Picture it: 1986. Loooong before anyone had heard of Harry Potter, there was a book series about a witch’s academy entitled The Worst Witch. If you haven’t heard of it, go with it. The series was very popular in the UK but never gained a ton of recognition in the US.
Then UK broadcasters did something amazing. Something epic. In 1986 they produced a film version of the book series. The lead was played by Fairuza Balk (you know her from The Craft and Almost Famous). So already epic. But it was the casting of the side celebrity character who genuinely enchanted us all.
Tim Curry became the face of the Grand Wizard in this TV movie. If you don’t know who Tim Curry is, then I can’t even. Don’t even bother reading beyond this.
Okay, let’s admit that the quality of the program is dodgy at best. The special effects were average for the time–and that’s me being generous. I will say, as an eight year-old (hey it took a couple years for the movie to migrate to the US), I knew back then it was cheesy. All the same, hey, it’s damn entertaining. Mildred Hubbel instantly became a personal hero to me.
All of this matters very little since the virtue and value of this viewing was all leading up to the most important, magnificent moment–dare I say climax?–of the movie. Maybe of all television cinema ever and since. A television moment I cannot undersell. It may simply be the greatest four minutes of television ever created.
I’m of course referencing the Grand Wizard’s performance of “Anything Can Happen On Halloween”.
Are you familiar with it? If not, that’s perfectly okay. Let me introduce you to it. And if you’re a long-time fan, sit back and enjoy the memories. Here we go with a look back at Tim Curry performing “Anything Can Happen On Halloween”:
:14 – Look at that wingspan! Honestly, a really cool parachute cape. I wonder if it’ll stay that size or magically shrink…
:37 – They are absolutely right to cheer. I’d be throwing my bra at Tim Curry at this point (and then I’m sure Miss Cackle would take away my wine goblet).
:57 – Oh shit, we’re into SUPER 80s now. If you didn’t live it, you can’t understand how this was once cool.
1:48 – I loove that he had to do a throaty moan before singing “the year”.
2:04 – Man, he is working those wings! Look at him go! Flutter right! Flutter left! Flutter right!
2:13 – WHOA, there may be a toad in my bass guitar on Halloween? Thanks for the warning.
2:54 – Wait. April first can be fun, but New Year’s Eve is a bore? You’re doing it wrong. Grand Wizard, you and I are going out next December…ah shit. I just remembered that you’re no longer with us. Well, trust me, April first sucks.
3:16 – Okay, okay, I was with you that your hair could turn green and that creatures could turn into sardines. But your DENTIST COULD TURN INTO A QUEEN? What kinda subtext are we singing about here? This just got really weird and judgy, Grand Wizard.
3:20 – “Has anyone seen my tambourine?” HELL YES, we have! You go with your bad self!
MORE TAMBOURINE!!!
3:45 – Anyone else notice that in the final seconds of the song (after throwing away his tam-bou-rine) that he pulls a full-on Pennywise face? Nightmares, ho!
3:52 – Their applause and enthusiasm is much deserved. Witnessing that performance live would have been a life changing experience.
It really is perfection. Please rewatch each year and enjoy that even the brilliant Tim Curry could say “yeah, let’s do this” and play that tambourine. All in the name of Halloween.
Happy haunting, all!
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