Witchfinder General (1968)

Director:

Michael Reeves

Writers:

Tom Baker (writer)
Ronald Bassett (novel)

Release Date:

1968 (Norway)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Horror

Tagline:

The Year's Most Violent Film! [UK Theatrical]

Plot:

England is torn in civil strife as the Royalists battle the Parliamentary Party for control. This conflict...

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Niece | Village | England | Burned At The Stake

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Vincent Price	...	Matthew Hopkins
Ian Ogilvy	...	Richard Marshall
Rupert Davies	...	John Lowes
Hilary Heath	...	Sarah Lowes (as Hilary Dwyer)
Robert Russell	...	John Stearne
Nicky Henson	...	Trooper Robert Swallow
Tony Selby	...	Tom Salter
Bernard Kay	...	Fisherman
Godfrey James	...	Webb
Michael Beint	...	Captain Gordon
John Trenaman	...	Trooper Harcourt (as John Treneman)
Bill Maxwell	...	Trooper Gifford
Paul Ferris	...	Paul Clark (as Morris Jar)
Maggie Kimberly	...	Elizabeth Clark
Peter Haigh	...	Lavenham magistrate

Also Known As:

Edgar Allan Poe's Conqueror Worm
Matthew Hopkins: Conqueror Worm (USA) (alternative title)
Matthew Hopkins: Witchfinder General (USA)
The Conqueror Worm (USA)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Finland:K-18 (self applied) (2002) | Australia:R | Finland:(Banned) (1972) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Norway:16 (1968) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Kentwell Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk, England, UK

Company:

Tigon British Film Productions

Trivia:

Paul Ferris, who wrote the film's dramatic music score, also acted in the movie under the pseudonym Morris Jar as a homage to film composer Maurice Jarre.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Real flintlock pistols of that period were useless at beyond point blank range and yet, in this film, people are shot at 50 metres or more.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[United States Conqueror Worm versions]
Matthew Hopkins: [voiceover] LO! 't is a gala night/Within the lonesome latter years./An angel throng, bewinged, bedight/In veils, and drowned in tears,/Sit in a theatre to see/A play of hopes and fears,/While the orchestra breathes fitfully/The music of the spheres."

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible: Scream Satan Scream! (#1.6)" (2001)

Genuine horror, from a film that's NOT a horror film!

I have a copy of Witchfinder General from many years ago. Recently, whilst re-organising my collection, I happened upon it and watched it once more. This film still manages to induce general feelings of horror on account of its violence, even though it is not really a 'horror' film as such. Watch it for its superb cinematography which lends it an appearance of freshness that belies its 35 years. It still looks as if it could have been made yesterday. Some of the more violent scenes will make you squirm. The cruelty of the period portrayed can only be imagined and the cheapness of life comes across as truly shocking. Vincent Price is excellent as Hopkins (though maybe a bit 'mature' to portray him, since he was witchfinding in his late twenties and died in his early thirties). To think that this evil man really existed and operated unchecked for several years leaves one cold. A minor masterpiece that all lovers of the macabre should enjoy.