Witchfinder General (Original title)The Conqueror Worm (Alternative title)Edgar Allan Poe's Conqueror Worm (Alternative title)Matthew Hopkins Witchfinder General (Alternative title)
Dates: 1968 (Copyright), 19 May 1968 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Michael Reeves
Synopsis: In 1645, during the English Civil War, the Ipswich lawyer turned Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, and his servant John Stearne, tour the country instigating witch hunts, extracting confessions through torture. When conducting one of their witch hunts in the village of Brandeston, one of the many they accuse of witchcraft is the local priest. The priest's niece, Sara, offers herself to Hopkins in return for her uncle's life. Hopkins initially accepts her offer but Stearne persuades him otherwise and the witchfinder orders the execution to proceed. Richard Marshall, a soldier in Cromwell's army, returns to the village on leave to find Sara, his fiance, has been raped by Stearne and her uncle executed. Vowing revenge on Hopkins, Marshall goes in pursuit. Hearing of his pursuer, Hopkins arraigns both Marshall and Sara as witches and has them arrested. Marshall's army colleagues storm the jail where the two are being held and Marshall, having been freed from his chains, kills Hopkins with an axe.
Genre: Horror
Subjects: Witchcraft, England, Stuart Britain (1603-1714), English Civil War (1642-1651)
Releases
Date: 1968Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Colour - Eastmancolor - Sound - MonoAspect ratio: 1.85:1Runtime: 87 mins Length: 7830 FeetDialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: Tigon British Productions Ltd.
Date: 1968Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Colour - Eastmancolor - SoundAspect ratio: 1.85:1Runtime: 87 mins Length: 7830 FeetDialogue (original): English
Date: October 2013Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specified - Colour - SoundRuntime: 86 mins 41 secs - Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: BFIPlayer
Title: world turned upside down, again: hauntings of the English revolution and archaeologies of futures past in contemporary British filmsAuthor: Schmitt, MarkArticle type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Explores two British films set in the 17th century during the period of the Civil War and the English Revolution: Ben Wheatley's 'A Field in England' (2013) and Thomas Clay's 'Fanny Lye Deliver'd' (2019). Locates both films within the folk horror subgenre before exploring their engagement with the radical and utopian elements of the time and considering their relationship with a group of films from the late 1960s and early 1970s including 'Witchfinder General' (1968) and 'Winstanley' (1975).
In: Film Comment v43 n5 Sep/Oct 2007 Page: 76
Title: Witchfinder GeneralAuthor: McDONAGH, Maitland Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Short review.
In: Cinema Retro v2 n5 Spr/Sum 2006 Pages: 26-33
Title: Film in focus: Witchfinder GeneralAuthor: WORRALL, Dave Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Critique of the film WITCHFINDER GENERAL. Includes its hist- ory, the film's different versions, its marketing in differ- ent countries and a profile of director Michael Reeves.
In: Empire n189 March 2005 Page: 146
Title: RWD: The Tigon CollectionAuthor: BOWYER, Justin Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Review of The Tigon Collection box set comprising: The HAUNTED HOUSE OF HORROR, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, The BODY STEALERS, VIRGIN WITCH, The BEAST IN THE CELLAR and The BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW.
In: Sight and Sound v11 n12 December 2001 Page: 66
Title: Home movies: reviewsAuthor: LEIGH, Danny Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: StarBurst n209 January 1996 Page: 48
Title: VideofileArticle type: NoteLanguage: English
Description: Video note on the restored version
In: Sight and Sound v6 n2 February 1996 Page: 62
Title: The adjusterAuthor: FALCON, Richard Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Article on the footage restored to WITCHFINDER GENERAL (1968) in the uncut video version.
In: Cinefantastique v22 n1 August 1991 Pages: 32-38,43-45
Title: Michael Reeves: Horror's James DeanAuthor: KELLEY, Bill Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Detailed career article of Michael Reeves inlcudes a look at the controversy and subsequent critical acclaim of critics of The WITCHFINDER GENERAL
In: Cinefantastique v22 n1 August 1991 Pages: 39-42
Title: Filming Reeves' masterpiece: Withcfinder GeneralAuthor: KELLEY, Bill Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Production history.
