Burn, Witch, Burn (1962) Night of the Eagle (original title)

Director:

Sidney Hayers

Writers:

Fritz Leiber Jr. (novel)
Charles Beaumont (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

25 April 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Witch or Woman, What Was It?

Plot:

A skeptical college professor discovers that his wife has been practicing magic for years. Like the learned...

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Giant Bird | Spider | Witchcraft | Eagle

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Peter Wyngarde	...	Norman Taylor
Janet Blair	...	Tansy Taylor
Margaret Johnston	...	Flora Carr
Anthony Nicholls	...	Harvey Sawtelle
Colin Gordon	...	Lindsay Carr
Kathleen Byron	...	Evelyn Sawtelle
Reginald Beckwith	...	Harold Gunnison
Jessica Dunning	...	Hilda Gunnison
Norman Bird	...	Doctor
Judith Stott	...	Margaret Abbott
Bill Mitchell	...	Fred Jennings
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Frees	...	Prologue Narrator (uncredited) (voice: English version)
George Roubicek	...	Cleaner (uncredited)
Frank Singuineau	...	Truck Driver (uncredited)
Gary Woolf	...	Relief Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Sidney Hayers

Writing credits
Fritz Leiber Jr.		(novel "Conjure Wife") (as Fritz Leiber)
Charles Beaumont		(screenplay) &
Richard Matheson		(screenplay)
George Baxt		uncredited

Produced by
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	producer
Albert Fennell	....	producer
Leslie Parkyn	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Julian Wintle	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
William Alwyn

Cinematography by
Reginald H. Wyer		(as Reginald Wyer)

Film Editing by
Ralph Sheldon

Art Direction by
Jack Shampan

Costume Design by
Sophie Devine		(dress designer)

Makeup Department
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Iris Tilley	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Arthur Alcott	....	production manager
Geoffrey Haine	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Bracknell	....	assistant director

Art Department
Peter Lamont	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Eric Bayman	....	sound recordist
Teddy Mason	....	sound effects (as Ted Mason)
Alastair McIntyre	....	sound effects
Len Shilton	....	sound recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Gerry Turpin	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maude Churchill	....	wardrober

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor

Other crew
Jane Buck	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Independent Artists

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors (1962) (UK) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (video)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• Orion Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (Laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1990) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)

Other Companies

• RCA  sound recording

Also Known As:

"Night of the Eagle" - UK (original title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (video rating) | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Cape Cornwall, St Just, Cornwall, England, UK

Company:

Independent Artists

Trivia:

When Norman hides in the classroom "I Do Not Believe" is written on the chalk board with other key words related to witchcraft. Something off screen appears to him and he backs up to the chalkboard in fear. After the PA system is silenced, he walks back to the door. The blackboard has been smudged, creatively revealing the phrase "I Do...Believe"

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: At 1:21:48, you can see the guide wire controlling the eagle.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "British Film Forever: Magic, Murder and Monsters: The Story of British Horror and Fantasy (#1.5)" (2007)

A Very Scary Low Budget Witchcraft Story, With Excellent Direction and Performances

Norman Taylor (Peter Wyngarde) is a successful young professor, married with Tansy Taylor (Janet Blair). He is a very skeptical man, while his wife believes in magic and witchcraft. One day, he finds lots of amulets and witchcrafts in his house, and he decides to destroy all of them. His wife gets scared and advises him that he destroyed all the protection their home and lives had against the evil of envious and wicked persons, including some of his colleagues. Norman in principle does not have faith in her, but many strange events happen with him, and he changes his mind. This English black & white low budget production is one of the most frightening movies I have ever watched. With a great direction, excellent cast having a superb performance and a tight screenplay, this movie may be considered a classic in the genre. Highly recommended for fans of horror movies, in Brazil it is only available on cable television, since Brazilian distributors have not released on VHS or DVD. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): `A Filha de Satã' (`The Satan's Daughter')