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From Amazon.co.uk
Witchfinder General is one of those cult British films that, like The Wicker Man, seemed to herald a renaissance in the fortunes of the British film industry in the late 1960s and early 70s. With only his third film, director Michael Reeves displayed an assured grasp of technique and a confident ability to mix and match genres that marked him out as a homegrown wunderkind to rival the Spielbergs and Coppolas who were just graduating from film school across the Atlantic. Sadly, this promise remained unfulfilled as Reeves died suddenly, soon after completing the film, from a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs; Witchfinder General remains his only significant work
Veteran Vincent Price is wonderfully cast as the titular witchfinder, Matthew Hopkins, whose bloody and usually sexually motivated persecutions across civil war-torn East Anglia are carried out with much relish, graphic fake blood and lots of screaming. Ian Ogilvy, an old school pal of the director's, is the upright new model soldier who swears vengeance against Hopkins for the rape of his betrothed (Hilary Dwyer, who in true Hammer Horror fashion gets to take her top off and scream a lot). Lascivious depictions of burning witches and gratuitous sex aside, what draws the viewer into the film is the setting as Reeves' camera roams lovingly across the East Anglian countryside. The opening-hanging scene, for example, depends strongly on location for its effect, and Ogilvy's quest for revenge takes on a John Ford-style Western aura in the director's hands. Perhaps not quite the masterpiece some seem to think it is, Witchfinder General remains a sturdy piece of distinctively British filmmaking.
On the DVD: This disc allows the viewer to select the slightly extended "Export cut" of the movie, which has a little more graphic blood than the censored UK release, although the restored sequences are of markedly inferior quality. The anamorphic picture and mono sound are decent, even if too many murky nighttime scenes and badly dubbed actors' voices betray the film's restrictively low budget. The major extra is a documentary about the life and short career of Michael Reeves, while other fill-ups include text notes from critic Kim Newman, a music video, trailer, filmographies and stills. All in all, it's a welcome restoration of a genre classic. --Mark Walker
Product Description
Witchfinder General [DVD]
Actors: Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Hilary Dwyer, Robert Russell, Nicky Henson
Directors: Michael Reeves
Format: PAL
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Classification: 18
Studio: Prism Leisure Corp. Plc
DVD Release Date: 1 Sep 2003
Run Time: 82 minutes
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The masterful direction of Michael Reeves has blended cracking adventure, achingly beautiful photography, inspired use of violence/horror, a genuinely moving love story and a memorable stirring score into, quite simply, one of the best British movies of all time.
Reeves coaxed a life-time best performance from veteran actor Vincent Price (I'll leave the viewer to discover the delightful anecdote about this in the accompanying documentary), as Matthew Hopkins. No Abominably Dr Phibes here! Price keeps the hamminess in check to deliver a genuinely chilling and convincing performance. His assistant, the utterly egotistical and brutal John Stearne, is superbly played by Robert Russell. Ian Ogilvy and Hilary Dwyer are also magnificent as the young lovers, who have the misfortune to cross the path of the Witchfinder. The tender beauty of their love scene generates a huge amount of empathy with the lovers and contrasts most markedly with the horrors to come.
Some elements of very black gallows humour - the kids roasting their potatoes in the post-execution fire, and a cheeky cameo from 'old man Steptoe', were truly inspired, but Reeves brutally realistic (some would argue pessimistic) view of humanity, leads us to the inevitable jaw-droppingly stark and bleak conclusion.
The DVD presentation is generally good, although the additional scenes from the export version are of noticeably poorer picture quality with apparently no attempt having been made to digitally restore them. This is a shame, as some of the interrogation scenes and the tavern scenes with John Stearne are genuinely compelling. The audio - Dolby mono, is adequately clear, but with the occasional soupcon of distortion.... Read more ›
Reeves coaxed a life-time best performance from veteran actor Vincent Price (I'll leave the viewer to discover the delightful anecdote about this in the accompanying documentary), as Matthew Hopkins. No Abominably Dr Phibes here! Price keeps the hamminess in check to deliver a genuinely chilling and convincing performance. His assistant, the utterly egotistical and brutal John Stearne, is superbly played by Robert Russell. Ian Ogilvy and Hilary Dwyer are also magnificent as the young lovers, who have the misfortune to cross the path of the Witchfinder. The tender beauty of their love scene generates a huge amount of empathy with the lovers and contrasts most markedly with the horrors to come.
Some elements of very black gallows humour - the kids roasting their potatoes in the post-execution fire, and a cheeky cameo from 'old man Steptoe', were truly inspired, but Reeves brutally realistic (some would argue pessimistic) view of humanity, leads us to the inevitable jaw-droppingly stark and bleak conclusion.
The DVD presentation is generally good, although the additional scenes from the export version are of noticeably poorer picture quality with apparently no attempt having been made to digitally restore them. This is a shame, as some of the interrogation scenes and the tavern scenes with John Stearne are genuinely compelling. The audio - Dolby mono, is adequately clear, but with the occasional soupcon of distortion.... Read more ›
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By J. MAY
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A superb film, and for this price one cannot complain.
However the description given here in amazon of THIS edition of the dvd is incorrect - there is only one cut of the film on here, and NO extras at all.
I give the film 4 stars - an absolute classic and still pretty disturbing even by today's jaded standards. It's probably Vincent Price's finest hour too. A classic in every sense.
4-stars for the film, but this is a bare bones release.
Note to Amazon: COuld you please delete the DVD desription as it is clearly inaccurate and misleading - I ordered the DVD because I wanted those extra scenes mentioned.....
