MovieChat Forums > Bewitched (1964) Discussion > Any Remakes you PREFER?

Any Remakes you PREFER?

posted 7 years ago by [email protected] (1732)
11 replies | jump to latest

Most of the retreads on BW (and let's face it, they were doing this BEFORE York left, so we
can't blame Sargent), are not as strong as the original. But for some reason, I can name
three remakes I prefer, one in the York years, two in the Sargent years.

SOAP BOX DERBY: Usually considered an inferior knock-off of the very early in the
series' "Little Pitchers Have Big Fears", I personally find the second offering more touching.
First, the boy is so sensitive, yet not corny, in is his need for friendship from Sam, and a sort
of brotherhood from York. I love the actor who plays his father. He LOOKS like a tired
"grease-monkey", and I adore the way Sam "finishes" his jobs for him, so he can really
see WHY he's working so hard. A charmer.

Samantha's Secret Spell: Here's a weird one. I realize this episode, where Endora
threatens to turn Darrin (Sargent) onto a mouse by midnight is indeed inferior to the
second season ep where Darrin's old friend, "Adam", has to go through all those different
scenarios, but I like the second one better. Not sure why. Just do.

The Eight-Year Witch: Probably my favorite offering in that troubled last year. This one
has a sexy Julie Newmar, a horny Parely Baer, and an "I just might cheat" Larry Tate lusting
after her. Liz looks beautiful in her long, blonde tresses and long, sleeveless chocolate-
brown dress, and gives both Endora and Julie plenty of laid back, ultra cool sass. It's
remade from season one's "It Takes One to Know One", which is filled with lousy special
effects, and a truly horrible actress ("Sarah Baker").

Any others?

[–] [email protected] (5900) 7 years ago

Good topic. First , I never blamed Dick Sargent for the retreads. He was hired as an actor, not a writer. It wasn't his fault if the show recycled scripts.

Soapbox Derby: A great offering. I hadn't seen the first two seasons in many years. When I bought the DVD, "Little Pitchers Have Big Fears" seemed familiar. Then I realized it was remade into the soapbox episode. Jerry Mathers little lookalike brother Jimmy was so cute in this episode. He was under the thumb of his smother mother. It was a good episode, but the soapbox derby had just enough of different elements to make it seem original. The hard working dad for instance, he wanted a better life for his kid. He wasn't smothering him like Mrs. Burns was with Marshall.

The soapbox derby episode had some great scenes with Gladys Kravitz. She made a protest about Johnny's win. She told the judges that Mrs. Stephens was somehow involved.

"The things I could tell you."
Abner Kravitz response- "The things I COULD TELL YOU!" lol

Samantha's Secret Spell- A high energy, funny episode. Once again, I forgot about the second season episode with Darrin's old Army buddy, Adam Newlarkin, until I watched the dvd. That was a clever episode.
Adam was not at all surprised about the curse put on him. " I'm from Salem!"

The remake had just enough different elements to make it fresh. Can't say that I like the second one better, but it was just as good as the first.

The third with Sarah Baker was one I did remember from years ago. It was a clever story with a twist. Darrin's "Miss Jasmine" was really an old nemesis of Samantha's. The script was interesting but the actress who played Sarah Baker was not so talented! Would have been a better episode if she was a better actress. Can't compare it to the eighth season episode because I just can't remember it. Haven't seen those last few episodes in years.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

"We're Having a Bad Spell" features a more original plot, sharper laughs, AND Aunt Clara! But I find this one a
bit sluggish, and I don't particularly like the actor who plays "Adam." "Samantha's Secret Spell" is much slicker,
and I love the opening/closing tags with an ultra-BITCHY (and scary!) Endora. Again, I realize it's not as strong,
but I personally prefer it. Weird.

[–] [email protected] (5900) 7 years ago

I forgot! Aunt Clara was in "We're Having a Bad Spell". For all her problems with her spells due to old age, Samantha relied on her for her wisdom and experience.

I liked this episode more after repeated viewings. Adam is so confused and really upset with Darrin's behavior, like when he keeps pushing him into that swimming pool!

I did like the actor. I thought he had the right combination of confusion and understanding. "I'm from Salem!"

In the remake, Sam has a lot more at stake, i.e., not wanting her husband turned into a mouse. The episode does move at a fast pace. And it features two of my favorite character actors. Sidney Clute is the bad guy Ralph. He went on to one of my all time favorite shows, Cagney and Lacey, and of course, Bernie Kopell as the Apothecary.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

"I know this sounds crazy....but the SALAD just attacked me!" - Adam Newlarkin

Yes, super sharp entry from a very creative time in the series.

Sadly, the actor who played "Adam" died just ten years or so later from leukemia.

[–] Mikwalen (24) 7 years ago

I must say - I prefer the 8th season episode where Tabitha turns her troublesome classmate into a frog over the 5th season episode where she turned a classmate into a butterfly.. and Maudie Prickett was the teacher in both! And Nita Talbot is always funny!... I also prefer the 8th season "Hansel & Gretyl" episode over the season 6 "Jack and the Beanstalk"... both featuring Tabitha switching places with the title characters. I must say though that the "Jack" episode has many pleasures-- Mrs. Stevens getting one of her sick headaches, Endora not wanting to jump into the book and spoil her "Lilly-somebody original!" gown, and the harp that plays rock music ("He wants music to soothe his savage breast, and SHE gives him the Rolling Stones!")

