Burn, Witch, Burn (1962)

A woman who may be a witch defends her husband from forces attempting to harm him.

Director:

Sidney Hayers

Writers:

Fritz Leiber Jr. (novel) (as Fritz Leiber), Charles Beaumont (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Wyngarde, Janet Blair, Margaret Johnston

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

A skeptical college professor discovers that his wife has been practicing magic for years. Like the learned, rational fellow he is, he forces her to destroy all her magical charms and protective devices, and stop that foolishness. He isn't put off by her insistence that his professional rivals are working magic against him, and her protections are necessary to his career and life.

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Plot Keywords:

witchcraft | professor | amulet | college professor | statue of an eagle | 

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Taglines:

Witch or Woman, What Was It?

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Burn, Witch, Burn

Filming Locations:

Cape Cornwall, St Just, Cornwall, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Independent Artists

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Wyngarde attended the premiere of the film with fellow British actor Alan Bates. Much to his disdain, he and Bates were the only people in the audience. Years later after the film received an American release, Wyngarde was pleased to learn that Burn, Witch, Burn played in Times Square for several years and found a bigger audience.

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Goofs

At 1:21:48, you can see the guide wire controlling the eagle.

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Quotes

Norman Taylor: I do NOT believe.

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Crazy Credits

There is no The End closing title, just a final "Do You Believe?" to conclude the film.

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Connections

Featured in Trailer Trauma 2: Drive-In Monsterama (2016)

User Reviews

Baubles, Bangles, & Bright, Shiny Beads

A small university town in England is the setting of this well-crafted tale of witchcraft, voodoo, and mystery concerning the rise of a young professor in his department in Sociology. The film begins with the professor giving a lecture on the ridiculous nature of the supernatural. He says that the supernatural only exists when believers exist; otherwise without believers, there would be no supernatural. I thought this was a great way to start a film. You know that before long this young professor will be eating those words. And, indeed, he does. The film's basic premise concerns this man's wife, Tansy, helping him rise - or at least believing to help him rise - in his department amidst other forces that wish to see his downfall. There is certainly a lot going for this British, low-budget film. Great performances are delivered by the entire cast, particularly Peter Wyngarde as the man trapped between what he sees as logical and reasonable and what his wife believes is responsible for his success. Janet Blair plays his wife with great conviction and an intensity that makes what she does seem plausible. One other acting notable belongs to Margaret Johnston as a rather scary, limping colleague who has a crushing blow delivered to her when she doesn't get the department chair. She makes one scary woman! The direction is in the hands of the ever-capable Sidney Hayers, responsible for many of my favourite episodes of The Avengers(including "The Superlative Seven"). Hayers is excellent at pacing the film with tension. But the most credit for the film's success must be given to Richard Matheson who adapted the film from the celebrated novel Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber. Matheson has just enough logic mixed in with mysterious red herrings, superstitious practices, and quaint, British manners to make for a most enjoyable film. There is no doubt that for this film: the eagle has landed!