The 25th Anniversary edition of Hocus Pocus includes a brand new version of Hocus Pocus, the We Heart Hocus Pocus: Trivia and Treats edition is a new way to watch the film. While watching, deleted scenes, storyboards, trivia, fun facts and more appear in the corner of the screen, making the film a little more magical and educational too!
I've broken down the full Trivia and Treats edition for you to enjoy starting with the very beginning where Thackery awakens to find Emily missing. The Candy Crow storyline is mentioned along with original storyboards for the opening scene, which features a half eaten Candy Crown in Emily's bed.
Images are used for education purposes only.
I've broken down the full Trivia and Treats edition for you to enjoy starting with the very beginning where Thackery awakens to find Emily missing. The Candy Crow storyline is mentioned along with original storyboards for the opening scene, which features a half eaten Candy Crown in Emily's bed.
Images are used for education purposes only.
During the scene where Thackery is running through the woods, Sean Murray states that while running through the trees, his original cross necklace became caught and broke, it was lost amongst the leaves and so the team made a new necklace from two twigs and glue.
Above: an original cover storyboard of Sarah taking Emily back to the Sanderson cottage, a drawing of the cottage and another colour storyboard of the cottage too.
Bette Midler was inspired by Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz and Anjelica Houston in The Witches when developing the character of Winifred Sanderson.
Creature Foreman, Bill sturgeon states there are 3 books that were made for the film, with one being the practical book that contains all of the spell pages and another that has a mechanical eye.
Kathy Najimy played Mary Sanderson as if she was a hound dog on the hunt for her prey.
Creature Foreman, Bill sturgeon states there are 3 books that were made for the film, with one being the practical book that contains all of the spell pages and another that has a mechanical eye.
Kathy Najimy played Mary Sanderson as if she was a hound dog on the hunt for her prey.
Above: Storyboards of Thackery climbing up the waterwheel and into the Sanderson Sisters Home.
"Oh, Winnie Thou Art Devine" is a nod to Bette's nickname "The Devine Miss M".
Above: Original storyboards of the witches brewing the Life Potion.
While researching her ancestry, Sarah Jessica Parker discovered that her 10th great-grandmother Esther Elwell was arrested for "wicked and feloniously committed sundry acts of witchcraft". This was actually discovered when Sarah was a guest on Who Do You Think You Are?
The props department added small doors to the bottom of the cauldron to easily light it from underneath and a platform inside the cauldron to place the glowing potion on top.
The props department added small doors to the bottom of the cauldron to easily light it from underneath and a platform inside the cauldron to place the glowing potion on top.
Above: Concept sketches for Winifred Sanderson
Kenny Ortega reveals that they would have meetings with Bette and the team, where they would try and "physicalise" what Winifred would look like. Bette also states that because she thought Winifred was vein, she had serious make up and would be very white, except for two little cheeks and a little rosebud mouth. The hair was taken from the appearance of Elizabeth the first.
Above: Makeup tests of Bette as Winifred.
Rosie O'Donnell was also considered for the role of Mary Sanderson. She turned it down as she was concerned about her public image.
Kathy Najimy took the role of Mary Sanderson, but was originally concerned about offending real witches with bad stereotypes.
Kathy Najimy took the role of Mary Sanderson, but was originally concerned about offending real witches with bad stereotypes.
First extended scene:
During the hanging scene Mary turns to Wini and says:
Mary: "Oh, did I leave the cauldron on?"
Wini: "I don't know"
Mary to Emily's mother: "Would you mind just running in and checking the cauldron?"
Emily's Mother: "Evil woman, has thou no heart?"
Mary: "You're right, i'm wrong"
This scene is great as it's the only seen we ever see Emily's mother speak. It also shows why Mary says "I knew I left this Cauldron on, didn't I tell you?" when they first return.
During the hanging scene Mary turns to Wini and says:
Mary: "Oh, did I leave the cauldron on?"
Wini: "I don't know"
Mary to Emily's mother: "Would you mind just running in and checking the cauldron?"
Emily's Mother: "Evil woman, has thou no heart?"
Mary: "You're right, i'm wrong"
This scene is great as it's the only seen we ever see Emily's mother speak. It also shows why Mary says "I knew I left this Cauldron on, didn't I tell you?" when they first return.
