The Witchfinder General is a true story, at least, there was a Witchfinder General, around 1645, who did get confessions from 'witches' by medieval means, and perform executions as deemed necessary. As for anything in this film being truthful... well, I'm not so sure.
We are presented with a devious sex addict, who literally rides around the country, with a burly henchman sidekick, and has sex with as many women as possible, while getting paid for torturing people and organising executions. Now, from the history books, I can't find any reference to the sexual deviance or deviousness of this man. Neither do I believe that all of Olde England's pubs were full of bare-breasted women out for a grand time. Nor do I believe that the daughter of a 17th century clergyman would be encouraged, by her father, to have pre-marital sex, in the vicarage, while the dear old man pops off to bed early... after prayers we assume?? And, to top it all off, with dear old Dad having been tried as a witch, would the congregation of a 17th century village then desecrate the hallowed church and write graffiti on the walls?? No, idiot, I shouldn't think they could even write!!
There is so much film potential in this subject, perhaps along the lines of the brilliant Plunkett and MacLeane or A Knights Tale or even the historically accurate epic, Gangs of New york (trust me, I know!!). And OK, I accept that this film was released in 1968, but it seems to me that it was made for an unquestioning, maybe American, audience. Especially as the narrative explains the situation at the start of the film more in terms of 20th century McCarthyism, that 17th Century mysticism.
No problem with the acting, all good. Scenery pretty good, although those dungeons were devilishly clean! As for the script, it was only marred by inaccuracies, rather than lack of storyline. And this film does have a little story going on, in its own way... but a real shame, when the factual subject would have been so much better.
I voted a generous "5"... and live in hope of a decent and historically interested director getting a hold of this subject. Please??
We are presented with a devious sex addict, who literally rides around the country, with a burly henchman sidekick, and has sex with as many women as possible, while getting paid for torturing people and organising executions. Now, from the history books, I can't find any reference to the sexual deviance or deviousness of this man. Neither do I believe that all of Olde England's pubs were full of bare-breasted women out for a grand time. Nor do I believe that the daughter of a 17th century clergyman would be encouraged, by her father, to have pre-marital sex, in the vicarage, while the dear old man pops off to bed early... after prayers we assume?? And, to top it all off, with dear old Dad having been tried as a witch, would the congregation of a 17th century village then desecrate the hallowed church and write graffiti on the walls?? No, idiot, I shouldn't think they could even write!!
There is so much film potential in this subject, perhaps along the lines of the brilliant Plunkett and MacLeane or A Knights Tale or even the historically accurate epic, Gangs of New york (trust me, I know!!). And OK, I accept that this film was released in 1968, but it seems to me that it was made for an unquestioning, maybe American, audience. Especially as the narrative explains the situation at the start of the film more in terms of 20th century McCarthyism, that 17th Century mysticism.
No problem with the acting, all good. Scenery pretty good, although those dungeons were devilishly clean! As for the script, it was only marred by inaccuracies, rather than lack of storyline. And this film does have a little story going on, in its own way... but a real shame, when the factual subject would have been so much better.
I voted a generous "5"... and live in hope of a decent and historically interested director getting a hold of this subject. Please??