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

I, too, prefer the bullfrog episode over the butterfly offering, mainly because the little girl, "Amy Kathrin
Taylor" is WAY too big for nursery school and a LOUSY actress. The actress who plays the mother is
also bland. And this was a bland time in the series (season five was not of the quality of the first
three years, or even season four). By contrast, the kid who plays the bully was very effective (casting,
if not real acting talent). And there's some real laughs with Mrs. Rulnick ("OKAY - whatever he did to
her, 'I'm sorry.'" lol!). God knows the show was staler than week-old Wonder Bread, but somehow this
one is an unexpected late-in-the-series treat. I also think Erin Murphy is far more effective here).

One exception: Art Metrano is HILARIOUS as the beer-toking neighbor in the butterfly show. "There's
something weird about that dame!"

I enjoy the Hanzel and Gretal show, but I think the Jack and the Beanstalk ep is much funnier. The
only downside is it is the first Sargent show broadcast...and there's still that sense of...'what a drag,
York really IS history.'

[–] [email protected] (5900) 7 years ago

I don't remember the bullfrog episode too clearly ( I haven't seen the last two seasons in many years) but I'll take your word for it that it was better than the butterfly ep.

Maudie Prickett was super as the stern teacher. But she was the only strong guest actress. Little Amy Katherine was waaay too big for nursery school. She looked to be in the second grade! I was curious and looked up the bio of the actress, Maralee Foster. She was seven at the time.

Not a very good actress either (cute, but no acting talent). Her screen credits end with the Bewitched episode. I'm wondering if her parents knew people connected with the studio and got her the role. She was a pretty child. Maybe it was her parents idea to get her into show biz.

They often cast older children to play "younger". That's possible if the child in question is on the tiny side. The late Anissa Jones who played Buffy on 'Family Affair' was supposed to be six when the show started. She was actually eight.The actress was very petite and could pass for a younger child. Her onscreen "twin" played by Johnny Whitaker was a year younger than Anissa. But they both looked six.

The woman who played her mother had one funny line, I thought. The poor teacher ws beside herself with the idea that she lost a student. She explains to Mrs. Taylor that in all her years of teaching, she NEVER lost a child.

Mrs. Taylor- "...and you start by losing MINE!"

Yes, Art Metrano was funny as the beer drinker who observed Samantha trying to catch her "butterfly" in his tree.

I recently bought season six and I forgot how funny Jack and the Beanstalk was. I still remember how all of us Bewitched fans couldn't WAIT for the new season to see the debut of the new Darrin. Even though we loved Dick York, all of us kids were more flexible in those days.

Watching the episode now, Dick Sargent was a lot funnier than I remembered.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

There's an even funnier line after Amy's mother says, "And you start with MINE."

Maudie Prickett (talk about an actress who LOOKED like her name!) says, "Look...somehow, I'll
make it up to you."

Interesting side note: Doug Tibbles, who wrote this ep, recalled that Montgomery LOVED this line,
thinking it was very funny. Tibbles said he was hired for a few eps ("Nobody's Perfect", "Samantha,
the Sculptress") because he could write sharp, funny one-liners (how true). But he also confessed
to not personally liking the series, stating he could never sit through an entire episode, as he didn't
find it all that involving. This is MY feeling on "I Dream of Jeannie." Moving along...

PJ, you've got to get seasons seven and eight and watch them again. It is a curious time in the
series, and there are some funny episodes.

[–] [email protected] (5900) 7 years ago

"Look...somehow, I'll make it up to you." LOL Yeah, forgot that line! And the actress delivers it with such sincerity. ha!

Maudie Prickett (looked up her bio a while ago) was actually born Maude Merrie Doyle, but she married a Prickett. lol He was her first husband and she kept using his name though she married two more times. THAT is one last name I would've dropped as soon as possible.

Sadly though, the woman was widowed THREE times.

Yes, I have to get those last two seasons. I am still on season six though. Lots of good ones from that year. Haven't seen them either in a long time.

[–] Mikwalen (24) 7 years ago

"Don't go into the woods, Brunhilde, there's a wicked witch there!" .... I loved that line in the Hansel & Gretyl episode!

[–] [email protected] (5900) 7 years ago

Well I thought of a remake, but I'm not sure which episode I prefer!

In the first season, " Which Witch is Which", Endora fills in for Samantha at a dress fitting. An "old friend of Darrin's" sees her and they begin a relationship.

There were some interesting elements in this one. Endora as "Samantha" has a slightly different voice. I think it was something they did in post production to make her voice sound deeper and more alluring. Her make-up was slightly different. Interesting how Endora fell for a mortal in this episode after all her protests to Sam about Darrin (and his mortal shortcomings). The episode resonated on an emotional level.

In season six, this time it's Serena subbing for Samantha. A client of Darrin's, George Dinsdale finds her so intriguing. Sam and Serena have to prove that they are NOT the same person. Jack Cassidy as Dinsdale turns in one of his usual great performances as a handsome, slick and smarmy guy who knows the ladies like him...and he takes advantage of that fact!

Not sure which episode is better. I need feedback. Help, LOL