Themes: Fantasy Lands, Finding a Way Back Home, Mythical Creatures
Main Cast: Jack Wild, Billie Hayes, Martha Raye
Release Year: 1970
Country: US
Run Time: 98 minutes
Plot
This children's fantasy is based on Sid and Marty Krofft's popular 1960s kiddy show H.R. Pufnstuff, which combined giant puppets and live action players. In the story, a young lad with a magical flute travels to a magic island where inanimate objects and animals talk. There he encounters the amiable dragon Pufnstuf, the mayor of the island. When the wicked Witchiepoo steals the flute so she can be named "Witch of the Year" by her cronies, the boy, the dragon, and their pals must somehow get it back from her enchanted castle. Songs include "Pufnstuf", "Angel Raid", "Charge", "Fire in the Castle", "Happy Hour", "Leaving Living Island", "Rescue Racer to the Rescue", "Witchiepoo's Lament" and ""Different"". ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Sharon Baird - Shirley Pufnstuf; Billy Barty - Googy Gopher; Buddy Douglas; Jane Dulo; Evelyn Dutton; John Linton; Allison McKay; Angelo Rossitto; Felix Silla - Polkadotted Horse; Johnny Silver - Ludicrous Lion; Lou Wagner; Fred Curt; Mama Cass Elliot
Credit
Joe Alves - Art Director, Alexander Golitzen - Art Director, Walter Scott Herndon - Art Director, Rolf Roediger - Animator, Evenda Leeper - Animator, Troy Barrett - Animator, Paul Godkin - Choreography, Hollingsworth Morse - Director, David Rawlins - Editor, Sid Krofft - Executive Producer, Marty Krofft - Executive Producer, Charles Fox - Composer (Music Score), Norman Gimbel - Composer (Music Score), Charles Fox - Songwriter, Norman Gimbel - Songwriter, Ziggy Gieke - Makeup, Kenneth Peach - Cinematographer, Si Rose - Producer, Arthur Jeph Parker - Set Designer, Luke Tillman - Special Effects, Roland Chiniquy - Special Effects, John Fenton Murray - Screenwriter, Si Rose - Screenwriter
Jimmy (Jack Wild) ventures to Living Island with his magical, talking flute, Freddy. Once there, he befriends many of the island's inhabitants, but the evil Witchiepoo (Billie Hayes) is determined to steal Freddy the flute away from the boy to impress the visiting witches council and win the Witch of the Year Award.
Production
Hot on the heels of the H.R. Pufnstuf television series, this film was rushed into production for theatrical distribution, with filming beginning in January, 1970[1]. The movie was financed by Universal Pictures and Kellogg's Cereal[1], the latter of which was a sponsor of the TV show.
Sid Krofft cast his next door neighbor, singer Cass Elliot, as Witchiepoo's frenemy Witch Hazel.[2] According to actress Joy Campbell McKenzie, Cass Elliot was "very distant. Not rude or arrogant but she just didn't mingle which most people were surprised about."[3]
Martha Raye was cast as Boss Witch. The cast and crew expected Raye to behave like a diva, but she instead befriended everyone behind the scenes, even inviting them to dinner.[3]
A soundtrack album was released on LP, cassette and 8-track in 1970 (Capitol Records SW-542), featuring the songs and the score by Charles Fox. The LP was re-released on CD in 2006 by "El Records" (El Records, ACMEM65CD).
"Finale:a) If I Could / b) Living Island" - Jack Wild
Note: The title song was covered by The Pickwick Children's Chorus on the album "Sesame Street and Other Children's Pop Hits"[4]
DVD Release
Pufnstuf was finally released to DVD on May 19, 2009. It includes the original trailer for the flim, and is presented in its original widescreen presentation.
Footnotes and references
^ ab Passing Show, The Bridgeport Post, January 22, 1970 p. 21