Above: Hanging scene featuring Binx walking around his Dad's leg and then transitioning into the first scene featuring Miss Olin.
The film takes place 300 years after the witches were hanged on Halloween. Halloween in 1993 was on a Sunday, so there would have been no school that day.
Kenny Ortega and Omri Katz bonded over their love of the Grateful Dead. The paper Max is drawing on has "Grateful Dead' written across it... as well as pot leaves.
Leonardo Dicaprio also audition for the role of Max Dennison, but went with What's Eating Gilbert Grape instead.
Kenny Ortega states that they saw 600 young boys audition for the role of Max and Omri had been rejected originally. They decided to bring him back just as rehearsals were about to begin.
Many of the locations were filmed in Salem, which was where the original Witch Trial were held.
The note that is given to Allison by Max in class, changes when she gives it back to him outside the school.
Composer John Debney's father, Louis Debney also worked for Disney and started work for the company in 1936.
Kenny Ortega and Omri Katz bonded over their love of the Grateful Dead. The paper Max is drawing on has "Grateful Dead' written across it... as well as pot leaves.
Leonardo Dicaprio also audition for the role of Max Dennison, but went with What's Eating Gilbert Grape instead.
Kenny Ortega states that they saw 600 young boys audition for the role of Max and Omri had been rejected originally. They decided to bring him back just as rehearsals were about to begin.
Many of the locations were filmed in Salem, which was where the original Witch Trial were held.
The note that is given to Allison by Max in class, changes when she gives it back to him outside the school.
Composer John Debney's father, Louis Debney also worked for Disney and started work for the company in 1936.
Above: Originally storyboards of when Jay and Ice take Max's shoes. Also an original storyboard colour piece of the Dennison house.
Deleted scene 1:
Max and his Dad, Dave are outside the Dennison house and Max is moaning about having to take Dani trick or treating.
Max: "She blabs her fat mouth about my personal stuff and i'm supposed to take her trick or treating? forget it Dad"
Dave: "Oh, oh ok, we'll forget it. Since you're not big enough to show your little sister a good time, I guess you're probably not big enough to get your drivers permit this year?"
Max: "Oh unfair, totally unfair!"
Dave: "Life is give and take Max, it isn't always fair".
Max and his Dad, Dave are outside the Dennison house and Max is moaning about having to take Dani trick or treating.
Max: "She blabs her fat mouth about my personal stuff and i'm supposed to take her trick or treating? forget it Dad"
Dave: "Oh, oh ok, we'll forget it. Since you're not big enough to show your little sister a good time, I guess you're probably not big enough to get your drivers permit this year?"
Max: "Oh unfair, totally unfair!"
Dave: "Life is give and take Max, it isn't always fair".
Above: Deleted scene 1 of Max and Dave Dennison. Storyboard of trick or treaters.
Deleted scene 2:
Dave and Jenny Dennison are on the porch.
Dave: "Look at this place it's a paradise, come on! That's what we've given them, a paradise. No earthquakes, no smog"
Jenny: "No mudslides"
Dave: "That's right, the only thing we have to worry about here is... witches"
Jenny: "Witches" she laughes "Witches, that's funny"
Dave: "Come on"
Dave and Jenny Dennison are on the porch.
Dave: "Look at this place it's a paradise, come on! That's what we've given them, a paradise. No earthquakes, no smog"
Jenny: "No mudslides"
Dave: "That's right, the only thing we have to worry about here is... witches"
Jenny: "Witches" she laughes "Witches, that's funny"
Dave: "Come on"
Script notes:
In the original shooting script there was a montage of a rather annoyed Max explaining his costume at different houses. In the script Max says he's a blind center fielder, Christian Slater, Jack Nicholson's long lost zombie son, Ray Charles and Dani's brother.
In the original shooting script there was a montage of a rather annoyed Max explaining his costume at different houses. In the script Max says he's a blind center fielder, Christian Slater, Jack Nicholson's long lost zombie son, Ray Charles and Dani's brother.
Kenny Ortega states that Allison was the least defined character when they went into production but Vinessa Shaw came in "with the right stuff". Vinessa mentions that it was 7pm the night before they started rehearsals, that she found out she got the role.
