National Film Vault

FILM NOTES

Hocus Pocus was released by Walt Disney Pictures in July 1993, directed by Kenny Ortega from a screenplay by Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert. Though it performed modestly at the box office, the film built a devoted following through home video and cable broadcasts, eventually becoming a genuine seasonal touchstone. Its blend of practical effects, theatrical performances, and Halloween atmosphere secured its place as one of the more enduring family films of the decade.

This cell captures Winifred Sanderson mid-spell, a continuous sequence in which practical star-burst light effects radiate from her outstretched hands against warm amber and deep shadow. The frames preserve the theatrical energy central to the character, with dark drapery framing the shot and the practical flare work remaining vivid across all three images.