With the new line-up secured, Stein convinced English producer Mike Vernon to witness the band perform in the Netherlands in late 1970. Vernon was not so impressed with their first album, but enjoyed them as a live act: "I couldn't stop talking or thinking about them! They were formidable ... the power of Jan and Thijs alone gave me heart palpitations". Vernon subsequently agreed to produce their next studio album. [22] [23] 1971–1972: Moving Waves and breakthrough [ edit ] Finally, we saved the best for last. For years there have been rumors about a Hocus Pocus sequel with rumor after rumor getting shot down. But now there’s a proper sequel in the works! No, really, we promise! Most of the time recycling costumes from other movies wouldn’t fly. You can’t exactly drop a bunch of people dressed as space marines into a movie about a bank heist, after all, but when your film is set at Halloween it’s a bit more flexible. In the party scene there are costumes from other Disney films including Tron, Treasure Island, The Sword and the Rose, and even, as a fun easter egg, costumes from Bette Midler’s film Gypsy. a b c Hernandez, Alan Carlos (12 November 2012). "INTERVIEW: Thijs Van Leer comes into focus". Herald de Paris . Retrieved 8 March 2017.

We really can’t lavish so much attention on the cat without at least giving every dog his day, so to speak. Bette Midler, of course, sang her parts in Hocus Pocus. We don’t even want to imagine trying to sell Bette Midler on the idea of not singing her own parts—you don’t sing for Bette, Bette sings for you. What most viewers don’t realize, though, is that Sarah Jessica Parker also sang in the film too. And while we’re talking about casting what-ifs, there’s another to add to the pile. Jennifer Lopez auditioned for the role of Sarah Sanderson—which instead went to Sarah Jessica Parker. Given what a natural fit Parker was for the role it’s even more difficult to imagine Lopez portraying the ditzy Sanderson sister. A Variety of Old Disney Costumes Appears in the Film DisneyWhile the bulk of the filming occurred on sound stages and movie lots in California, you might be interested to learn that a significant amount of the outdoor footage was shot on location in none other than Salem, MA. But why one actor for the physical role and one for the voice? The production team felt Murray’s voice was simply too modern-sounding and viewers wouldn’t believe it was the voice of a 17th-century boy-turned-cat. Binx Was Played by 9 Cats (And a Robot) Disney History [ edit ] 1969–1970: Formation [ edit ] Thijs van Leer, the founding member of Focus, in 1971

Accessories? We’ve got a cauldron-full! Stash your spells (or, you know, your cash) in the Emily Binx Always Be With You Zip Around Wallet, and jingle around the Loungefly Hocus Pocus Sanderson Sisters Sliding Enamel Key Chain as you call upon the spirits (or just your car keys).In interviews, Sarah Jessica Parker has admitted she’d didn’t fully recall the movie or the plot (so I think it’s safe to say she hasn’t rewatched the film). Given the cutting and editing we mentioned earlier, we can forgive her for not recalling it clearly. Bette Midler considers it her favorite film among all her movies but doesn’t frequently rewatch it. Kathy Najimy, on the other hand, watches it every year with us like the best of fans.

In early May 1973, Focus returned to Olympic Studios at Vernon's request and recorded a new cut of "Hocus Pocus" titled "Hocus Pocus II", released exclusively for the American market. [42] Later in the month, the band retreated to Chipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxfordshire to record a fourth studio album. Akkerman had expressed a wish to put down "great ideas" he had written over the past year, but extensive touring had left the band physically and mentally exhausted which reduced their eagerness to write and record new group material. Vernon recalled Akkerman's reluctance to take part in the sessions which to him, "led to the final dissolving of the Akkerman/van Leer partnership". [43] Around 40 minutes of songs was eventually recorded, yet the pair refused to co-operate and recorded their parts without the other present. [4] Vernon later called this period as "probably the worst ten days I've ever spent in a studio". [44] As a new studio album could not be released, Vernon took the recording from the Rainbow Theatre concerts and released it as a live album, At the Rainbow. The album went to number 23 in the UK in October 1973. The band went on to receive a Billboard Trendsetter Award for their success after notching up two gold albums, combining sales of one million copies sold in the US, and one gold single. [4] Recordings from the Chipping Norton sessions remained unreleased, rearranged years later, or included in the collection of previously unreleased Focus studio recordings Ship of Memories, in 1976.Kids these days might not recognize the more iconic member of the pair, but old-timers will. The Devil’s cranky smoking wife is played by none other than Penny Marshall, best known for her role as Laverne DeFazio in the popular sitcom Laverne & Shirley. Bassist Bert Ruiter (75) van Earth & Fire en Focus overleden". NU.nl. 24 March 2022 . Retrieved 31 March 2022. The Sanderson sisters fly again with Funko Pop Hocus Pocus figures. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Halloween film, the witches take center focus in the Pop! Disney set that debuted in 2018. The 1973–1975 line-up on the Dutch television show Top Pop in April 1974, with drummer Colin Allen on far right. In November 2020, a box set containing new remasters of the band's albums from 1970 to 1976, with previously unreleased audio and video material, entitled 50 Years: Anthology 1970–1976, was released by Red Bullet Productions to commemorate the band's fiftieth anniversary. [88] This was followed in June 2021 by the release of Focus 50, a set featuring live material recorded in 2017 in Rio de Janeiro and a disc entitled Completely Focused, containing studio re-recordings of "Focus 1" through "Focus 12". [89]

Filming is currently underway in Rhode Island and the film will, thankfully, include reprised roles by Midler, Parker, and Najimy. No word, at the moment, on whether or not any of the other members of the original cast are reprising roles in any capacity or making cameo appearances. Keeping to the Halloween theme, several figures are exclusive to Spirit Halloween, a large retail chain and online store that specializes in the fall holiday. There is also an exclusive Movie Moments figure for The Sanderson Sisters. Just like the fountain is part of a Hollywood movie lot, quite a bit of the rest of the film is too. When Max stops to talk to the cat Binx outside a home with a wrought iron fence and blue shutters, that’s none other than the house from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The original script and how the initial film was shot, however, was focused on the witches in question, the Sanderson sisters. This version was darker but Disney ultimately cut and edited the film to take on a lighter family-friendly tone. Several of the Hocus Pocus Funko Pop figures are exclusive to the retailer Spirit Halloween. Funko also gives us an exclusive Movie Moments figure for The Sanderson Sisters.The band released their eleventh studio album Focus X, featuring cover art by Roger Dean, in November 2012. On 14 April 2014, the band released Golden Oldies on their own label, In and Out of Focus Records. It is a collection of re-recorded versions of Focus songs. In 2016, the band released Focus 8.5 / Beyond the Horizon. It is credited to "Focus and Friends featuring Marvio Ciribelli", and was recorded during gaps in their 2005 South American tour with Brazilian musicians.