Above: Colour storyboard art of the Sanderson Cottage surrounded by crows. Sanderson Cottage set model, set and inside the cottage.
Production Designer Bill Sandell based the Sanderson Sisters house on the architecture of homes in Salem. Kathy, Bette, Kenny etc all asked for little bits to be added here and there to the set of the house, so it reflected the Sanderson Sisters.
"It's a real house, there's no doubt about it. You could take that house and stick it on a hill somewhere and live in it, which i'd love to do" - Bill Sandell.
"It's a real house, there's no doubt about it. You could take that house and stick it on a hill somewhere and live in it, which i'd love to do" - Bill Sandell.
Above: Concept images of the Sanderson Sisters.
Script Notes Extended Scene:
In the original shooting script Allison shows Max and Dani a painting of the witches.
Allison: "That's Winifred. The eldest. Her father was a warlock. This is Mary, her father was a bloodhound and she could follow the scent of a child for miles. Sarah, the youngest, was strange. She would lure children - usually young boys - into the woods to play and they would never be seen again.
Max: "Hey I can live with that"
In the original shooting script Allison shows Max and Dani a painting of the witches.
Allison: "That's Winifred. The eldest. Her father was a warlock. This is Mary, her father was a bloodhound and she could follow the scent of a child for miles. Sarah, the youngest, was strange. She would lure children - usually young boys - into the woods to play and they would never be seen again.
Max: "Hey I can live with that"
Above: Storyboard images of an alternate candle lighting scene.
Sarah Jessica Parker described her character as "A wood nymph mixed with Lolita and a toddler".
Bette Midler described her character as "A hag with vanity make-up, with flesh-eating teeth".
Bette Midler described her character as "A hag with vanity make-up, with flesh-eating teeth".
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Right: An early concept image of Max facing Winifred. This was only a concept image and did not appear on any script pages and was not filmed. Below: Storyboard art of when Max slips on the water and first meets Binx. |
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Sarah Jessica Parker: "Sarah Sanderson is very odd, she's truly the most peculiar character i've ever played". "She's very seductive and completely unedited and she's just awful and I love her." "Winifred, Sarah and Mary have three different fathers and my father was the village idiot, but we all have a mother that we adore and that's the only thing that is common among us."
Above: Sarah Jessica Parker test shoots. The cast on set and a photo from promo shoots.
The actresses referred to the walk they do in sync as "slurking." It combines slinking and lurking.
Above images of the cats used for Binx, along with CGI images that were used to help make him talk.
Costume designer Mary Vogt did not want to use black for the witches costumes. This was to distinguish them from previous on-screen witches.
In an earlier version of the script there was an entire flashback sequence where Binx talks about his life after being cursed by Winifred's spell.
8 live cats were used to play Binx. They were called Stimpy, Felix, Mad Cat, Clyde, Killer, Rio, Tom-Cat and 'Fraidy-Cat.
Sarah Jessica Parker loved flying so much that she would often read her script and newspapers while still hanging from wires.
In an earlier version of the script there was an entire flashback sequence where Binx talks about his life after being cursed by Winifred's spell.
8 live cats were used to play Binx. They were called Stimpy, Felix, Mad Cat, Clyde, Killer, Rio, Tom-Cat and 'Fraidy-Cat.
Sarah Jessica Parker loved flying so much that she would often read her script and newspapers while still hanging from wires.
Above: Concept and storyboard art of Binx reflecting on his life and Emily's funeral.
FX Make-up Artist, Tony Gardner designed Billy Butcherson. Billy is played by Doug Jones and headless Billy is played by Karyn Malchus.
Above: Doug Jones, Tony Gardner and Karyn Malchus on set.
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Left: Concept art of the Children in the "Old Salem Crypt" after being chased by Billy through the graveyard.
Below: Behind the scenes images of the Sanderson Sisters after the kids manage to escape into the underground crypt. Winifred is telling Billy to find the kids and return book to her. |
Kathy Najimy studied Mary Poppins to help develop her own flying technique.