In: Empire n11 May 1990 Page: 88
Title: Empire directoryAuthor: NEWMAN, Kim Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
In: StarBurst n46 1982 Pages: 51-55
Title: [StarBurst - n46 1982: no known title]Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Article on the film, with notes on the censor's cuts.
In: Image et Son n259 1972 Pages: 52-57
Title: [Image et Son - n259 1972: no known title]Article type: ArticleLanguage: French
In: British National Film Catalogue v6 1968
Title: [British National Film Catalogue - v6 1968: no known title]Language: English
In: Kine Weekly n3160 4 May 1968 Page: 12
Title: [Kine Weekly - n3160 4 May 1968: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v35 n414 July 1968 Page: 100
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v35 n414 July 1968: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 15 May 1968 Page: 6
Title: [Variety - 15 May 1968: no known title]Language: English
In: The Daily Cinema n9516 3 May 1968 Page: 9
Title: [The Daily Cinema - n9516 3 May 1968: no known title]Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
In: The Hollywood Reporter v198 n38 8 Dec 1967 Page: 8
Title: [The Hollywood Reporter - v198 n38 8 Dec 1967: no known title]Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
Description: Credits.
Author: MURPHY, Robert Pages: 4 volumes
Title: Cult film stardom: offbeat attractions and processes of cultification
Author: Egan, Kate Pages: xii, 288 pages
Title: Witchfinder General
Author: COOPER, Ian Pages: 105 p.
Title: remarkable Michael Reeves: his short and tragic life
Author: MURRAY, John B Pages: 281 p.
Title: Michael Reeves
Author: HALLIGAN, Benjamin Pages: xvi, 248 p.
Title: Necronomicon: book one
Author: BLACK, Andy Pages: 191p.
Dates: 1968 (Copyright), 19 May 1968 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Michael Reeves
Synopsis: In 1645, during the English Civil War, the Ipswich lawyer turned Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, and his servant John Stearne, tour the country instigating witch hunts, extracting confessions through torture. When conducting one of their witch hunts in the village of Brandeston, one of the many they accuse of witchcraft is the local priest. The priest's niece, Sara, offers herself to Hopkins in return for her uncle's life. Hopkins initially accepts her offer but Stearne persuades him otherwise and the witchfinder orders the execution to proceed. Richard Marshall, a soldier in Cromwell's army, returns to the village on leave to find Sara, his fiance, has been raped by Stearne and her uncle executed. Vowing revenge on Hopkins, Marshall goes in pursuit. Hearing of his pursuer, Hopkins arraigns both Marshall and Sara as witches and has them arrested. Marshall's army colleagues storm the jail where the two are being held and Marshall, having been freed from his chains, kills Hopkins with an axe.
Genre: Horror
Subjects: Witchcraft, England, Stuart Britain (1603-1714), English Civil War (1642-1651)
Releases
Date: 1968Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Colour - Eastmancolor - Sound - MonoAspect ratio: 1.85:1Runtime: 87 mins Length: 7830 FeetDialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: Tigon British Productions Ltd.
Date: 1968Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Colour - Eastmancolor - SoundAspect ratio: 1.85:1Runtime: 87 mins Length: 7830 FeetDialogue (original): English
Date: October 2013Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specified - Colour - SoundRuntime: 86 mins 41 secs - Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: BFIPlayer
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library
(18)
In: Journal of British cinema and television v20 n1 2023 Pages: 25-45Title: world turned upside down, again: hauntings of the English revolution and archaeologies of futures past in contemporary British filmsAuthor: Schmitt, MarkArticle type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Explores two British films set in the 17th century during the period of the Civil War and the English Revolution: Ben Wheatley's 'A Field in England' (2013) and Thomas Clay's 'Fanny Lye Deliver'd' (2019). Locates both films within the folk horror subgenre before exploring their engagement with the radical and utopian elements of the time and considering their relationship with a group of films from the late 1960s and early 1970s including 'Witchfinder General' (1968) and 'Winstanley' (1975).
