In the 17th century, the Lanier family buried a Whitlock woman alive as a witch and took over the Whitlock estate. A bitter hatred of the Lanier family continues into the present. However two descendants, Amy Whitlock and Todd Lanier, fall in love and plan to marry regardless of the families' objections. The Laniers, headed by Bill Lanier, are building developers who now own part of the old Whitlock Estate. Without their knowledge, and following the instructions of Lanier manager Myles Forrester, a bulldozer overturns headstones and churns up graves in the old Whitlock Cemetery. At night, when all is quiet, an exhumed grave opens, and Vanessa Whitlock, the witch buried centuries ago, rises from the grave. Together with Morgan Whitlock, they use their witchcraft, and one by one, the Laniers meet with various fatal accidents. Tracy Lanier follows her future sister-in-law Amy into the Whitlock family crypt only to see the risen Vanessa and her witches conducting black magic rites. Tracy is captured, and while either in a trance or drugged, is tied up to be used as a human sacrifice. Looking for Tracy, Bill and Todd go to the Whitlock crypt. They find and rescue Tracy. Todd returns to the crypt entrance and looks inside for Amy, who is participating in the rituals with her family. When her father moves to make Todd the new human sacrifice, she is pushed past her breaking point and tips over a giant burning dish that sets the witch and the entire place on fire. Todd tries to reach Amy, but the entire crypt has turned into a raging inferno. Screaming her name, he can only watch as the flames consume everything. Later, a broken Todd joins his family outside and watches the Whitlock estate burn to the ground, ending the 300-year-old nightmare.
Cast
Lon Chaney Jr. as Morgan Whitlock
Jack Hedley as Bill Lanier
Jill Dixon as Tracy Lanier
Viola Keats as Helen Lanier
Marie Ney as Malvina Lanier
David Weston as Todd Lanier
Diane Clare as Amy Whitlock
Yvette Rees as Vanessa Whitlock
Barry Linehan as Myles Forrester
Victor Brooks as Inspector Baldwin
Marianne Stone as Forrester's secretary
John Dunbar as Doctor
Hilda Fenemore as Nurse
Production
Writer Harry Spalding says he got the idea to make a film from an incident that happened in San Francisco when an old cemetery was converted into a real estate development. The film was shot over 14 days, which was twice what Robert L. Lippert productions had back in the US. Filming took place in January 1964 at Shepperton Studios just after 110 technicians had been fired from the studio. Spalding says that director Don Sharp "realized the thing very well" and burnt down an actual house for the climax.
Release
Witchcraft was released in the UK in March 1964 and in the U.S. the same year.