Costume Designer Mary Vogt created each of the witch's costumes to reflect their character. Winifred's costume is timeless yet medieval, with green to compliment her red hair. Mary's costume is very natural, made of homespun fabric with rich and deep colours. Sarah's costume is light, airy and ethereal.
Costume Designer Mary Vogt created each of the witch's costumes to reflect their character. Winifred's costume is timeless yet medieval, with green to compliment her red hair. Mary's costume is very natural, made of homespun fabric with rich and deep colours. Sarah's costume is light, airy and ethereal.
Above: Extended Scene of Billy stumbling through the underground crypt. At one point he stops and gently holds and taps a hanging skeleton hand. Assuming this was someone he previously knew.
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Extended Scene:
Bus Driver: "Ah Ladies, Ladies. This is a magic bus but I do need a token or its financial equivalent, por favor" Sarah: "Perhaps you would care for a small token of my affection?" Right: Concept art of the Sanderson Sisters preparing to step onto the bus. |
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Above: Extended scene of when the Sanderson Sisters first step onto the bus. In this scene the Bus Driver asks for some kind of payment and Mary and Winifred willingly give Sarah up to him by pushing her to him.
It would take 2 and a half hours each day to get Doug Jones to look like Billy Butcherson and another 45 minutes to remove the make-up after filming was done.
Above: Storyboard art for the scene where Binx is run over by the bus.
Kathy Najimy: "My function in the trio is that I sniff out the kids. We made the decision to make her half hound dog, which is great as I get to do stuff like this *scratches* and y'know bark and do all of those funny dog things."
Above: Behind the scenes pictures of the Sanderson Sisters just after stepping off the bus.
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In the original script, the children find the pretend police officer and he casts "Police Magic" over them for protection.
Cop: "Hamma dooma damma dooma damma dinga damma dooma..." ON THE KIDS - not sure what to make of this. Cop: "That's police magic. You are now protected from witches for the next twenty four hours. Left: Original script page. |
Above: Storyboard art of when Billy lifts the manhole and loses his fingers.
The "Master" and his wife are played by real life brother and sister Garry and Penny Marshall.
Garry Marshall previously directed Beaches, also starring Bette Midler.
Garry Marshall previously directed Beaches, also starring Bette Midler.
In an original extended scene, when Winifred is looking around the kitchen, the phone rings and it's the Master's Wife's Mother. This full scene from the script can also be read from the October 1992 script breakdown page right here.
Garry Marshall: "I got to dance with Sarah Jessica Parker, she's a very sweet girl and it took eleven takes. I got to hold her like this for eleven takes. That's worth coming to work for."
Garry Marshall: "I got to dance with Sarah Jessica Parker, she's a very sweet girl and it took eleven takes. I got to hold her like this for eleven takes. That's worth coming to work for."
Above: Images from the grocery store scene, which was filmed but never released. Concept art of the witches handing out Candy Crows and images from the scene where they're handing out Candy Crows.
Deleted Scene:
In the original shooting script the witches visit a grocery store to collect ingredients to make Candy Crows to give out to children.
Winifred: "See how the children go from house to house collecting candy.... greedy little beggers. We will give them candy too."
Witches: "To market... to market... to market..."
In an earlier version of the script, Billy starts his transformation to a nice zombie while having a fabulous time at the Halloween party, making friends and joining a conga line.
Kathy Najimy came up with the hairstyle for her character. It's inspired by the twisted stem of a pumpkin.
In the original shooting script the witches visit a grocery store to collect ingredients to make Candy Crows to give out to children.
Winifred: "See how the children go from house to house collecting candy.... greedy little beggers. We will give them candy too."
Witches: "To market... to market... to market..."
In an earlier version of the script, Billy starts his transformation to a nice zombie while having a fabulous time at the Halloween party, making friends and joining a conga line.
Kathy Najimy came up with the hairstyle for her character. It's inspired by the twisted stem of a pumpkin.
Above: Town Hall concept art and images taken from the deleted swimming pool scene.
Deleted Scene and script notes:
In this deleted scene, Mary and Sarah 'accidentally' push Winifred into the schools pool.
As Winifred emerges from the pool, she breaks into a "good natured" cackle.
Winifred (holds out her hand) "Shall we form a calming circle?"
