Sabrina Goes to Rome
Encyclopedia
Sabrina Goes to Rome is a 1998 television movie produced for ABC
. The movie is part of the Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
TV series and is the first TV movie made for the series. The movie features only two main characters from the series, the protagonist Sabrina Spellman
(played by Melissa Joan Hart
), and other main character Salem Saberhagen
(voiced by Nick Bakay). The film introduces the character of Gwen (played by Tara Strong
, better known as a famous voice actor), a British witch, whom Sabrina meets in Rome. As the movie is set in Rome
, none of the scenes are set on the original set of the series.
The film was directed by Tibor Takács, the director of the original Sabrina the Teenage Witch
film, upon which the TV series is based. Takács also directed an episode of the TV series.
Due to the success of Sabrina Goes to Rome, ABC produced a sequel titled Sabrina, Down Under
. This film again only included Sabrina and Salem from the TV series. Tara Strong reprised her role of Gwen for the second film.
The film is included on the season 7 DVD release of Sabrina.
. Sabrina finds an unexpected roommate: Gwen, a British witch with a talking guinea pig named Stonehenge (nicknamed "Stony"). Together, Sabrina and Gwen set out to solve the mystery of the locket. When Paul and his friend Travis witness Sabrina doing magic, they come up with an idea to sell the story. In the end Paul doesn't betray Sabrina, which sets Aunt Sophia free, as the locket says "Trust your heart".
As part of the Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: Salem's Tails book collection, a book titled Salem's Tails: Salem Goes to Rome is available. The book tells Salem's tale of his trip to Rome. This book is also unnumbered.
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. The movie is part of the Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the same name.The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, a teenager with magical powers, who lives with her aunts Hilda and Zelda , and their magical talking cat Salem...
TV series and is the first TV movie made for the series. The movie features only two main characters from the series, the protagonist Sabrina Spellman
Sabrina Spellman
Sabrina J. Spellman is the title character—a half-mortal and a half-witch—from the comic book Sabrina, the Teenage Witch which was later adapted in 1969 by Filmation as a segment from The Archie Comedy Hour . The character was created by writer George Gladir and artist Dan DeCarlo...
(played by Melissa Joan Hart
Melissa Joan Hart
Melissa Joan Catherine Hart is an American actress, writer, television director, television producer, singer and businesswoman...
), and other main character Salem Saberhagen
Salem Saberhagen
Salem Saberhagen is a character from the American comic Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, who also appeared in all other adaptations of the original, including the 1969 animated version by Filmation in which Salem is an American Shorthair breed, and has no other name except "Salem". In addition, unlike...
(voiced by Nick Bakay). The film introduces the character of Gwen (played by Tara Strong
Tara Strong
Tara Lyn Strong is a Canadian actress, voice-over artist, singer, who is best known for her voice work in cartoons.-Early life and career:...
, better known as a famous voice actor), a British witch, whom Sabrina meets in Rome. As the movie is set in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, none of the scenes are set on the original set of the series.
The film was directed by Tibor Takács, the director of the original Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (film)
Sabrina the Teenage Witch is a 1996 American television film adaptation based on a character from Archie Comics. It served as a pilot for the Sabrina The Teenage Witch TV series, and premiered on Showtime on April 7, 1996...
film, upon which the TV series is based. Takács also directed an episode of the TV series.
Due to the success of Sabrina Goes to Rome, ABC produced a sequel titled Sabrina, Down Under
Sabrina, Down Under
Sabrina, Down Under is a 1999 television movie produced for ABC. It is a sequel to Sabrina Goes to Rome and is a companion to the Sabrina, the Teenage Witch TV series. The movie features only two characters from the TV series: teenage witch Sabrina Spellman , and talking cat Salem Saberhagen...
. This film again only included Sabrina and Salem from the TV series. Tara Strong reprised her role of Gwen for the second film.
The film is included on the season 7 DVD release of Sabrina.
