Hocus Pocus

"Hocus Pocus" is a children's Halloween-themed film released by Disney. The movie started life as a script for a special original movie for the Disney Channel, to be produced by one of the smaller studios owned by The Walt Disney Company, but the script caught the eye of Walt Disney Studios who decided that the film was strong enough to carry well-known names and to attract a cinema audience. The movie was released in the United States and Canada in June 1993 (which may have been the major reason for its lackluster box office success). It was released in October 1994 across Australia and most of Europe and some Asian countries.

(...from Wikipedia)

"Hocus Pocus" starts in 1693 where the Sanderson sisters - Winifred, Sarah, and Mary - are preparing a potion that will grant them immortality and eternal youth. Before they finish their fiendish brew, they are captured by the the people of Salem and executed for practicing witchcraft. Before they die, they vow to return to Salem on Halloween to exact their revenge. Flash forward to 1993, a skeptical, newly transplanted Californian, Max, explores the ruins of the legendary Sanderson Sister's house and dares the witches to manifest themselves. Disregarding the warnings of his sister Dani and girlfriend Allison, Max lights the Candle of Black Flame. Since he happens to be a virgin, that is enough to have the witches reappear to wreak havoc on the town. The kids take off with the sisters' spellbook and the fun and mayhem begins.
The sisters will die by the morning light if they don't recite the incantation for immortality, so they have to get their book back by whatever means they can.

• When Bette Midler takes the stage at the town Halloween Party, she says "Hello Salem, my name is Winifred. What's yours?". This is a take-off of the famous line, "Hello world, my name is Rose, what's yours?" that is spoken by Mama Rose in the musical "Gypsy". Midler played Mama Rose in the television version, Gypsy (1993) (TV), the same year "Hocus Pocus" was released.


• The role of Max Dennison was originally offered to Leonardo DiCaprio, but was given to Omri Katz when DiCaprio turned it down to appear in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993).


• There were seven statues made of Bette Midler for the scene in which she bursts in the sunlight toward the end of the movie. One of the statues, along with Winnie's spell book, is housed at the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Orlando, Florida.


• Rosie O'Donnell was originally offered the role of Mary Sanderson, but it was ultimately given to Kathy Najimy. O'Donnell claims on her blog that she turned down the offer to work with the Divine Miss M because she didn't want to be a "scary witch".


• After having locked the Sanderson sisters in the school kiln, the three kids celebrate as they walk to the park. The house shown directly behind Max and Zachary while they talk is, ironically, the residential edifice used as Thora Birch's home in "American Beauty" (1999).


• During the final fight in the cemetery, the background music imitates Miss Gulch's (the Wicked Witch) theme from The Wizard of Oz (1939).


• The film grossed $39,514,713. Although it became more popular over the years; not only is it a cult favorite but it also can be viewed regularly on television during the month of October.


• Brother and sister Garry Marshall and Penny Marshall play husband and wife. He's the one dressed as Satan.

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