Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Vincent Price | ... | Matthew Hopkins | |
Ian Ogilvy | ... | Richard Marshall | |
Rupert Davies | ... | John Lowes | |
Hilary Heath | ... | Sara (as Hilary Dwyer) | |
Robert Russell | ... | John Stearne (voice) | |
Nicky Henson | ... | Trooper Swallow | |
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Tony Selby | ... | Salter |
Bernard Kay | ... | Fisherman / voiced Robert Russell's part | |
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Godfrey James | ... | Webb |
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Michael Beint | ... | Captain Gordon |
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John Trenaman | ... | Trooper Harcourt (as John Treneman) |
Bill Maxwell | ... | Gifford | |
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Paul Ferris | ... | Paul (as Morris Jar) |
Maggie Kimberly | ... | Elizabeth | |
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Peter Haigh | ... | Lavenham Magistrate |
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. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
Like "The Devils", "Witchfinder General" (also called "The Conqueror Worm") is likely to disturb a lot of people through it's portrayals of witch hunts. This one portrays England during its civil war in the 1640s. With the people paranoid enough to accept anyone, puritan Matthew Hopkins (Vincent Price) goes around coercing witchcraft confessions out of women, and summarily executing them in the most vicious ways possible.
Things get ugly when Hopkins targets priest John Lowes (Rupert Davies). You see, Lowes' niece Sarah (Hilary Dwyer) is engaged to Cromwell soldier Richard Marshall (Ian Ogilvy). And Marshall may have a heart of gold, but he will go to any length to protect his beloved. And I mean ANY LENGTH.
Vincent Price was always a trustworthy horror star, and this movie doesn't disappoint. It's certainly worth seeing, but you might want to avoid it if you have a weak stomach.