Witchfinder General (1968)

Director:

Michael Reeves

Writers:

Tom Baker (screenplay) and
Michael Reeves (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

May 1968 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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 | England | Village | Horse | False Accusation

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

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
Maggie Kimberly	...	Elizabeth Clark (as Maggie Kimberley)
Dennis Thorne	...	Brandeston Villager
Anne Tirard	...	Old Woman (as Ann Tirard)
Gillian Aldham	...	Young Woman in Cell
Hira Talfrey	...	Hanged Woman
Jack Lynn	...	Brandeston Innkeeper
Michael Segal	...	Lavenham Villager
David Webb	...	Jailer
Sally Douglas	...	Girl at Hoxne Inn
Edward Palmer	...	Shepherd
Lee Peters	...	Sergeant
Peter Haigh	...	Lavenham Magistrate
Godfrey James	...	Webb
Margaret Nolan	...	Girl at Inn
Philip Waddilove	...	Soldier
Toby Lennon	...	Old Man
Paul Ferris	...	Paul Clark (as Morris Jar)
David Lyell	...	Footsoldier
Alf Joint	...	Sentry
Martin Terry	...	Hoxne Innkeeper
Derek Ware	...	Boy at Hoxne Inn
John Kidd	...	Magistrate
Susi Field	...	Girl at Inn
Donna Reading	...	Girl at Inn
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Reynolds-Lacey	...	Unconcious Drunk in Tavern (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Reeves

Writing credits
Tom Baker		(screenplay) and
Michael Reeves		(screenplay)
Louis M. Heyward		(additional scenes)
Ronald Bassett		(novel)
Edgar Allan Poe		(poem "The Conqueror Worm") uncredited

Produced by
Louis M. Heyward	....	producer
Arnold L. Miller	....	producer (as Arnold Miller)
Tony Tenser	....	executive producer
Philip Waddilove	....	producer
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Paul Ferris

Cinematography by
John Coquillon		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Howard Lanning

Casting by
Freddie Vale

Art Direction by
Jim Morahan

Makeup Department
Dorrie Hamilton	....	makeup artist (as Dore Hamilton)
Henry Montsash	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Ricky Coward	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ian Goddard	....	assistant director
Iain Lawrence	....	assistant director

Art Department
Dennis Cantrell	....	construction manager
Sid Davies	....	props
Freddie Harrison	....	props (as Fred Harrison)
Jimmy James	....	set dresser
Peter Sheilds	....	assistant art director (as Peter Shields)
Andrew Low	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Dennis Lanning	....	dubbing editor
Paul Le Mare	....	sound recordist
Hugh Strain	....	sound mixer
Helena Lanning	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roger Dicken	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Gerry Anstiss	....	camera operator (as Gerry Anstice)
Tony Breeze	....	camera assistant
Jack Dooley	....	stills
Brian Elvin	....	camera operator
Chris Reynolds	....	camera assistant
Laurie Shane	....	gaffer
Freddie Williams	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jill Thompson	....	wardrobe (as Jill Thomson)

Editorial Department
Marion Curren	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Paul Ferris	....	conductor
Kendall Schmidt	....	composer: US video release
Kenneth V. Jones	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Jack Daw	....	publicist
Pat O'Donnell	....	production secretary
Ewan Pearson	....	location manager (as Euan Pearson)
Lorna Selwyn	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Tigon British Film Productions (as A Tigon British American International Production)
• American International Productions (as A Tigon British American International Production)

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alpha (1969) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD) (cut version)
• Castle Pictures (1990) (UK) (VHS)
• Castle Vision (1991) (UK) (VHS)
• Cinefear (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Cinema Club (2000) (UK) (VHS)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc) (with "The Tomb of Ligeia")
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1998) (Finland) (TV)
• Metrodome Distribution (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Orion Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Prism Leisure Corporation (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Redemption Films (1995) (UK) (VHS) (as Redemption Video)
• Target (1987) (UK) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• VPS Video (1980) (West Germany) (VHS)

Other Companies

• De Wolfe Music  production music
• Headquarters Staff Stanford Practical Training Area, The  for their kind co-operation in the making of this film, the producers wish to thank the following (as The Headquarters Staff Stanford Practical Training Area)
• Lavenham Parish Council, The  for their kind co-operation in the making of this film, the producers wish to thank the following (as The Lavenham Parish Council)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Ministry of Defence  for their kind co-operation in the making of this film, the producers wish to thank the following (as The Ministry of Defence {Army Department})
• Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Regiment, The  for their kind co-operation in the making of this film, the producers wish to thank the following (as The Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Regiment)

Also Known As:

"Conqueror Worm" - USA (alternative title)
"Matthew Hopkins: Conqueror Worm" - USA (alternative title)

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) | New Zealand:R18 | West Germany:18 | Australia:R | Finland:(Banned) (1972) | Germany:16 (cut version) | Norway:16 (1968) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Bury St Edmunds, 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: 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.

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)

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.