their powers, Tony and Tia realize Bolt will never let them go. Soon after, the twins overhear the two men planning to move them to a remote snowbound chalet, and they determine to leave during the night. Riding Thunderhead, Bolt's guard dogs and Winkie eagerly assist in the children's escape at Tia's behest.

Tia and Tony sneak into the Winnebago camper owned by embittered widower Jason O'Day, who is traveling alone to see the country. Showing some signs of gentleness upon encountering Winkie, Jason becomes his usual irascible self upon finding the two stowaways. Eventually though, he warms to Tony and Tia and is later amazed by the twins' abilities. After realizing that Bolt and the others chasing them are up to no good, Jason finally overcomes his reluctance to help. They follow the star case map's route, which leads towards Witch Mountain, a landmark notorious for strange, unexplained phenomena since the arrival of a band of reclusive strangers that settled there some time earlier. Local townsfolk are lured into joining the pursuit by the promise of a big reward from Bolt and Deranian. However, displays of the twins' powers while on the run soon create a mob out for blood, convinced that Tony and Tia are evil witches.

As their memories begin to fully return, they realize their accident at sea did not involve a boat, but a spacecraft. Tony and Tia are actually of extraterrestrial origin; the double star emblem on the star case stands for a binary star system where their home planet was located. Having come to Earth because their own planet was dying, survivors of the journey made their way to Witch Mountain and formed a community to await the surviving children; all sets of twins each in possession of a star case to help them find their way to their new home. Tony and Tia are the first to reach the destination. Leaving Winkie with Jason, who promises to keep his eyes open for other children like Tony and Tia, the twins are reunited with their Uncle Bené, who did not drown after all: "If you know exactly what to say to a shark," Bené tells the children, "he can be very accommodating!". Knowing that a man like Bolt will never stop chasing them, they board another spacecraft to leave Earth, never to return. However, when Bolt and the others leave in defeat, Jason witnesses the ship's return as it flies over him to say a final goodbye.

Cast

*Eddie Albert .... Jason
*Ray Milland .... Aristotle Bolt
*Donald Pleasence .... Deranian
*Kim Richards .... Tia
*Ike Eisenmann .... Tony
*Walter Barnes .... Sheriff Purdey
*Reta Shaw .... Mrs. Grindley
*Denver Pyle .... Uncle Bené
*Alfred Ryder .... Astrologer
*Lawrence Montaigne .... Ubermann
*Terry Wilson .... Biff Jenkins
*George Chandler .... Grocer
*Dermott Downs .... Truck
*Shepherd Sanders .... Guru
*Don Brodie .... Gasoline attendant
*Paul Sorenson .... Sergeant Foss
*Alfred Rossi .... Police officer
*Tiger Joe Marsh .... Lorko
*Harry Holcombe .... Captain Malone
*Sam Edwards .... Mate
*Dan Seymour .... Psychic
*Eugene Daniels .... Cort
*Al Dunlap .... Deputy
*Rex Holman, Tony Giorgio .... Hunters

Sequels

*"Return from Witch Mountain" (1978)
*"Beyond Witch Mountain" (1982)

External links

*imdb title|id=0072951|title=Escape to Witch Mountain
* [http://www.ldsfilm.com/movies/EscapeToWitchMountain.html/ "Escape to Witch Mountain" (1975)]