Witchfinder General (1968) on Netflix
NR19681h 26mBiographyDramaHorror
In 1645, as civil war loosens the law, Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne sell witch-hunting services to magistrates. Roundhead soldier Richard Marshall rides home to Brandeston to see Sara.
- Netflix3.1/5
- IMDb6.7/1014,047 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes94%
Trailer
Plot summary
With the English Civil War unsettling the law in 1645, Matthew Hopkins and his assistant John Stearne tour East Anglia, paid by local magistrates for the confessions they torture out of people accused of witchcraft. Roundhead soldier Richard Marshall spends his army leave in Brandeston, Suffolk, with Sara, whose uncle John Lowes is the village priest. Lowes gives Marshall permission to marry Sara and asks him to take her away, saying trouble is coming to the village. Sara tells Marshall that she and her uncle have been threatened and are now outcasts there, and Marshall promises to keep her safe. Riding back to his regiment, he meets Hopkins and Stearne on the path and gives them directions to Brandeston.
Cast
- John Trenamanas Trooper Harcourt
- Bill Maxwellas Gifford
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Witchfinder General (1968)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
SPOILER
Director Michael Reeves and star Vincent Price clashed throughout production. On the final day, when Price arrived drunk, Reeves told Ian Ogilvy to "really lay into Vincent" with a stage axe during Price's death scene; Ogilvy's blows were not faked, but co-producer Philip Waddilove had padded Price's costume to protect him.SPOILER
The original ending was completely altered: in the original script, Stearne is blinded by a gypsy woman and staked to death by gypsies, but this was changed for the final film.- Reeves and Baker wrote the screenplay with Donald Pleasence in mind for the lead, but American International Pictures insisted on Vincent Price, so Pleasence was dropped.
- The film is based on the real witch hunters Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne, who from 1645 to 1647 were paid by local authorities to interrogate suspected witches using sleep deprivation and pricking, and Hopkins published The Discovery of Witches before dying of consumption in 1647.
- For the witch-burning scene, the crew filmed in the real Lavenham Market Square, lowered TV antennas and telephone wires, and hired a cherry picker for £10 because they couldn't afford a camera crane.
- Rupert Davies, who played Sara's uncle John Lowes, had live rats placed on his body during his torture scenes, and Reeves told him not to move until one started nibbling his jaw.
- Composer Paul Ferris conducted a 55-piece orchestra for the score and paid most of the performers' wages himself when Tony Tenser refused additional funds, though he was later reimbursed.
