User Reviews

This short was one I watched as a kid and I remember seeing it maybe one time with only a couple of scenes sticking out in my mind. Recently saw it again and watched it for nostalgia sake and to see if it was indeed the special I was thinking it was and turns out it was. Basically, a Halloween special featuring a cast of actors playing famous monsters, though only Judd Hirsch and Marriette Hartley being really noteworthy.

The story has rumors about Halloween being cancelled which upsets Count Dracula who summons all the other monsters to his castle to figure out where the rumors came from. Turns out, the witch started the rumors herself as she tires of being in Dracula's shadow and apparently she will not fly over the moon on Halloween and this somehow makes it void for some reason? Anyways, it is up to Dracula and all the other monsters to make their way to her castle to try and convince her to fly over the moon so that there may be a Halloween!

Somewhat stupid as far as plot and Judd Hirsch really hams it up in the role of Dracula. The other monsters just are bland though as only Igor really has any type of lines at all other than Dracula and the witch. Not too much effort put into the costumes either nor the story. It gets wrapped up in rather confusing fashion as these kids convince the witch to fly over the moon, but it is not shown how they got there as most of the short they are sitting at a television watching the news at their house.

So, one of those shorts you vaguely remember from childhood and then you see it and you now know it was not just a fever dream! The scene I remember most from the short is when Dracula turns into a small bat and is promptly pummeled by the witch. What I had no recollection of is the witch and Dracula disco dancing at the end! Harmless enough, but not all that great either.

"The Halloween That Almost Wasn't" is a 24-minute Halloween television special from over 25 years ago that actually won an Emmy in a category where it basically only went against competition that also came from this film here. But I must say the Emmy win is fine. It is among the best aspects of the film easily. The acting is okay all in all, but the script is not too great. I know it tries to be 100% comedy and never scary, so it's suitable for young audiences too, but it does rarely work as a comedy I must say. It just wasn't funny enough as a whole. This is particularly disappointing as basically all the people working on this one, be it Judd Hirsch shortly before his Oscar nomination, the other actors or the writer and director, they were all pretty experienced in the world or film when this was made. All in all, not as good of a watch as I had hoped. Thumbs down and I can't recommend it.

I've been watching this little movie for thirteen years (I'm that old--scary, huh?) and I love it now as much as I did when I first saw it.

The plot is very simple: Dracula calls together a meeting of the world's most famous monsters because a rumor has started that Halloween is in danger of disappearing forever. During that meeting, the Witch admits that she doesn't want to be a witch anymore and won't fly her broom over the moon at midnight on the night before Halloween. Halloween can't start if she doesn't. She will only do it if Dracula follows a list of conditions. He won't, so she won't fly over the moon. That night, Dracula and the other monsters go to her castle to try to convince her to fly over the moon. After a few hilarious "ideas" from Igor, two children show up at the castle. The girl is dressed up like the Witch and that just about breaks the Witch's heart. She will fly over the moon only if Dracula promises to throw a Disco party afterward.

Even though this special is dated, it is still very good and very funny. The acting is superb. I hope this makes it onto DVD at some point in time. Until then, I'll be happy with the old VHS tape I have.

I'm not even sure how many times I'd watched this special as a kid. Often enough to commit Dracula's mini-tirade to memory: "Eeeeegor, you did it again! How many times do I have to tell you? Keep the tomb door open at night and closed in the day. Open at night and CLOSED IN THE DAY!"

Judd Hirsch owns in this movie, and he's who I conjure whenever hearing the name Dracula (is it any wonder I'm more comically inclined rather than horror?); his facial expressions, comedic timing and willingness to play such a goofy role. But he's not backed by lightweights. Mariette Hartley plays the curmudgeonly witch to a T (her annoyance is infectious), while Henry Gibson hands up an Igor performance almost as memorable as that of Marty Feldman.

I dig the playfulness of this thing, and the movie's daffy sense of humor. It's one of those annual specials worthy of being passed down to the next generation.

Get off your asses, Disney, and give this thing a proper release.

9/10

I remember watching this as a kid! I loved it then, and I love it now. The one liners in this are great. Dracula: Soon you will grow sleepy and obey my every command. Witch: Over my dead body! Dracula: Don't be a tease! LOL! I had forgotten all about this until I stumbled across it on another website. All of the characters are great. The wolfman, the mummy, frankenstein's monster, the king of the dead, igor, and of course Dracula, and the witch. The funniest parts are the dialogue between Dracula and the witch, and Dracula and igor. Dracula to igor: Can't do me any harm huh? Who did that, termites? You have to watch to understand what I mean, but this is a great Halloween short and definitely worth a watch!

I found this one year after trick-or-treating. I had no idea what it was at the time, but I thought it was hilarious. Of course, I couldn't find it again. My only issue with this gem is the disco music. Dear God, help me! I also loved Henri Gibson, along with John Schuck and Jack Riley. They were great in these roles. Then, like another viewer discovered, Disney Channel did a Halloween night, probably about ten years ago. I was able to record this, along with "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" with Bing Crosby. Why these are not shown, along with "Garfield's Halloween", I'll never know. Guess the world only loves "The Great Pumpkin". I do as well, but there's more out there, people!