Witchfinder General

About this Broadcast

A lawyer callously destroys innocent lives while performing his duties as a witchfinder, earning a terrifying reputation for brutality and injustice. However, he meets his match in a courageous soldier seeking revenge on the man for having raped his betrothed. Michael Reeves' 17th-century period horror, starring Vincent Price, Ian Ogilvy, Rupert Davies, Patrick Wymark and Hilary Dwyer

1968

General Historical/Period Drama Horror Movie/Drama

Cast & Crew

Vincent Price (Actor) .. Matthew Hopkins

Ian Ogilvy (Actor) .. Richard Marshall

Rupert Davies (Actor) .. John Lowes

Hilary Dwyer (Actor) .. Sara

Patrick Wymark (Actor) .. Oliver Cromwell

Robert Russell (Actor) .. John Stearne

Wilfrid Brambell (Actor) .. Master Coach

Nicky Henson (Actor) .. Trooper Swallow

Michael Reeves (Director)

More Information

Did You Know..

Vincent Price (Actor) .. Matthew Hopkins

Born: May 27, 1911 in St Louis, Missouri

Ian Ogilvy (Actor) .. Richard Marshall

Born: September 30, 1943 in Woking, Surrey

Best Known For: The Return of the Saint.

Early-life: Ian Raymond Ogilvy was born in 1943 in Woking, Surrey. His father was a leading figure in advertising. As a youngster Ogilvy knew he wanted to act, thanks to roles in school plays. After serving an apprenticeship as an assistant stage manager with London's Royal Court Theatre, he went on to study at RADA. His first film, Revenge of the Blood Beast, was directed by his childhood friend Michael Reeves, with whom he also made The Sorcerers and Witchfinder General.

Career: While working in repertory theatre, Ogilvy boosted his CV with a number of appearances in series such as The Avengers and Strange Report, and gained much popularity in Seventies programme Upstairs, Downstairs. He continued to work solidly in film and TV, most notably in I, Claudius. In 1978, he was given the starring role in The Return of the Saint, a show which made him a household name. He moved to America in the 1980s and appeared in a host of TV shows including Melrose Place, Diagnosis Murder and Murder, She Wrote. He also appeared in the movie Death Becomes Her.

Quote: 'It's dumb to have regrets, and in any case, whatever else The Return of the Saint did or didn't do, it made me very well known. For an actor, that is the big thing.'

Trivia: Away from acting, he has enjoyed success with his novels, which have included Loose Chippings, The Polkerton Giant, and Measle and the Wrathmonk.