Sarah and Mary take hold of Winifred's hands.
A massive bolt of electricity momentarily illuminates the room.
Mary and Sarah smoulder from the jolt. Winifred feels better and she's completely dry.
Choreographer Peggy Holmes: "Kenny comes from choreography, so his directing is always staged. Whether it's the actors moving or the camera moving."
Bette Midler: "For those three witches it is about movement and there's a lot of timing involved. We did a lot of counting, we did things on the beat and people don't usually do that in films. Most people are very naturalistic in their behaviour, but he didn't want naturalism (Kenny), he wanted it to be very stylish."
In this deleted scene, Mary and Sarah 'accidentally' push Winifred into the schools pool.
As Winifred emerges from the pool, she breaks into a "good natured" cackle.
Winifred (holds out her hand) "Shall we form a calming circle?"
Sarah and Mary take hold of Winifred's hands.
A massive bolt of electricity momentarily illuminates the room.
Mary and Sarah smoulder from the jolt. Winifred feels better and she's completely dry.
Choreographer Peggy Holmes: "Kenny comes from choreography, so his directing is always staged. Whether it's the actors moving or the camera moving."
Bette Midler: "For those three witches it is about movement and there's a lot of timing involved. We did a lot of counting, we did things on the beat and people don't usually do that in films. Most people are very naturalistic in their behaviour, but he didn't want naturalism (Kenny), he wanted it to be very stylish."
Above: Behind the scenes images.
6 animatronic cats were used to bring Binx to life.
The Queen of Hearts was used as inspiration for Winifred's look, as well as inspiration for Winifred's bigger-than-life personality as well.
The Salem sunrise was at 6:17am in 1993, so when Allison and Max awaken to see that it's 5am, they have just over an hour to stop the witches.
Bette Midler: "Kathy Najimy, she was a big fan of mine. First time she came on set she showed me these pictures of her as a teenager, ringing my doorbell in New York city and leaving me notes about wanting to become a performer."
Kathy Najimy: "Mary, she's a big kiss ass first of all. Which was great because I got to take the nervousness that I had for standing next to Bette Midler and really just magnify it and make it funny."
The Queen of Hearts was used as inspiration for Winifred's look, as well as inspiration for Winifred's bigger-than-life personality as well.
The Salem sunrise was at 6:17am in 1993, so when Allison and Max awaken to see that it's 5am, they have just over an hour to stop the witches.
Bette Midler: "Kathy Najimy, she was a big fan of mine. First time she came on set she showed me these pictures of her as a teenager, ringing my doorbell in New York city and leaving me notes about wanting to become a performer."
Kathy Najimy: "Mary, she's a big kiss ass first of all. Which was great because I got to take the nervousness that I had for standing next to Bette Midler and really just magnify it and make it funny."
Above: Promo images being taken for the film and behind the scenes images.
Kenny Ortega: "90% of the flying in this film is the actual actresses."
Bette Midler: "I had never flown before. I thought it was going to be really easy, but it wasn't easy. It hurt like hell. It was very very hard because you had to hold onto that broom and make all these gestures and carry on and act at the same time. It was really tough."
Sarah Jessica Parker: "I love to fly, I love it and not everybody feels the same way, but I could hang in my harness for hours. No one seems to understand it, I read a whole script hanging in my harness the other day. I hate it when they send me home from flying."
Kathy Najimy: "Every time we fly it's really great, except for the time they ran Sarah into a tree once, did she bring that up?"
Bette Midler: "I had never flown before. I thought it was going to be really easy, but it wasn't easy. It hurt like hell. It was very very hard because you had to hold onto that broom and make all these gestures and carry on and act at the same time. It was really tough."
Sarah Jessica Parker: "I love to fly, I love it and not everybody feels the same way, but I could hang in my harness for hours. No one seems to understand it, I read a whole script hanging in my harness the other day. I hate it when they send me home from flying."
Kathy Najimy: "Every time we fly it's really great, except for the time they ran Sarah into a tree once, did she bring that up?"
Above: Concept art of the books beam of light and the witches looking over Salem.
Above: Behind the scenes images of Bette, Kathy and Sarah flying.
