When my son had a particularly hard time with his homework last weekend, I offered him a chance to celebrate when he was finished. Whatever we could do at home to make a big deal out of finishing this task, I’d do it. He chose watching a movie. I knew I loved the kid. It was the movie he chose that surprised me – Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
Growing up, this was one of my favorite Disney films. The escapism of this film is undeniable, especially for kids. If you’re not familiar with the movie, it’s basically the story of three orphans during World War II who are sent off the country to avoid the bombing in London. What they encounter there is a witch in training, played by Angela Lansbury, who gives them a spell to keep them quiet about her witchy ways. The spell is an enchanted bedknob, which gives their bed the ability to travel wherever they want. You can see how this appeals to a kid.