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Horror Movies & Sci-Fi Movies Database
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12.23.09
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A documentary about the history of witchcraft, told in a variety of styles, from illustrated slideshow to dramatised events of alleged real-life events, right up to the early twentieth century (when the film was made). Depending on which version you're watching, the commentary is either in the form of intertitles or narration by William S.Burroughs, recorded in the mid-1960s.
Movie Tagline:
Benjamin Christensens stora film.
Also Known As:
Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages
The Witches
Title: Haxan
Release Date: May 27, 1929
Runtime: 87 mins
Genre: Drama
All Genres: Drama, Horror
Country: Denmark, Sweden
Colors: Black and White
Sound: Mono, Silent
IMDB Rating: 7.8
Brimstone Pit Rating: 8.8 - (Rate This Horror Movie)
Category: Horror Movies Starting With H
MPAA Rating: G
Director(s):
Benjamin Christensen
Cast:
Maren Pedersen ...Heksen / The Witch
Clara Pontoppidan ...Nonne / Nun
Elith Pio ...Heksedommer / Witch Judge (The young Monk)
Oscar Stribolt ...Graabroder / Doctor (The Fat Monk)
Tora Teje ......
John Andersen ...Chief Inquisitor (as Johs Andersen)
Benjamin Christensen ...Djaevlen / The Devil
Poul Reumert ...Juveler / Jeweler
Karen Winther ...Anna
Kate Fabian ...Gammel jomfru / Old Maid
Else Vermehren ...Nonne / Nun
Astrid Holm ...Anna
Johannes Andersen ...Heksedommer / Witch Judge
Gerda Madsen ...Nonne / Nun
Aage Hertel ...Heksedommer / Witch Judge
Ib Schonberg ...Heksedommer / Witch Judge
Emmy Schonfeld ...Marie, the Seamstress (as Emmy Schonfeld)
Frederik Christensen ...Borger / Citizen (as Frederick Christensen)
Ella La Cour ...Troldkvinde / Magician (as Ella la Cour)
Elisabeth Christensen ...En aeldre bondekone / Older Farm Lady (as Elizabeth...
Henry Seemann ...Borger / Citizen
Alice O'Fredericks ...Nonne / Nun
Knud Rassow ...Anatomen
William S. Burroughs ...Narrator (1968 re-release) (voice) (as William...
Ellen Rassow ...En tjenestepige / Maid
Holst Jorgensen ...Ole Kighul
H.C. Nielsen ...Juveler assistent / Jeweler's Assistant
Albrecht Schmidt ...Nervelaege / Neurologist
Karina Bell ...Nun
Karen Caspersen ...Unidentified
» [more cast members]
Writer(s):
Benjamin Christensen
Composer(s):
Matti Bye
Launy Grondahl
Daniel Humair
Emil Reesen
More Movie Taglines:
- Benjamin Christensens stora film.
Movie Trivia:
- Haxan Films, the creators of the movie The Blair Witch Project (1999) took their name from this movie.
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Director Benjamin Christensen originally planned to write the script with the help of historical experts, but that plan fell through after he discovered that most of the experts he had in mind were against the making of the film.
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To achieve the scene in which the witches are flying over the roofs of the town, Benjamin Christensen and his cameraman Johan Ankerstjerne photographed a miniature town (with each house about 2 meters in height) on an enormous turntable, which operated manually and took the strength of 20 men to operate. Then, several costumed actors were photographed on broomsticks against a black background. To make the heavy costumes ripple in the "wind" Christiansen brought in an airplane motor. A total of 75 witches were photographed, each individually, and a special optical printer was built by Ankerstjerne to put them together (only about three of four appear on the screen at one time). The construction of a model town was decided upon after test footage proved the original idea of shooting from a movie train was a bad one, as too many modern structures, not to mention telephone poles and wires, were unavoidable. The test footage survives and is superimposed with Christiansen seated in a chair, acting out the part of a witch.
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Although financed by Swedish backers, the film was shot entirely at Benjamin Christensen's old studio in Denmark.
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Even though most scenes were filmed in interior studios, because Benjamin Christensen felt that the actor's performances would be best influenced by a more dark and ominous atmosphere, most of the film was shot at night, almost unheard-of at the time.
IMDB Links:
» User Comments at imdb.com
» More information at imdb.com
Keywords:
Witchcraft, Nunsploitation, Whipping, Kleptomaniac, Spell ...[more]
Keywords All:
Semi Documentary, Demon, False Accusation, Nun, Friar, Seduction, Part Animated, Monastery, Nudity, Surrealism, Devil, Confession, Public Domain, Misogyny, Inquisition, Love Potion, Priest, Torture, Catholic Priest, Sabbath, Jewelry, Pseudo Documentary, Satan, Grave Robbing, The Devil, Child Sacrifice, Convent, Magic, Evil Nun, Part Live Action, Lucifer, Cult Favorite, Fake Documentary, Monk, Maid, Judge, Witch, Superstition, Blood, Multiple Time Frames
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Rating: 8.8 out of 10.0 - 72 votes cast total
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