jonathancupp66 Pufnstuf is the story of the rivalry between an insecure witch and a lonely Dickensian teen pin up model over a talking flute in a land of goofy puppet people. If that sounds crazy it's because it kind of is.Jimmy is an English transplant in America having difficulty adjusting. One day, after getting kicked out of band practice, his flute magically comes to life and promises to be his new best friend. They sing a song about it and, surprisingly, the song is pretty good. Jimmy then comes across an odd boat which he decides to jump into. Unfortunately, the boat is cursed or something and he is beset upon by a witch on a gigantic broom who wants the flute in order to impress her witch friends because she's kind of unpopular. Jimmy escapes only to find himself on a magic island where all sorts of strange puppet things live in a world of brightly colored hand-drawn sets. This includes a silly looking dragon lizard character who also happens to be the mayor and sounds like Gomer Pyle. In fact, most of the puppet characters act like bland impressions of vaudeville comedians. Witchiepoo and Jimmy are the only two humans despite the fact that they are themselves modeled on famous fictional characters.It turns into a literal popularity contest when the witches convention comes to town. Jimmy tries to rescue his friend using his usual strategy from the television series, dressing up in silly costumes and trying to trick witchiepoo, which seems to work less than half the time.The goofy, children's show plot hides a fundamental message about friendship and the two human characters are misfits who really only want to be accepted. Jack Wilde is charming as Jimmy. He has an off-beat charm and seems disarmingly earnest but he's rarely given much to do. The character of Witchiepoo, played by Billie Hayes, is such a lively and fully realized character that she stand apart from her surroundings. In a world that's bland and boring she parades around screeching and cackling. It's such a bravura performance from Hayes that she fills the screen with her presence. She combines a larger-than-life musical theater style character with expressive mime and slapstick. There's really no moment she's on screen she's not full of energy.The counterpoint is the citizens of Living Island are silly animals with voices of old comedians doing terrible, corny jokes all day is so striking. You really feel her frustration being trapped in a land of dum dums without anybody to really connect with. In contrast, Jimmy is good-natured and has a positive attitude. He's willing to look past how boring the relentless cheerfulness of Pufnstuf and his neighbors are so he can enjoy himself in a world where everyone likes him. It's like there's a sort of sibling rivalry between the two as they fight over friends. Jimmy is sincere and easygoing while Witchiepoo is manipulative and bossy. Really Witchiepoo is trying to make friends but she feels different from other people and she rejects them before they can reject her. She does steal and hit people and call them names so that doesn't help either.The sets are fantastic and give the film a distinct psychedelic tone. The songs are hummable and the score is surprisingly memorable. During the witch convention there are some really great visuals, costumes and bits of humor that show them really making the best of a lower budget. It's amazing this was made within the same year as the show aired. I was never really familiar with the series before seeing this movie and was genuinely surprised by how good it was. You certainly don't need to have watched the show though and I'd recommend the movie first anyway.This movie is the show's victory lap and and captures the spirit of the show nicely.

rossco-3 I'm always amazed at the following certain films I thought of as totally obscure actually have.This is one of the funniest films I've ever seen. Admittedly the humor is of its time and really stoned out, but it works straight too, the best of both worlds.I would also like to point out the great songs and musical score by Charles Fox.One of the songs, "If I Could," sung by Jack Wild, is really touching and poignant, and Mama Cass's "Different" is a great 60s up-tune with a timeless message.Charles Fox had scored another great trip movie, BARBARELLA, about this time, and this score is like Barbarella meets Witchie-Poo.The score, originally on Capitol Records, belongs on CD, and the film itself should have a deluxe release on DVD.

thomandybish A (until recently)lost gem, PUFNSTUF is a wacky feature film extension of the popular late 60s/early 70s childrens's TV show. The story picks up with Jimmy(Jack Wild)getting kicked out of his school band by the harpie band director. Alone and sad, he discovers that his previously inanimate flute can talk! Together they board a boat(which is really under the spell of Witchiepoo, a comically inept witch who is after Freddy)headed for Living Island, a place populated by talking trees, animals, clocks and such, presided over by yellow dragon mayor H.R. Pufnstuf. Luckily for Jimmy, they're all friendly, because he jumps overboard the evil boat and makes for shore. The rest of the movie concerns Jimmy's trying to get off Living Island and avoiding the schemings of the witch to snatch Freddy. Witchiepoo is played by Billie Hayes, and her performance is the highlight of the film. Flanked by incompetent cronies Seymour the spider and Orson the buzzard, Witchiepoo staggers from one half-baked scheme to another, using her magic to assume some wacky disguises, turning herself into a giant sunflower with her face in the middle and a blonde go-go dancer in a yellow fringed jumpsuit! Also on hand are Martha Raye as Boss Witch, the "Queen of all Witch-dom", who informs Witchiepoo that her castle will be the site of the annual Witches'Convention, and "Mama" Cass Elliot in her only feature film appearance as Witch Hazel. The songs are catchy and memorable(Elliot sings a straight-up pop song, "Different", and the rest are Broadway-styled)and the film has some satirical moments. The Living Island citizens storm Witchiepoo's castle dressed as angels(one of the few things that frighten witches)to free Freddy and Pufnstuf, who is tied to a spit with a huge apple in his mouth. The Witches'Convention is in full swing, and as the angels appear, pandemonium breaks out, with witches scrambling for the exit. "Why didn't you get this place angel proofed?"Martha Raye screams to Witchiepoo. The hapless witch begs fleeing guests to stay. "Aw, go to heaven!" yells Cass Elliot as she shoves Witchiepoo aside and makes for the door. Universal recently released this movie on video 30 years after it's theatrical release in the summer of 1970. During that time, it had slipped into oblivion, remembered only by a die-hard few. It has the potential to have the same cult status as WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. If you like WILLY, give PUFNSTUF a try.

filburt-2 Why would you want to see this movie? Cos it'll scare the pants off of you, Thats why. It has all the Hallmarks of a good Horror flick; witches, dragons, spiders and diamond encrusted flutes. But perhaps the scariest part is the little English boy Jimmy, who sings and dances and comes up with the stupidest plans, that actually work.A great retro movie!