Jim on Film:Enchantment: A Survey of Disney's Feature Film Live-Action Musicals
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It�s not that Bedknobs and Broomsticks isn�t an enjoyable movie; it�s just not a great one. In their book Walt�s Time and in the DVD making-of special feature, the Sherman Brothers allude to some of the problems and poor choices made along the way. The studio was now being run by a committee, so decisions were made concerning sequences in the film that did not take the story into consideration. Additionally, there was no great creative hand guiding all the elements into one cohesive story.

First of all, the plot of the film is simple and not particularly interesting. It�s a quest story with little suspense or conflict. It�s Eglantine, Emelius, and the children on a shopping quest through a mall of unusual locations. They find the item they need, the climax comes, and they live happily ever after.

Secondly, the elements of the story never fully mesh. A problem indicative of the storytelling imbalance is the song �The Age of Not Believing,� which is another wonderful Sherman Brothers song. The problem is not in the song but in its use. For a song centered on such a magical idea that appears to be a message, the film should sustain that idea throughout. Unfortunately, the concept of growing up and facing the age of not believing is quickly forgotten, as is Charles�s obstinate lack of belief (an odd thing, considering he�s just seen her flying on a broomstick). Within the story, it is essentially a plot point created to fit a song and one that is quickly dropped when the song ends, like a dead end in a maze. It didn�t have to be. For example, in the finale, the spell might not have worked in the presence of disbelief, which would have helped unify the film with a clear, singular theme.

Similarly, the committee�s decision to cut Eglantine�s song �Solid Citizen� in favor of the soccer game upsets the plotting. Whereas the soccer game removes the focus from Eglantine, her vaudevillian turn in �Solid Citizen� would have not only fitted the musical adaptation of the story but the plot focus as well. Not only was the concept a very funny one, but the scene would have been functional as well, as there is actually something substantial that would have been done in order to get the star. As it is now, the soccer game is a one-joke sequence with lots of energy but few laughs and little need for inclusion. A similar cut, the children�s original �Nobody�s Problems,� acts as another indication of the committee�s lack of understanding of musical storytelling.

The music is all very enjoyable, not unusual for the Sherman Brothers, but it lacks the overall storytelling qualities found in their three previous Disney live-action musicals. It�s as if musical moments were sought rather than integrated into the structure of the story (similar, though to a much lesser extent, to their Chitty Chitty Bang Bang score). There are many ideas in the movie that could be expressed musically that weren�t, such as Eglantine�s developing feelings for the children, her dislike of Hitler, her love of England, or the children�s feelings for Eglantine. These seem like more important musical moments than �A Step in the Right Direction,� �Portobello Road,� or even �The Beautiful Briny.�

It�s also strange that no one ever questioned �With a Flair.� A charming and catchy song it is, but it makes no sense in the context of the story. A flimflamer trying to sell his wares doesn�t tell everyone �Hey, these are all poppycock, wanna buy?� It�s an example of the lack of executive vision and creative guidance in the studio at this time.

Again, it�s not that Bedknobs and Broomsticks isn�t an enjoyable film; it�s just that it is lacking in the cohesion of elements to make it a great film. With a number of story changes, additional songs, and the insertion of deleted songs, Bedknobs and Broomsticks could actually make for a very enjoyable show on stage; however, because it is not a great film to begin with, it is doubtful Disney would ever take it to the next level.

The CD has been recently available, though it may not be for much longer, considering Disney�s pull toward digital music. If you want it�and it�s a great soundtrack to own�you may want to get it soon.

Pete�s Dragon�This was an instrumental film in my childhood. I saw it on television and loved �Brazzle-Dazzle Day� so much that I tried to write my own song along the same lines. I would say that experience has probably been instrumental in my love for musicals as an adult and my pursuit of writing for the stage.

Like Disney�s post-Babes in Toyland musicals, Pete�s Dragon is aided by an immensely talented cast with strong musical backgrounds, most notably Mickey Rooney and Broadway star Jim Dale. However, as many have stated, Helen Reddy, who sings �Candle on the Water� so beautifully, lacks screen charisma in her portrayal of Nora. Reddy highlights several shades of Nora�s personality, including her toughness and her pain, but her characterization lacks the spark a musical leading actress needs.

Pete�s Dragon is a very enjoyable film with a charming story. There are some definite gems among the Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn score��Candle on the Water,� �The Happiest Home in These Hills,� �Brazzle-Dazzle Day,� and �Bill of Sale� come to mind. On the other hand, there are some curious choices as well, including �I Saw a Dragon,� which has much speaking in rhythm. A portion of the songs function well within the story��Every Little Piece,� �Boo Bop Bophop Bop (I Love You, Too),� and �Passamashloddy�, for example�but aren�t particularly dynamic (compare to the spectacular nature of even the most inconsequential songs in Summer Magic, Mary Poppins; The Happiest Millionaire; and The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band).

I�ll also be the cruel one to criticize the casting of Sean Marshall as Pete. A charming child actor to be sure, Marshall doesn�t have the singing voice for a musical. Children who sing can be annoying in the histrionic, emotion-less belting way, but there are many out there who can do it so well. When a child takes on a major singing role in a musical, he or she has to be able to sing or, at least, be dubbed, particularly when paired with great voices like Helen Reddy and Mickey Rooney.

Pete�s Dragon is a step up from Bedknobs and Broomsticks and quite an enjoyable film, though it lacks a certain spark in storytelling to lift it to the level of a great Disney film. That said, it is enjoyable, and not everything has to be Mary Poppins to be a worthwhile venture.

As with several other soundtracks mentioned here, Pete�s Dragon was made available several years ago. Though it may no longer be in print, it is still findable.