Although Disney animation was floundering in the early-t0-mid 1970s, Disney studios' live-action films were enjoying a fair amount of success. Disney's live-action department were enjoying a fruitful collaboration with young Kurt Russell, releasing such films as The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes and The Barefoot Executive. All of the Russell films were successful, which gave Disney the means to make other live-action films. The best film of Disney's '70s live-action period is Escape To Witch Mountain, director John Hough's adaptation of Alexander Key's 1968 novel. The movie's plot revolves around Tony Malone (Ike Eisenmann) and his sister, Tia (Kim Richards), who are placed in an orphanage after their parents die in an accident. Tony and Tia have trouble fitting in with their peers, due primarily to the fact that the two possess psionic powers (Tia is telepathic, mildly telekinetic, and has the power of precognition, while Tony can move stuff with his harmonica music). Tia is troubled by fragmented visions of a boating accident that took place when they were very young. Tia discovers that the man that she sees in her visions is her and Tony's uncle Bene (pronounced Ben-ay). This realization coincides with Tia opening a mysterious box that she's had since childhood, finding a map inside. The map leads to a large mountain, known as "Witch Mountain" to the locals. The children set off on a quest to Witch Mountain. However, Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland), the occult-obsessed millionaire who has "adopted" the children, gives chase, assisted by his henchmen Ubermann (Lawrence Montaigne) and Deranian (Donald Pleasance). During the course of their quest, Tony & Tia hide in the RV of Jason O'Day (Eddie Albert), a widowed man who's been roaming the country. O'Day's heart is warmed by Tony and Tia, and he eventually agrees to help Tony & Tia reach Witch Mountain. Escape To Witch Mountain's plot sounds silly when it's written down, but it works on-screen. The quality of the film is due to two elements: the special effects and the acting. The special effects are pretty shoddy by today's standards, but that's to be expected from a film made in the mid-1970s. The effects in the film work well enough, however, that it's possible to suspend one's disbelief. In fact, the best special-effects scenes look like they could have been done yesterday. The element that really saves Escape From Witch Mountain from oblivion, however, is the acting. Eddie Albert does a fantastic job as Jason O'Day. Albert perfectly balances the two sides of O'Day, said sides being "embittered widower" and "kind-hearted do-gooder," saving the character from becoming a one-note "good guy." Ray Milland does a lot of scenery-chewing during his portrayal of Aristotle Bolt, but scenery-chewing is the only effective way to play a Disney villain. The two kids do as well as any child actor could do with the cardboard characters the script gave them. Donald Pleasance is wonderful as Deranian, but he's always wonderful. Escape To Witch Mountain gets a little bit of attention today, but not as much as it deserves. I imagine that it's because most people like to think that Walt Disney Pictures churns out nothing but syrupy-sweet family flicks and doesn't think about making anything that even touches on darker subjects. Such a stigma has ensured that Escape To Witch Mountain will never get the attention it deserves. However, it doesn't diminish the quality the film.
Alan Howell is a native of Southern California. He loves movies of any and all kinds, Hollywood, indie, and everywhere in between. He loves pizza, sitcoms, rock and pop music, surfing, baseball, reading, and girls (not necessarily in that order).
