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Return from Witch Mountain

  • 1978
  • G
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
Bette Davis, Christopher Lee, Kim Richards, and Ike Eisenmann in Return from Witch Mountain (1978)
Tia and Tony visit Los Angeles, but he's quickly kidnapped by an evil scientist, leaving her to desperately search for him.
Play trailer1:41
5 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureFamilyFantasySci-Fi

Tia and Tony visit Los Angeles, but he's quickly kidnapped by an evil scientist, leaving her to desperately search for him.Tia and Tony visit Los Angeles, but he's quickly kidnapped by an evil scientist, leaving her to desperately search for him.Tia and Tony visit Los Angeles, but he's quickly kidnapped by an evil scientist, leaving her to desperately search for him.

  • Director
    • John Hough
  • Writers
    • Malcolm Marmorstein
    • Alexander Key
  • Stars
    • Bette Davis
    • Christopher Lee
    • Kim Richards
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    5.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Hough
    • Writers
      • Malcolm Marmorstein
      • Alexander Key
    • Stars
      • Bette Davis
      • Christopher Lee
      • Kim Richards
    • 53User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos5

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:41
    Trailer
    Return From Witch Mountain
    Clip 2:01
    Return From Witch Mountain
    Return From Witch Mountain
    Clip 2:01
    Return From Witch Mountain
    Return From Witch Mountain
    Clip 2:01
    Return From Witch Mountain
    Return From Witch Mountain
    Clip 1:18
    Return From Witch Mountain
    Return From Witch Mountain
    Clip 1:06
    Return From Witch Mountain

    Photos117

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    Top cast38

    Edit
    Bette Davis
    Bette Davis
    • Letha
    Christopher Lee
    Christopher Lee
    • Victor
    Kim Richards
    Kim Richards
    • Tia
    Ike Eisenmann
    Ike Eisenmann
    • Tony
    Jack Soo
    Jack Soo
    • Mr. Yokomoto
    Anthony James
    Anthony James
    • Sickle
    Richard Bakalyan
    Richard Bakalyan
    • Eddie
    • (as Dick Bakalyan)
    Ward Costello
    • Mr. Clearcole
    Christian Juttner
    Christian Juttner
    • Dazzler
    Brad Savage
    Brad Savage
    • Muscles
    Poindexter Yothers
    • Crusher
    • (as Poindexter)
    Jeffrey Jacquet
    Jeffrey Jacquet
    • Rocky
    Stu Gilliam
    Stu Gilliam
    • Dolan
    William Bassett
    William Bassett
    • Operations Officer
    • (as William H. Bassett)
    Tom Scott
    • Monitor
    Helene Winston
    Helene Winston
    • Dowager
    Albert Able
    • Engineer
    Denver Pyle
    Denver Pyle
    • Uncle Bene
    • Director
      • John Hough
    • Writers
      • Malcolm Marmorstein
      • Alexander Key
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews53

    5.75.9K
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    Featured reviews

    7bkoganbing

    Mad Scientists Use Alien Kids

    This is a fine sequel to one of Walt Disney's better family projects Escape from Witch Mountain. The adult stars are Bette Davis and Christopher Lee as an old dowager financing a mad scientist in some nefarious experiments.

    These two happen on the alien kids from Witch Mountain, Kim Richards and Ike Eisenman, when the kids are on holiday to Earth once again. They kidnap Ike after seeing an example of his powers of levitation and seek to use him and fit him with a mind control device that Lee's been perfecting.

    Lee's dreaming some big dreams and Davis has some more mundane schemes like a trip to some gambling house or racetrack. Both of them looking like they are having one grand old time hamming it up for the cameras.

    Of course the film wouldn't work at all if it were not for the winning personalities of Richards and Eisenman. Both come across as real kids, not sure of the extent of their own powers rather than Hollywood juvenile actors.

    The whole of the film is Richards pursuing and trying to rescue her brother and in the process she recruits a gang of juveniles escaping from a truant officer played by the ever deadpan funny Jack Soo. Eventually Soo joins forces with the kids and proves of some help.