In: Film Comment v43 n5 Sep/Oct 2007 Page: 76
Title: Witchfinder GeneralAuthor: McDONAGH, Maitland Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Short review.
In: Cinema Retro v2 n5 Spr/Sum 2006 Pages: 26-33
Title: Film in focus: Witchfinder GeneralAuthor: WORRALL, Dave Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Critique of the film WITCHFINDER GENERAL. Includes its hist- ory, the film's different versions, its marketing in differ- ent countries and a profile of director Michael Reeves.
In: Empire n189 March 2005 Page: 146
Title: RWD: The Tigon CollectionAuthor: BOWYER, Justin Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
Description: Review of The Tigon Collection box set comprising: The HAUNTED HOUSE OF HORROR, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, The BODY STEALERS, VIRGIN WITCH, The BEAST IN THE CELLAR and The BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW.
In: Sight and Sound v11 n12 December 2001 Page: 66
Title: Home movies: reviewsAuthor: LEIGH, Danny Article type: DVD ReviewLanguage: English
In: StarBurst n209 January 1996 Page: 48
Title: VideofileArticle type: NoteLanguage: English
Description: Video note on the restored version
In: Sight and Sound v6 n2 February 1996 Page: 62
Title: The adjusterAuthor: FALCON, Richard Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Article on the footage restored to WITCHFINDER GENERAL (1968) in the uncut video version.
In: Cinefantastique v22 n1 August 1991 Pages: 32-38,43-45
Title: Michael Reeves: Horror's James DeanAuthor: KELLEY, Bill Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Detailed career article of Michael Reeves inlcudes a look at the controversy and subsequent critical acclaim of critics of The WITCHFINDER GENERAL
In: Cinefantastique v22 n1 August 1991 Pages: 39-42
Title: Filming Reeves' masterpiece: Withcfinder GeneralAuthor: KELLEY, Bill Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Production history.
In: Empire n11 May 1990 Page: 88
Title: Empire directoryAuthor: NEWMAN, Kim Article type: ReviewLanguage: English
In: StarBurst n46 1982 Pages: 51-55
Title: [StarBurst - n46 1982: no known title]Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Article on the film, with notes on the censor's cuts.
In: Image et Son n259 1972 Pages: 52-57
Title: [Image et Son - n259 1972: no known title]Article type: ArticleLanguage: French
In: British National Film Catalogue v6 1968
Title: [British National Film Catalogue - v6 1968: no known title]Language: English
In: Kine Weekly n3160 4 May 1968 Page: 12
Title: [Kine Weekly - n3160 4 May 1968: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v35 n414 July 1968 Page: 100
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v35 n414 July 1968: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 15 May 1968 Page: 6
Title: [Variety - 15 May 1968: no known title]Language: English
In: The Daily Cinema n9516 3 May 1968 Page: 9
Title: [The Daily Cinema - n9516 3 May 1968: no known title]Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
In: The Hollywood Reporter v198 n38 8 Dec 1967 Page: 8
Title: [The Hollywood Reporter - v198 n38 8 Dec 1967: no known title]Article type: CreditsLanguage: English
Description: Credits.
Books held in BFI Reuben Library
(6)
Title: British cinemaAuthor: MURPHY, Robert Pages: 4 volumes
Title: Cult film stardom: offbeat attractions and processes of cultification
Author: Egan, Kate Pages: xii, 288 pages
Title: Witchfinder General
Author: COOPER, Ian Pages: 105 p.
Title: remarkable Michael Reeves: his short and tragic life
Author: MURRAY, John B Pages: 281 p.
Title: Michael Reeves
Author: HALLIGAN, Benjamin Pages: xvi, 248 p.
Title: Necronomicon: book one
Author: BLACK, Andy Pages: 191p.