Virgin Witch
Encyclopedia
Virgin Witch is a 1971 British horror
exploitation film
about a prospective model who ends up joining a coven
of witches. The film was directed by Ray Austin, and stars Ann Michelle
and Vicki Michelle
.
to spend a weekend at a country house being photographed by a trendy photographer. In reality, Ann is being set up for a virgin sacrifice and induction into a witch's coven
and Hazel Adair, creator of Crossroads. While Adair’s name appears on the credits (as co-writer of the song “You Go Your Way”), she and Walton did not admit to producing the film until 1975, when they featured in an episode of the BBC's Man Alive concerning sex films. The revelation that prompted Cinema X
magazine (Vol 4. No. 4) to remark that the pair's films “are far removed from Miss Adair’s more cozy world of Crossroads, but not in fact so far from Walton’s world of the wrestling mat!”. Hazel Adair’s other films include Clinic Exclusive
(1971), Can You Keep It Up For a Week? (1974), Keep it Up Downstairs
(1976), and the more mainstream Game for Vultures (1979).
“Klaus Vogel”, who wrote the script and the film's tie-in novelisation, was in fact Crossroads producer Beryl Vertue
.
Virgin Witch was filmed in Surrey
during 1970 and previewed in the December editions of Mayfair
and Continental Film Review (in which the title was referred to as "The Virgin Witch"). However, the film is copyrighted as a 1971 production, and censorship problems would mean it was not widely seen until 1972. The country house location, Pirbright, Admiral's Walk would be later used in Satan's Slave
(1976) and Terror (1978), which were both directed by Norman J. Warren
.
by the Greater London Council
for a limited release in the capital. The British Censor eventually relented and passed a cut version for general release in January 1972.
The film has been disowned by its sibling stars Ann and Vicki Michelle. Vicki's website makes no reference to the film, while Ann's refers to it as "not an experience Ann cares to remember".
The 1990s video release(s) on the Redemption/Salvation labels are uncut, as are the current UK and US DVD releases.
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
exploitation film
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
about a prospective model who ends up joining a coven
Coven
A coven or covan is a name used to describe a gathering of witches or in some cases vampires. Due to the word's association with witches, a gathering of Wiccans, followers of the witchcraft-based neopagan religion of Wicca, is also described as a coven....
of witches. The film was directed by Ray Austin, and stars Ann Michelle
Ann Michelle
Ann Michelle born Chigwell, Essex is a British actress and writer.Her most notable acting role was as Jane Pettibone in the cult, British horror film Psychomania. She is the sister of Allo 'Allo! actress Vicki Michelle....
and Vicki Michelle
Vicki Michelle
Vicki Michelle MBE , is an English actress best known for her role as Yvette Carte-Blanche in the television comedy series Allo 'Allo! - a role which she has reprised in both 2008 and 2009 as a cast of the stage show based on the television series.After spending much of 2008 on tour with the Allo...
.
Plot
Betty (Vicki Michelle) and her sister Christine (Ann Michelle) are two young models who are lured by a lecherous lesbianLesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
to spend a weekend at a country house being photographed by a trendy photographer. In reality, Ann is being set up for a virgin sacrifice and induction into a witch's coven
Production
The producer “Ralph Solomans” was actually a joint pseudonym for the wrestling commentator Kent WaltonKent Walton
Kent Walton , born Kenneth Walton Beckett, was a British television sports commentator and presenter.Despite a transatlantic accent which led many to believe he was Canadian, he was born in Cairo, Egypt, the son of the finance minister in the colonial government...
and Hazel Adair, creator of Crossroads. While Adair’s name appears on the credits (as co-writer of the song “You Go Your Way”), she and Walton did not admit to producing the film until 1975, when they featured in an episode of the BBC's Man Alive concerning sex films. The revelation that prompted Cinema X
Cinema X
Cinema X was a British film magazine best known for its coverage of sexploitation films. Early issues of the magazine were undated, but it is believed the first issue was published in 1969. The first film to grace the cover of Cinema X was Loving Feeling directed by Norman J. Warren...
magazine (Vol 4. No. 4) to remark that the pair's films “are far removed from Miss Adair’s more cozy world of Crossroads, but not in fact so far from Walton’s world of the wrestling mat!”. Hazel Adair’s other films include Clinic Exclusive
Clinic Exclusive
Clinic Exclusive is a 1971 British comedy film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Georgiana Ward, Alexander Davion, Carmen Silvera and Windsor Davies.-Cast:* Georgina Ward as Julie Mason* Alexander Davion as Lee Maitland* Polly Adams as Ann...
(1971), Can You Keep It Up For a Week? (1974), Keep it Up Downstairs
Keep It Up Downstairs
Keep It Up Downstairs is a 1976 British comedy film directed by Robert Young and starring Diana Dors, Jack Wild and William Rushton. The film depicts the adventures of the inhabitants of Cockshute Castle.-Cast:* Diana Dors ... Daisy Dureneck...
(1976), and the more mainstream Game for Vultures (1979).
“Klaus Vogel”, who wrote the script and the film's tie-in novelisation, was in fact Crossroads producer Beryl Vertue
Beryl Vertue
Beryl Vertue is an English television producer and media executive. She is founder and chairman of the independent television production company Hartswood Films....
.
Virgin Witch was filmed in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
during 1970 and previewed in the December editions of Mayfair
Mayfair (magazine)
Mayfair is a British adult magazine for men. Founded in 1965, it was designed as a response to U.S. magazines such as Playboy and Penthouse, which had recently launched in the UK. For many years it claimed the largest distribution of any men's magazine in the UK.-Fisk Publishing era:Mayfair was...
and Continental Film Review (in which the title was referred to as "The Virgin Witch"). However, the film is copyrighted as a 1971 production, and censorship problems would mean it was not widely seen until 1972. The country house location, Pirbright, Admiral's Walk would be later used in Satan's Slave
Satan's Slave
Satan's Slave is a horror film directed by Norman J. Warren and starring Michael Gough.-Plot:A young girl, Catherine Yorke , shares a ride with her parents to visit her uncle Alexander , that no one had met before...
(1976) and Terror (1978), which were both directed by Norman J. Warren
Norman J. Warren
Norman John Warren, born 25 June 1942 in London, is a British film director best known for such 1970s horror films as Satan’s Slave , Prey and Terror...
.
Censorship history
Virgin Witch was rejected by the British Censor in April 1971, but was passed with an X ratingX-rated
In some countries, X is or has been a motion picture rating reserved for the most explicit films. Films rated X are intended only for viewing by adults, usually legally defined as people over the age of 17.-United Kingdom:...
by the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
for a limited release in the capital. The British Censor eventually relented and passed a cut version for general release in January 1972.
The film has been disowned by its sibling stars Ann and Vicki Michelle. Vicki's website makes no reference to the film, while Ann's refers to it as "not an experience Ann cares to remember".
The 1990s video release(s) on the Redemption/Salvation labels are uncut, as are the current UK and US DVD releases.