Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18494 in VHS
• Released on: 2000-12-05
• Formats: Black & White, Closed-captioned, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 90 minutes

Customer Reviews

Truly a Horror Classic!
Despite the lurid title, "Burn, Witch, Burn" is a very scary, well-made movie. Taken from the Fritz Leiber classic, "Conjure Wife" this film version is somewhat different from the book. Janet Blair is chillingly maniacal as a modern day witch, and has so much hidden malignancy it shocks you. There are incredible special effects, especially considering the time when this movie was made. I won't spoil it for you but watch the gargoyles...carefully! Modern day witchcraft in a university setting, replete with professional rivalries, jealousies and secret, vengeful spells...if you enjoy witchcraft, excellent effects, atmospheric settings, wonderful performances and a great story, then this is for you! Filmed in black and white for an even more ominous feel...very Edgar Allen Poe. A cinematic "tarn." Enjoy!

SUPERB OCCULT CLASSIC....
This is without a doubt one of the classiest and creepiest horror films I know of. Based on Fritz Leiber's novel "Conjure Wife", it deals with modern day witchcraft and superstition. In an English hamlet, the American wife,Tansy (Janet Blair) of a university professor keeps voodoo talismans she acquired from a visit to the islands. She witnessed a shaman there perform magic and save her husband Norman's life. She never forgot it and procured the talismans from the shaman to protect her husband in the future. However, Norman (Peter Wyngarde) is a strict non-believer in the supernatural and when he finds the protection fetishes he burns them---much to Tansy's dismay. She becomes terrified that evil will now seek them out. Sure enough, one night something claws at their front door trying to get in. Then a female student suddenly accuses Norman of sexual misconduct and Tansy finds a voodoo doll hidden in a lamp after a card game with friends. Something bad is happening to them and Norman will not accept supernatural explanations. But he becomes increasingly uneasy as things continue to happen and when Tansy leaves to sacrifice herself to demonic forces in his place, he must confront his disbeliefs. Meanwhile, there is another faculty wife and fellow professor (Margaret Johnston) who has her own occult agenda for furthering the career of HER husband. Her role will come into play as Norman tries to save Tansy. I recommend this highly to anyone who hasn't seen it. Known in Britain as "Night of the Eagle", it at one time had a prologue spoken off screen by Orson Welles that was designed to crank up the audience to be scared silly. I love that print and wish the whole thing could make it on DVD. It's great in black & white, has excellent photography, beautiful direction by Sydney Hayers and an intelligent, literate script by Charles Beaumont and Richard Matheson. Excellent acting by the entire cast and a wonderful eerie atmosphere helps you understand Tansy's plight: her love for her husband, her strong desire to keep him safe even if it means resorting to the occult and feeling like an outsider being an American among the other British faculty wives. The supernatural is built up very well and keeps you edgy throughout. "Burn Witch Burn" rates classic status like "Curse of the Demon"----it's that level of film horror. What scares us the most is what's unseen and clawing at the door, the phone ringing and no one is there when you answer, that strange feeling of unease and dread---all of these things are beautifully played out in b&w splendor. And then there's a WOW of a climax and ending. "Burn Witch Burn" really needs to be on DVD with that wonderful prologue by Welles. This is truly a "lights out" film. Simply fantastic.

BURNING LOVE
It's interesting to see the comparison of this 1962 gem with the 1957 "Curse of the Demon." While I favor "Curse" a little more, this tale of modern witchcraft still maintains it's eerie, if slowly paced, atmosphere of impending doom. Since the plot has been so expertly detailed in other reviews, I might add that the film works mainly from the intensely atmospheric camerawork and direction by Sidney Havers. Peter Wyngarde, a masculine though not particularly handsome fellow, oozes masculine domination in his well-balanced performance. Margaret Johnston as the limping professor and fellow witch, is reminiscent of young Angela Lansbury, and her delight in her evil is a joy to watch. And one can forgive Janet Blair if she did seem a little out of kilter for the leading role. Blair up to to this point had been known for more lightweight and romantic roles; her performance doesn't helm the film, but neither does it detract from it. The final scene involving the huge bird is still frightening.
I agree---it should join other classics in DVD.