Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (1922) Häxan (original title)

Director:

Benjamin Christensen

Writer:

Benjamin Christensen

Release Date:

27 May 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Benjamin Christensens stora film.

Plot:

A historical view of witchcraft in seven parts and a variety of styles. First, there is a slide-show...

Plot Keywords:

Witchcraft | Hysteria | Demon | Pagan | Convent

Cast

Maren Pedersen	...	Heksen / The Witch
Clara Pontoppidan	...	Nonne / Nun
Elith Pio	...	Heksedommer / Witch Judge (The Young Monk)
Oscar Stribolt	...	Graabroder / Doctor (The Fat Monk)
Tora Teje	...	En hysterisk kvinde / Modern Hysteric (The Kelptomaniac)
John Andersen	...	Chief Inquisitor (as Johs Andersen)
Benjamin Christensen	...	Djævlen / The Devil
Poul Reumert	...	Juveler / Jeweler
Karen Winther	...	Anna
Kate Fabian	...	Gammel jomfru / Old Maid
Else Vermehren	...	Nonne / Nun
Astrid Holm	...	Anna
Johannes Andersen	...	Heksedommer / Witch Judge
Gerda Madsen	...	Nonne / Nun
Aage Hertel	...	Heksedommer / Witch Judge
Ib Schønberg	...	Heksedommer / Witch Judge
Emmy Schønfeld	...	Marie, the Seamstress (as Emmy Schönfeld)
Frederik Christensen	...	Borger / Citizen (as Frederick Christensen)
Ella La Cour	...	Troldkvinde / Magician (as Ella la Cour)
Elisabeth Christensen	...	En ældre bondekone / Older Farm Lady (as Elizabeth Christensen)
Henry Seemann	...	Borger / Citizen
Alice O'Fredericks	...	Nonne / Nun
Knud Rassow	...	Anatomen
William S. Burroughs	...	Narrator (1968 re-release) (voice) (as William Burroughs)
Ellen Rassow	...	En tjenestepige / Maid
Holst Jørgensen	...	Ole Kighul
H.C. Nilsen	...	Juveler assistent / Jeweler's Assistant (as H.C. Nielsen)
Albrecht Schmidt	...	Nervelæge / Neurologist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Karina Bell	...	Nun (uncredited)
Karen Caspersen	...	Unidentified (uncredited)
Holger Pedersen	...	Unidentified (uncredited)

Directed by
Benjamin Christensen

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Benjamin Christensen

Original Music by
Matti Bye		(restored version: 2006)
Launy Grøndahl
Daniel Humair		(1968)
Emil Reesen		(1941)

Cinematography by
Johan Ankerstjerne

Film Editing by
Edla Hansen

Art Direction by
Richard Louw

Set Decoration by
Richard Louw

Art Department
L. Mathiesen	....	art department assistant
Helge Norél	....	art department assistant

Camera and Electrical Department
Rudolf Frederiksen	....	assistant camera

Music Department
Daniel Humair	....	musician: percussion (1968 re-release)
Bernard Lubat	....	musician: piano organ (1968 re-release)
Guy Pedersen	....	musician: double bass (1968 re-release)
Jean-Luc Ponty	....	musician: violin (1968 re-release)
Michel Portal	....	musician: flute (1968 re-release)

Other crew
Antony Balch	....	re-release producer (1968 sound re-release)
Paul Brewer	....	unspecified assistant (1968 release)
Norman Glass	....	unspecified assistant (1968 re-release)
Alice O'Fredericks	....	script girl

Production Companies

• Aljosha Production Company
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Distributors

• Universum Film (UFA) (1924) (Germany) (theatrical)
• International Telefilm Enterprises (1974) (Canada) (theatrical)
• BijouFlix Releasing
• Continental Home Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (video)
• Grapevine Video (USA) (VHS)
• Hollywood's Attic (VHS)
• International Telefilm Enterprises (1974) (Canada) (16 mm)
• Janus Films
• Kino International
• New York Film Annex (video)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (USA) (VHS)
• Versus Entertainment (2008) (Spain) (DVD)
• Vidimax Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Western Video (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• American International Video Search Inc.  video
• Newsreel and Dubbing Services  sound recorded at (1968 re-release)
• Studios Europasonor  music recorded at (1968 re-release)
• The Rank Organization, Film Processing Division  titles (1968 re-release)

Also Known As:

"Häxan" - Denmark (original title)
"The Witches" - USA (informal title)

Runtime:

Sweden:87 min | USA:77 min (1968 re-release) | 104 min (DVD version) | Argentina:87 min

Country:

Denmark | Sweden

Color:

Black and White (Sepiatone)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Silent

Certification:

UK:15 (1994) | UK:X (1968) | Argentina:13 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Company:

Aljosha Production Company

Trivia:

At the time, the most expensive film produced in any Scandinavian country.

Goofs:

Continuity: The kleptomaniac and the jeweler enter through a door on the right-hand side of the room. In the next shot, they are standing on the left side on the room, and the objects on the shelf behind them have changed position. The shot in which they enter is flipped (look closely at the buttons on the actors' clothes).

Quotes:

Title Card:Centuries have passed and the Almighty of medieval times no longer sits in his tenth sphere.
Title Card:We no longer sit in church staring terrified at the frescoes of the devils.
Title Card:The witch no longer flies away on her broom over the rooftops.
Title Card:But isn't superstition still rampant among us?
Title Card:Is there an obvious difference between the sorceress and her customer then and now?
Title Card:We no longer burn our old and poor. But do they not often suffer bitterly?
Title Card:And the little woman, whom we call hysterical, alone and unhappy, isn't she still a riddle for us?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Gargoyles (1972) (TV)

Criterion uncovers a gem

I found this 1922 "documentary" to be amazing in it's inovative and creative portrayal of witchcraft in the middle ages. Scenes of nudity and torture made this film very controversial in 1922 and caused it to be banned as well as greatly edited in later versions. Criterion has done a great job of preserving the film as it was intended to be seen with censored footage restored, an excellent tinted print, a corrected "projection" speed, a new score that recreates the music played at the original Danish premiere, and some interesting extras. The 1968 William Burroughs narrarated version is also included here and it's pretty ridiculous. The jazz soundtrack is just so very wrong. But still, it's interesting to see, kind of like the "Love Conquers All" version of Brazil. I think that anyone who is interested in film and film history will find this dvd facinating.