Pufnstuf

From the (ahem) fertile minds of puppeteers and producers Sid and Marty Krofft, the Saturday morning TV series H.R. Pufnstuf (1969) was a childhood staple for young Gen Xers along with other Krofft productions such as Lidsville (1971), Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (1976), and Land of the Lost (1974).

With a TV hit on their hands, the producers rushed the big screen version of Pufnstuf into production. The film follows young Jimmy (Jack Wild), who bails on band practice one day and instead sails off to the magical Living Island with his talking flute Freddie. He is spotted by the evil Witchiepoo (Billie Hayes), who becomes determined to steal Freddie so that she can be crowned “Witch of the Year” at an upcoming convention. Arriving at his destination, Jimmy meets mayor H.R. Pufnstuf, a friendly dragon who gathers his friend Googy Gopher (Billy Barty) and the rest of the island’s cast of costumed characters to help save Freddie from Witchiepoo’s clutches! Also starring Martha Raye as Boss Witch and Mama Cass Elliot, who played Witch Hazel and contributed the song “Different” to the soundtrack. (95 mins., DCP)

Read more

• The World of Sid & Marty Krofft website