    Both Escape to Witch Mountain and this sequel are fine family entertainment, some of the best that Disney studio produced.
    gypsycaine

    Nice for a sequel

    It's not perfect, and the wardrobe makes me shudder (Tia's poor clothing she never changes the entire movie!), but it's a nice Disney movie with some rather humorous parts. Eddie is particularly funny talking to the goat Alfred. Being a Tony and Tia fan, I thought this movie wonderful as a kid. As an adult, I see it as good "fodder" in the world of Spiderman, Hulk and the rest of the movies that have words that I have to remind my son not to repeat. Movie-makers seem to have forgotten the word "family".

    The two siblings are deposited on the 50 yard line of the Rose Bowl 3 mos. before the next game, and escorted to the hotel by Eddie the Cabbie who drives more like a New York Cabbie. After Tony "visions" a man falling off a building (Davis' Letha's nephew, Sickle), he takes advantage of the cab's running out of gas to go help. As things do in the movies, the rescue wasn't as easy as he thought, and the good Doctor saw a golden opportunity to take control of molecular manipulation by enslaving Tony with his mind control device. Tia after feeling the prick of the hypodermic, goes to find him, and the chase is on with Tony vs. Tia the rest of the movie. The minivan is my favorite portion of the whole movie. *** out of 5 stars.
    YouKnowMyName68

    EFWM commentary......

    When this movie came out I really, really, enjoyed it and it was so much fun to see because I was about near the age of the actors (younger by 3 or 4 years) and to see them wielding powers that I found fascinating because I had read about telekinesis and telepathy and it was so wonderful to see this in a movie with kids and these powers on top of that at an age where what ifs was something I would engage in or daydream about. "What if I had these powers.....?" Really fun movie. I somewhat recognize the great American actress Betty Davis and I somewhat recognized the great British or English actor Christopher Lee and thought nothing whatsoever about whether this was beneath them or not. Why should I? I enjoyed their participation in the showing of this story. Now here comes "Die beste freudin" and his miserable seeming know it all comments ( I know this is an open forum). What I don't understand is why do you suggest having to view another work of said actor's repertoire when this was the work said actor or actress was involved in? I am critical of what I watch. But, the two movies, and this coming from a Disney in the mid-70s and post-star wars, were/are two films that somehow brought in those necessary elements: one it has to have participation of the viewer and 2 it has to be fun. I'm talking about Escape from witch mountain and the unexpected sequel, Returm from witch mountain. I enjoy these two very much and the young actors portrayal or performance or work: Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards and the supporting actors and actresses. Why do yo find it unbecoming or beneath you, I don't know. But you are entitled to your comments and opinion and therefore I share mine to differ from yours or from others.....
    jaybabb

    Well done follow up to the original

    This is a very well done sequel to "Escape to which mountain" Tony and Tia(Ike Eisenmann & Kim Richards)are back! This time, they come back to LA(they come via space ship and land on the 50 yard line at the rose bowl!)for a vacation.

    On their way to the motel, the cab they are riding in runs out of gas. When the cab driver leaves to go get gas, Tony and Tia have visions of a man falling from a tall building. Tony goes to help him. Enter Letha and Victor(Bette Davis & Christopher Lee)who are testing a mind control device that Sickle(Anthony James)is wearing. The test goes wrong when Letha grabs the remote control from victor and drops it on the ground.

    When Victor and Letha see Tony's powers, they repay Tony for saving Sickle's life by kidnapping him. Meanwhile, when Tony hasn't returned to the cab-she goes looking for him. He is nowhere to be found. After a short while, a pre-teen group of kids(Whom they call themselves "The earthquake gang)are running away from another gang-Tia helps them escape from this gang. They then help Tia look for Tony.

    I like the earthquake gang. These kids, despite how they dress are not really a violent gang-I think they have a tender side of them-they want to help people. Now I realize that this is not based in any real reality, it's only a movie-they are not to be taken seriously. I get a laugh out of them. Although, they try to act tough they don't scare anyone.

