Pufnstuf (film)

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Pufnstuf

Original Theatrical Poster
Directed by Hollingsworth Morse
Produced by Sid and Marty Krofft
Si Rose
Malcolm Alper
Written by John Fenton Murray
Starring Jack Wild
Billie Hayes
Martha Raye
'Mama' Cass Elliot
Billy Barty
Voices
Walker Edmiston
Joan Gerber
Al Melvin
Don Messick
Cinematography Kenneth Peach
Editing by David Rawlins
Studio Sid and Marty Krofft Enterprises
Distributed by United States Universal Pictures (theatrical)
Running time 98 min.
Country  United States
Language English

Pufnstuf (sometimes referred to as Pufnstuf Zaps the World) is a 1970 feature film based on the television series H.R. Pufnstuf.

Contents

[edit] Plot

[icon] This section requires expansion.

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.

[edit] 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]

[edit] Cast

[edit] Voice cast

  • Walker Edmiston - Dr. Blinky, Ludicrous Lion, Seymour Spider, Candle, Hippie Tree
  • Joan Gerber - Freddy the Flute, Dowager Tree, Granddaughter Clock
  • Al Melvin - H.R. Pufnstuf, Heinrich Rat, Living Island Boat, Orville Pelican, Polka-Dotted Horse, Stupid Bat, West Wind
  • Don Messick - Googy Gopher, Orson Vulture

[edit] Puppeteer cast

[edit] Album

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. A bootleg version of the LP was re-released on CD in 2006 by "El Records" (El Records, ACMEM65CD). While the pressing is from a legitimate European company, the source tape is an unauthorized bootleg -noticeable for several loops added to various tracks.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "If I Could" - Jack Wild
  2. "Fire in the Castle"
  3. "Living Island" - Jack Wild/Cast
  4. "Witchiepoo's Lament"
  5. "Angel Raid"
  6. "A Friend In You" - Jack Wild
  7. "How Lucky I Am"
  8. "Pufnstuf" - Jack Wild/Cast
  9. "Charge"
  10. "Different" - Mama Cass Elliot
  11. "Zap The World" - Jack Wild, Billie Hayes, Martha Raye
  12. "Leaving Living Island"
  13. "Rescue Racer To The Rescue"
  14. "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"[5]

[edit] DVD Release

Pufnstuf was released to DVD on May 19, 2009. It includes the original trailer for the film, and is presented in its original widescreen presentation.

[edit] Footnotes and references

  1. ^ a b Passing Show, The Bridgeport Post, January 22, 1970 p. 21
  2. ^ Sid Krofft Interview on YouTube. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
  3. ^ a b The Joy Campbell McKenzie Interview [1] at [2] Living Island.
  4. ^ Barnes, Mike (2010-09-28). "Hollywood puppeteer Van Snowden dies". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i513cc43382b2c2e337c88e6014f4a2a2. Retrieved 2010-10-12. [dead link]
  5. ^ Muppet Wiki

[edit] External links
Television shows
Krofft Supershow Segments
Krofft Puppets appeared in
Pilots and TV specials

Here's Irving (1957) · Fol-de-Rol (1972) · The World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood Bowl (1973) · Really Raquel (1974) · Jimmy Osmond Presents ABC's Saturday Sneak Peek (1976) · The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976) · The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976) · Kaptain Kool and the Kongs Present ABC All-Star Saturday (1977) · The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars (1978) · The Krofft Komedy Hour (1978) · Bobby Vinton's Rock 'n' Rollers (1978) · Anson & Lorrie (1981) · Saturday's the Place (1984) · The Cracker Brothers (1985) · Rock 'n' Wrestling Saturday Spectacular (1985) · The Patti LaBelle Show (1985) · Sid & Marty Krofft's Red Eye Express (1988) · Krofft Late Night (1991) · Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (2001)
Films

Pufnstuf (1970) · Harry Tracy, Desperado (1980) · Middle Age Crazy (1980) · Side Show (1981) · Land of the Lost (2009)
Theme park
Live shows

Howdy, Mr. Ice of 1950 (1949) · Les Poupées de Paris (1961) · Circus (1966) · Funny World (1966) · Kaleidescope (1968) · Fol-de-Rol (1968) · Comedy Kings (1988)
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