MovieChat Forums > The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (1979) Discussion > Funny Witch

Funny Witch

posted 20 years ago by explicit28
15 replies | jump to latest

Did anyone else find the witch slightly humorous? I just saw this again and along with the crude animation and the Witch's very dramatic yelling, I cracked up. The funniest scene was when she goes to talk to Aslan saying "You have a traitor there Aslan." It's not until she begins to say something about "you know the magic that was put into Narnia at the very beginning" when the character's animation becomes unusually animated and energetic, waving her arms in front of Aslan who appears to be looking behind her. I don't know, I just always found her humorous. Anyone agree?

More Joy, Less Shame

[–] Gracieloufreebush1812 19 years ago

Yeah, I just watched it and was thinking the very same thing. It was almost startling how the witch shreeked and carried on. Can't wait till the theater version, although this version was a staple in my childhood.

[–] sarah_collinsondean 19 years ago

I guss so.

[–] vickiethevampireslayer 19 years ago

On re-watching this version as an adult I thought the witch was funny, but I must say as a child she scared the crap out of me, lol

[–] explicit28 19 years ago

It was the same way with me. She scared me like hell when I was little, but I look back and I can't believe it scared me.

More Joy, Less Shame

[–] RandomPrince 18 years ago

I always found the witch hilarious! :D The funniest moments are that first shot of her riding in the sledge, when Edmund asks for more Turkish Delight and she says "No!" (she goes all spikey!) and when Aslan jumps on her! :P I definitely didn't find her scary when I was younger - she just made me laugh.

[–] tgb-4 18 years ago

I havent seen this in years, i wish they would broadcast it again

[–] peeaecee 18 years ago

She's effective, but yes, amusing. I have to smile when she says "If either of you mention that name again, you will be instantly kiiiiillllllllllllllllllllllllllllled!"

I always thought she was somewhat like Cruella DeVil in this version.

[–] sugarcult_x 18 years ago

no way! I thought she was terrifying!!!

[–] lukesp13 18 years ago

I think shes freakin hot.

[–] LiamABC 18 years ago

"I just always found her humorous. Anyone agree?"

In the American version, when Beth Porter did the voice, funny in a bad way, I thought. Sheila Hancock was much more subtle in the English one, but yes, still has the odd funny moment, mainly when she's saying "kill"!

[–] Guppy99 18 years ago

"Aslan?! Aslan is dead, fool!" my brothers and I still use that line as a private joke between us. This version is greatness.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] the_iron_sun 17 years ago

I loved the manic Witch, she just had more character to her than the new live-action Jadis (much as I love the actress). It's a joke between my sister and I to shout "FASTER! FASTER, FOOOOL!"

Though now that I think about it, she sounds a lot like Invader Zim.

[–] fish_dish 16 years ago

The White Witch is hilariously over the top, I'm glad other people have noticed this. Whats especially funny about the "FASTER FOOL!" scene is the fact that shes actually walking a great deal slower than her companions, slowing them down actually.

Heres some other great quotes ...

"In fire .... AND WATER!!!"

When Edmund asks for more Turkish Delight and shes like "Um, no, the magic wont work again ... but at the castle ..." and the seductive way she cooes "WHOLE ROOMS FULL OF TURKISH DELIGHT!!!"

" ... and if you dont, I'll know the reason why not!"

"Are you my counsellor, or my slave? DO AS YOUR TOLD!"

"I might have to be very ANGRY with you if you come alone!"

"Strange stories, NASTY STORIES!"

Whenever she pulls up on the little animals having a party and is like "Well well well, what do my eyes behold?" before she turns them all to stone. Her whole breakdown in this part is especially over the top.

And of course, her telling Edmund and the dwarf they will "instantly BE KILLED!!!" if they mention Aslan again. I guess I could go on all day quoting her, but she cracks me up. The funny thing is most of her dialogue is taken ver batim from the original book, I wonder what CS Lewis would have to say about her interpretation? While Tilda Swanton did an amazing job portraying the queen as very icy and regal, the cartoons version of her as a shrieking, washed-up actress always warms my heart.

[–] Jockey1 16 years ago

She always quite amused me in a scary way. When me and my friends were in a production of this when we were kids, I toom the video around of this so me and my friend could do a bit of a 'character study!' I always wanted to be the witch, and tried to base my audition on this version of her! Sadly I ended up being the wolf! My friend who I watched it with got the part of Peter though, so we got to have stage fihgts instead! :-D

Do love this version though, and I always found the queen funny, but scary at the same time when I was a kid. I like the current remakes, but as dodgy as the animation in this version is, and as over the top as the voices are, I still love it nostaligically.