Witchfinder General (1968)

England is torn in civil strife as the Royalists battle the Parliamentary Party for control. This conflict distracts people from rational thought and allows unscrupulous men to gain local ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Reeves

Writers:

Tom Baker (screenplay), Michael Reeves (screenplay),

Stars:

Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Rupert Davies

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent Price	...	Matthew Hopkins
Ian Ogilvy	...	Richard Marshall
Rupert Davies	...	John Lowes
Patrick Wymark	...	Oliver Cromwell
Wilfrid Brambell	...	Master Loach (as Wilfred Brambell)
Hilary Heath	...	Sara Lowes (as Hilary Dwyer)
Robert Russell	...	John Stearne
Nicky Henson	...	Trooper Robert Swallow
Tony Selby	...	Tom Salter
Michael Beint	...	Captain Gordon
Bernard Kay	...	Fisherman
Beaufoy Milton	...	Priest
John Trenaman	...	Trooper Harcourt (as John Treneman)
Bill Maxwell	...	Trooper Gifford
Peter Thomas	...	Farrier

Storyline

England is torn in civil strife as the Royalists battle the Parliamentary Party for control. This conflict distracts people from rational thought and allows unscrupulous men to gain local power by exploiting village superstitions. One of these men is Matthew Hopkins, who tours the land offering his services as a persecutor of witches. Aided by his sadistic accomplice John Stearne, he travels from city to city and wrenches confessions from "witches" in order to line his pockets and gain sexual favors. When Hopkins persecutes a priest, he incurs the wrath of Richard Marshall, who is engaged to the priest's niece. Risking treason by leaving his military duties, Marshall relentlessly pursues the evil Hopkins and his minion Stearne.

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Plot Keywords:

priest | england | village | horse | false accusation | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Horror

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1968 (UK)

Also Known As:

Conqueror Worm

Filming Locations:

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$175,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tigon British Film Productions, American International Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Russell was re-voiced by Bernard Kay.

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Goofs

When Stearne is captured by the Cavalry Troopers, one asks another if a Pikeman is required in His Platoon. In fact, only the Infantry used Pikes.

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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."

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Connections

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

User Reviews

Simply a great film

Most folks have already enthusiastically praised "Witchfinder General" as a masterpiece, so I have little to add in agreement. It truly is a great film because it is about important ideas--a deep, dark, existential look into the worst of the human condition. John Coquillon's cinematography is about as good as it gets, and Michael Reeves's direction is superb. But what really sets this apart is Vincent Price's performance. It is easy to overplay villainy, lapsing into parody, but Price is so calm and unaffected here that he is the very essence of pure evil incarnate, an evil corruptly justified by misguided ideals. This is a powerful film, not only relevant as a historical depiction, but also as a morality play for events in the world today. It may be cliche to say, but you'll think about "Witchfinder General" for as long as you think about movies.