Plot
If Sabrina can't open a mysterious antique gold locket and release the power trapped within, her Aunt Sophia will be lost forever. "The secret to the locket lies in Rome", says her father. Sabrina heads for Italy and the Eternal City of Rome, for what was supposed to be "two cat-less weeks" to herself, is accompanied by stowaway, Salem in her backpack. Once there, she meets Paul, the gorgeous American photographer who grabs her before she falls into the famous Trevi FountainTrevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is a fountain in the Trevi rione in Rome, Italy. Standing 26 metres high and 20 metres wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world....
. Sabrina finds an unexpected roommate: Gwen, a British witch with a talking guinea pig named Stonehenge (nicknamed "Stony"). Together, Sabrina and Gwen set out to solve the mystery of the locket. When Paul and his friend Travis witness Sabrina doing magic, they come up with an idea to sell the story. In the end Paul doesn't betray Sabrina, which sets Aunt Sophia free, as the locket says "Trust your heart".
Cast
- Melissa Joan HartMelissa Joan HartMelissa Joan Catherine Hart is an American actress, writer, television director, television producer, singer and businesswoman...
as Sabrina Spellman, a teenage witch, visiting Rome to unlock the mystery of her aunt Sophia’s locket to stop Sophia being lost forever. She has to learn to trust her heart when she finds out Paul’s secret. - Eddie MillsEddie MillsEddie Mills is an American actor, probably most notable for playing Vandy in the TV drama Wasteland.- Career :Eddie did a number of movies including Heartwood and Sabrina Goes to Rome , probably most notable for playing Vandy in the TV drama WastelandAppeared on an episode of Flip That House,...
as Paul, an adopted American photographer, who saves Sabrina from falling into the famous Trevi Fountain. Paul finds out that Sabrina is a witch, and he tries to get evidence on video camera, so that he can sell the story along with Travis. After Sabrina reunites him with his real family in Italy, he doesn’t want to expose her and destroys the video evidence. - Tara StrongTara StrongTara Lyn Strong is a Canadian actress, voice-over artist, singer, who is best known for her voice work in cartoons.-Early life and career:...
(credited as Tara Charendoff) as Gwen, a British witch whose spells never go the way she plans. She helps Sabrina solve the locket. She has a crush on Alberto, who she accidentally turns into a pigeon. To change him back she has to kiss him, however there is no way of her knowing which pigeon he is. - James Fields as Travis, a friend of Paul's who intends to gather evidence to expose Sabrina as a witch and become rich.
- Eric Alexander as Alberto, a handsome young man who Gwen accidentally turns into a pigeon. Determined to turn him back into a human, Gwen ends up randomly kissing pigeons in hopes of changing Alberto back. When she is about to give up, she relents on kissing a pigeon who keeps visiting her and Alberto is restored to human form.
- Nick Bakay as the voice of Salem SaberhagenSalem SaberhagenSalem Saberhagen is a character from the American comic Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, who also appeared in all other adaptations of the original, including the 1969 animated version by Filmation in which Salem is an American Shorthair breed, and has no other name except "Salem". In addition, unlike...
, a 500 year old witch, sentenced to spend 100 years as a cat as punishment for attempting to take over the world. Salem stows away in Sabrina’s backpack and once in Rome, befriends Stony to gain free food from outdoor eateries, as people don’t take kindly to finding a guinea pig in their food.
Books
As part of the Sabrina, the Teenage Witch book collection, a book titled Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: Sabrina Goes to Rome is available. The book is written by Daniel Berendsen. It is unnumbered, as is the second film's book adaptation. The other books in the series are numbered in reading order.As part of the Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: Salem's Tails book collection, a book titled Salem's Tails: Salem Goes to Rome is available. The book tells Salem's tale of his trip to Rome. This book is also unnumbered.
Music
- The song heard in the opening credits is Sky Fits Heaven by MadonnaMadonna (entertainer)Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
. - Other songs featured in the movie include, CrushCrush (Jennifer Paige song)"Crush" is a pop song recorded by American singer Jennifer Paige. The song was written by Andy Goldmark, Mark Muller, Berny Cosgrove and Kevin Clark. It was released as the first single from her debut album, Jennifer Paige . "Crush" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remains Paige's...
by Jennifer PaigeJennifer PaigeJennifer Paige is an American singer-songwriter who achieved success with the 1998 pop hit "Crush". She is considered to be one of the 1990s' biggest one-hit wonders.-Biography:...