Vinessa Shaw mentions that one time one of the cats that was trained to swat her face when the book was opened, kept swatting her face and she had to try and not laugh.
Animal Expert Gary Gero: "From time to time we'll even use 3-4 cats in a particular scene."
Animal Expert Gary Gero: "From time to time we'll even use 3-4 cats in a particular scene."
Above: Images of the many cats used on set.
Above: Concept art of the witches kidnapping Dani and flying over Salem, just before Sarah begins to sing.
In the original script the children were enchanted by the Candy Crows, Sarah's singing is what helps lead them to the Sanderson cottage.
Sarah Jessica Parker based her characters free Spirit on Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks.
Bette Midler: "We started off with the idea that we wanted to have a sort of female three stooges. They beat each other up and they call each other names. We wanted to have that sort of dynamic, as you don't really get to see that among women."
Sarah Jessica Parker based her characters free Spirit on Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks.
Bette Midler: "We started off with the idea that we wanted to have a sort of female three stooges. They beat each other up and they call each other names. We wanted to have that sort of dynamic, as you don't really get to see that among women."
Above: Concept Art of the witches brewing the potion as Max bursts into the cottage. Behind the scenes images.
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Right: Concept art of the enchanted children slowly making their way to the Sanderson Sisters cottage.
Alternative Storyboard Scene: In an alternative version of the car chase scene, the three witches all attack the car. First Mary lands on the car and Allison hits the break causing Mary to fall from the roof, Allison then puts her foot on the gas and runs Mary over. |
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Next Sarah appears next to the car, but Binx scratches her face which causes her to lose balance and fall from her broom and finally Winifred creates a fireball and throws it at the car tyre, causing it to burst and the car to lose control.
Above: Storyboard art of the alternative car chase scene.
Tony Gardner on Billy: "For the sequences where his stitches are cut, we actually have a mouth insert that goes into his mouth, that has two reservoirs in it. One holds dust and dirt and the other holds three live moths. Doug really enjoyed testing this particular piece of machinery"
Doug Jones: "It's like, have you ever had a dental impression done before? It's like wearing one of those all the time and having it flip on your tongue. They put the moths in and they go *flaps hands* in your mouth.
Doug Jones: "It's like, have you ever had a dental impression done before? It's like wearing one of those all the time and having it flip on your tongue. They put the moths in and they go *flaps hands* in your mouth.
Above: Behind the scenes images of the moths being placed inside Doug Jones' mouth and the scene where his stitches are cut.
Doug Jones was inspired by Ichabod Crane from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow for the character of Billy.
Above: Concept Art of the witches in the graveyard and with Dani in the final scenes. Concept art of stone Wini and Mary and Sarah turning to dust.
There was 7 sets of clothing created for each witch. In the town hall musical scene, the costumes are more bejewelled to sparkle and pick up the light more. Each witch also had two capes, one was longer, which was used when walking and the shorter cape was used for flying scenes.
Kathy Najimy used her experience as a cheerleader for the high-flying stunts.
A total of 7 different statues were made of stone Winifred.
Kathy Najimy used her experience as a cheerleader for the high-flying stunts.
A total of 7 different statues were made of stone Winifred.
Above: Original ending storyboard of Binx still alive but can no longer talk. Also Max and Allison sharing a kiss being going home.
Script Notes Alternative Ending:
EXT - Graveyard - Dawn.
In the original shooting script, there was an entirely different ending in which Binx the cat lives, but he no longer talks.
The movie also ends with Max and Allison sharing a kiss.
(On Max and Allison)
... who share an incredible, enchanting kiss. Then pull away, overwhelmed. A magical moment.
Allison: "Do you still miss California?"
Dani: "Could we go home now please?"
Max: "Absolutely."
Dani: "Binx, come on!"
EXT - Graveyard - Dawn.
In the original shooting script, there was an entirely different ending in which Binx the cat lives, but he no longer talks.
The movie also ends with Max and Allison sharing a kiss.
(On Max and Allison)
... who share an incredible, enchanting kiss. Then pull away, overwhelmed. A magical moment.
Allison: "Do you still miss California?"
Dani: "Could we go home now please?"
Max: "Absolutely."
Dani: "Binx, come on!"
Above: Concept art of the final scene.