However the description given here in amazon of THIS edition of the dvd is incorrect - there is only one cut of the film on here, and NO extras at all.
I give the film 4 stars - an absolute classic and still pretty disturbing even by today's jaded standards. It's probably Vincent Price's finest hour too. A classic in every sense.
4-stars for the film, but this is a bare bones release.
Note to Amazon: COuld you please delete the DVD desription as it is clearly inaccurate and misleading - I ordered the DVD because I wanted those extra scenes mentioned.....
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Every lover of film has had a pivotal film experience, the movie that made such an impact on them that they have never forgotten it. For me WITCHFINDER GENERAL is that film. I first saw it in 1969 as THE CONQUERER WORM (AIP's American release title designed to cash in on the Vincent Price/Edgar Allan Poe series although the movie has nothing to do with Poe).
I was 17 years old, just about to complete my junior year of high school in Greenville, South Carolina, and was a big fan of the Roger Corman/Vincent Price Poe series. I had seen very few films that would not qualify as G rated. The ratings system had just been introduced the year before (1968) and this film was rated M for mature audiences. Today it rates an R. It was a complete shock to the system in every way. It was the first time I had seen nudity/lovemaking before and the violence was painful and ugly. Vincent Price was cold and hard without a trace of his usual mannerisms and therefore not sympathetic in the least. To top it all off there was no happy ending and people were worse off than they were before.
Of course these things had been in films since the silent era but it was the first time I had seen them and we always remember our firsts. I have seen just about everything in the movies since then but seeing WITCHFINDER nearly 40 years later I'm amazed at how well it holds up. I am happy to report that after years of substandard VHS and DVD editions this version features the original director's cut in a beautiful print with the original Paul Ferris score issuing from the soundtrack. An added bonus is the commentary which features star Ian Ogilvy that fills in the background of the making of the film.... Read more ›
I was 17 years old, just about to complete my junior year of high school in Greenville, South Carolina, and was a big fan of the Roger Corman/Vincent Price Poe series. I had seen very few films that would not qualify as G rated. The ratings system had just been introduced the year before (1968) and this film was rated M for mature audiences. Today it rates an R. It was a complete shock to the system in every way. It was the first time I had seen nudity/lovemaking before and the violence was painful and ugly. Vincent Price was cold and hard without a trace of his usual mannerisms and therefore not sympathetic in the least. To top it all off there was no happy ending and people were worse off than they were before.
Of course these things had been in films since the silent era but it was the first time I had seen them and we always remember our firsts. I have seen just about everything in the movies since then but seeing WITCHFINDER nearly 40 years later I'm amazed at how well it holds up. I am happy to report that after years of substandard VHS and DVD editions this version features the original director's cut in a beautiful print with the original Paul Ferris score issuing from the soundtrack. An added bonus is the commentary which features star Ian Ogilvy that fills in the background of the making of the film.... Read more ›
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By MICHAELM
Format:Blu-ray
i was very sceptical when i heard that odeon films were releasing witchfinder general on blu ray,because some of there dvd releases are of questionable quality.however,i purchased the blu ray and have just watched it and i have to admit,that i was wrong.the blu ray is of amazing quality and this film has never looked so good.the picture quality is stunning and in my opinion,is better quality than some modern films on blu ray.the picture is clear,the audio is clear,the colours are vivid and i am so glad that i opted to upgrade my dvd to blu ray,as it was worth every penny.this is one of my favourite films and it has at last been given the quality release that it deserves.well done odeon films for releasing such a beautiful transfer of this classic horror gem and may you carry on releasing such quality horror blu rays.my advice to all is to buy this blu ray,you won't be sorry that you did.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not a horror film, but still very good.
There have been remarkably few films about the English Civil War. This 17th Century conflict ravaged most of England, and set families against each other, resulting in the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. P. Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
I loved it!
I absolutely loved watching Witchfinder General although I don't think that my parents liked it. Pity. Great Show! Well done for selling such great movies.
Published 2 months ago by Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Film
You you saw this film at the cinema first time around, it seemed a bit scary, not now, good quality digital remastered copy , a classic
Published 3 months ago by Monty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witchfinder General Digitally Remastered Special Edition [DVD]
Witchfinder General Digitally Remastered Special Edition [DVD] is a timeless classic for me I think. Dated but still a great story line.
Published 4 months ago by Mr. P. K. Pain
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb horror classic
I first saw this film on late night TV a long time ago. I then managed to get it on video a few years later and I loved it all over again. Read more
Published 5 months ago by FJY
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witchfinder General
I saw this movie in 1968 with my then boyfriend who I later married for 41 happy years. Always loved the film, a little graphic but shows it how it was in those days of fear and... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Valerie Bowen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic improved
The picture quality on the blu-ray is a vast step up on previous DVD versions. Stronger detail and colour overall. Read more
Published 11 months ago by jimbob
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witchfinder General, 2011 Odeon Remasterd special edition - Vincent...
An avid watcher of Vincent Price films, I am a great fan of the style of camp gothic horror he perfected along with Roger Corman. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Victor
3.0 out of 5 stars
cutprice film
low budget poorly made film even price is not at his best and as for horror i dont think so,this could have been so much better. Read more
Published 16 months ago by jed
5.0 out of 5 stars
A useful historical narrative, well shot.
This digitally remastered special edition of The Witchfinder General contains a few nice extras on the single disc - besides which it is standard packaging with no booklets or... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Prof Zebedee
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