    Victor and Letha are in their Lab testing this mind control device on Tony. After seeing the success of their tests, they both use Tony for their own evil ends. Letha wants money, she takes Tony to the museum in an attempt to steal 3 million dollars worth of gold which is on display. Things of course go wrong when they underestimate the weight of the gold bars. Victor on the other hand wants to rule the world and he uses Tony to take over a plutonium processing plant.

    Tia then shows up-and a show down between Tia and Tony ensues-you will need to watch the film to see how it ends.

    Although not the best sequel, it's better than most(Esp. by Disney). I recently got my DVD copies of both films. It's been remastered in THX, Dolby 5.1 surround sound. It sounds better than ever.
    6ma-cortes

    Two children extraterrestrial are chased by evil persons who want use their magic powers for his own aims

    Disney fantasy full of adventure , tension , intrigue and spectacular images . Engaging Walt Disney Sci-Fi/fantasy in which we meet Tony (Ike Eisenmann , in 2009 recent version played by Alexander Ludwig ) and Tia ( Kim Richards , subsequently performed by Anna Rob ) as they are arriving along with their uncle (Denver Pyle) in a flying saucer at a stadium called Rose Bowl . They have special telekinetic powers which make getting along with the rest of the kids difficult . After that , the clairvoyant kids with special powers meet a Cabman getting into a car across the streets . Some baddies discover their supernatural powers and effect they can have on humans while the children being pursued . As Tony is abducted by the evil Dr. Gannon (Christopher Lee), his spinster pal Letha (Bette Davis) and hoodlum (Anthony James) who want to use his powers for his own objectives . Gannon puts him an artifact into the neck that allows him to control Tony's brain . As Tony will brainwashed into helping them commit several crimes , hoping to put his special faculties to evil .

    This mystery-fantasy is packed with amusing action , thrills, suspense and spectacular scenes with abundant but primitive effects. The two children with mysterious powers played by Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann are enjoyable and phenomenal , as always , Christopher Lee as mean villain and likable Bette Davis as old nasty . The picture results to be the sequel to ¨Escape to Witch mountain (1978)¨ also by John Hough that holds a recent take on titled ¨ Race to witch mountain (2009)¨ with The Rock , Carla Gugino and Ciaran Hinds as government agent and as homage to former adaptation appears Kim Richards as Sara and Ike Isenmann as sheriff in a brief roles .

    This funny picture is well directed by John Hough . He has an eclectic and long filmmaker career , beginning in television series ( Avengers, Protectors , The champions ) , making Hammer film (Twins of evil) , classic terror ( Legend of hell house ) , average horror movies ( Howling IV, American Gothic, Incubus ) , adventures ( Island of treasure, Black arrow ) until wholesome Disney family fare ( The watcher in the woods , Return and escape to witch mountain) . The flick will appeal to Disney film buffs and wholesome entertainment enthusiasts . A good children's film with acceptable special effects by that time though nowadays corny . The motion picture is professionally made though with no originality because being a simple remake , being an agreeable fun from Walt Disney productions .

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kim Richards, Ike Eisenmann, and Denver Pyle reprised their roles as Tia, Tony, and Uncle Bené from Escape to Witch Mountain (1975). This movie was also directed by the same director, John Hough, as well as having many of the same technical and production crew.
    • Goofs
      The station wagon Sickle uses changes from a Ford when the gold is being loaded, to a Mercury when its wrecked.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Victor Gannon: Where you from?

      Tony: Witch Mountain.

      Sickle: Sounds like some hick town to me.

    • Alternate versions
      In the Spanish Castilian version Tia's name was changed into "Sia", because in Spanish "Tía" means "Aunt" and is the slang for "Chick".
    • Connections
      Featured in Disney Dimanche: Episode #1.1 (1979)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 10, 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Повернення з Відьминої гори
    • Filming locations
      • Rose Bowl - 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, California, USA(Opening and closing scene in sports arena field.)
    • Production company
      • Walt Disney Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $16,393,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $16,393,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39:1
      • 1.75 : 1

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