This was one of my favourite not-animated Disney movies that I saw on Sunday afternoons back in the 2000s, and last Friday I saw it again, inevitably bringing back so many memories.

First I must talk about the plot: two children (named Tony and Tia) with special mind powers are lured by a mega-maniacal millionaire that traps them in his mansion and wants to use them for money, but after Tony discovers the evil plan, he and Tia escape, but not until they end in a police station and with their mind powers distract the police guardian and find the company of a crusty old man that helps them return where this children call ''home''.

The two children are played by Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards, that would co-star in the sequel ''Return From Witch Mountain'', along with Denver Pyle as their uncle. Ray Milland and Donald Pleasence are magnificent as the two villains, and the always good Eddie Albert as Jason O'Day, the old man that helps the two boys returning home.

This movie had one sequel, ''Return from Witch Mountain'' (1978), with Bette Davis and Christopher Lee as the villains, and it's pretty much similar to this one. I recommend both this and the sequel because they are both funny and enjoyable for everyone!

Based on a 1968 novel by Alexander Key, the film starts well with a predictably stylish and atmospheric animated title sequence (which depicts a scene that is actually over pretty quickly in the film itself), followed by a rather sombre introduction to the arrival at an orphanage of two cute but troubled youngsters (attractively embodied by Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards) who both possess strange powers that soon draw them to the attention of rich and powerful but nasty Aristotle Bolt; who presumably intends to exploit them to make himself richer, more powerful and nastier still.

There are a couple of neat special effects sequences involving dolls and later a hatstand coming to life, but for me the film degenerated into a sort of supernatural 'Dukes of Hazzard' with an assortment of goons in suits, cops, rednecks and a gormless sheriff in hot pursuit of the kids; who along the way befriend a bear and enlist the shelter of crusty old widower Jason O'Day (Eddie Albert) and his Winebago. The kids' Uncle Bené appropriately turns out to be old man Jesse Duke himself, Denver Pyle, but I thought the special effects at the finale were a real let down when the cast eventually converge upon Witch Mountain itself. Apart from the fact that he strongly recalls Disney's perennial zillionire meanie Alonzo Hawk it's also never made clear exactly why Bolt is the bad guy, other than the fact that he always wears a black suit and that Donald Pleasure works for him (never a good sign) and that the plot requires one; he is thus duly played with a sneer by Ray Milland.

But this film obviously wasn't meant for me, and it was popular enough to spawn four sequels, so it plainly hit the spot it was intended for.

Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards played brother and sister in three films--both this film, its sequel and a completely wacko made for TV movie, "Devil Dog: The Hound From Hell", in which they played Satan worshipers!! Surely this third film is nothing like their previous two films!!

This film finds Tia and Tony (Richards and Eisenmann) as sibs who are living in an orphan home. However, they are not ordinary kids and they've been hiding a secret--they have realized they have amazing psychic powers. But they try to keep them hidden as they are worried what would happen if others discovered this. Unfortunately, a baddie and his toady (Ray Milland and Donald Pleasence) discover this and spend most of the film chasing the two. Fortunately, the pair discover a nice old man to help them (Eddie Albert) and ultimately they learn who they and their parents really are when they arrive at Witch Mountain.

If you've seen the sequel, you've pretty much seen this film. The plots are pretty much identical except for who plays the baddies. Now this is a problem, as the ending of "Escape To Witch Mountain" does end with the children leaving planet Earth...making the sequel unnecessary and nonsensical. So, if you have to see one of these family films, try to watch this one.