What is the name of this show?

Question

I first saw this movie or tv show as a child, in the late 70's or early 80's.  It was shown at my public school in Canada, back in the days when the Lord's prayer was read on the PA system in the morning, so the show would now most likely be rated "Family".

The plot involved 2 children, a boy and a girl, escaping from a building, possibly a haunted house.

There was a scientist, (possibly mad), probably assisting or being rescued by the children.  I think the scientist at one point was wearing jet powered roller skates.

I suspect there were two (mild by today's standards) sinister adults: one male, one female.

In one scene, one of the children must navigate through a "laser field" to disable an alarm system... the "laser field" looked more like glowing orange rods that they had to step between or crawl under / through.  This is the most vivid recollection.  The movie must have this detail.

I may be confusing the following detail with other movies, but there's the possibility that the boy had a magical harmonica, and the girl could do telepathy with animals.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,

David

? · Accepted Answer

Escape to Witch Mountain is a science fiction novel written by Alexander Key in 1968. It was adapted into a film of the same name by Walt Disney Productions in 1975, directed by John Hough. A remake directed by Peter Rader was released in 1995. Race to Witch Mountain, a new telling directed by Andy Fickman, opened theatrically March 13, 2009,.

David · Answer

It sounds remarkably like the 1975 Disney movie ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN with Ray Milland as the evil scientist type, although he is more likely a scrupulous  millionaire with a scientific obsession.
And Donald Pleasance as the evil henchman.
  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072951/

Ike Eisenmann as the boy with the magical harmonica, who can see things happen before it actually happens.
And Kim Richards as the girl with telepathic powers, who also can communicate with animals.

The haunted house part was the Orphanage where the two kids lived and the female was the Orphanage mother / ward / teacher, whatever you would call her but she wasnt evil.

About the laser field....hmmm...I cant recollect that in this movie, although there were some other "hi-tech" obstacles those kids had to cope with.

But a great movie and a nice start to the Witch Mountain movie series!

What is the name of this show?

2 Answers