Legend of the Witches (1970) & Secret Rites (1971) [DVD + Blu-ray)

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X-rated upon its original release Legend of the Witches (1970) is a documentary which looks in detail at previously hidden magic rites and rituals. Once the two candidates are initiated, we are given more opportunities to watch the filming of certain Wiccan rituals, including a marriage and those associated with the ancient Egyptian Gods.

Overall, the film is generally shot and executed in good taste even where some of the depictions and scenes take a little too much artistic licence. These include The Judgement of Albion (1968) by Robert Wynne Simmons, a visual essay on visionary artist William Blake. Mystery band The Spindle provide the groovy, psychedelic sounds while tentative occult enthusiast Penny and a serious-sounding narrator introduce the viewer to three ritual acts. The accompanying booklet (only available with the first pressing) is arguably the best extra of all with a number of illuminating essays from experts on cinema and paganism.For the majority of film, recreations of rites and rituals are kept tasteful, giving the whole film a sense of educational value. Expecting a biased, blood thirsty and erotic account of an ancient religion condemned by the church, I was pleasantly surprised. The 39th release in the long standing BFI Flipside strand sees the release of two far out British films. Sanders and Maxine parted in 1973 and he drifted into semi-retirement before moving to Bexhill in East Sussex (where he died in 1988).

Although a lesser known actress staring in Up Pompei, 1969 and The Morecambe and Wise Show, 1968, Penny’s playing to the camera with pouting looks and stylised standing often give her away.We’re certainly never too far away from an extended ritual sequence, with naked bodies dancing around flames or gathered around magic circles. Another woman was supposedly cured of cancer by Sanders sitting with her in the hospital for three days and nights, holding her feet and pouring “healing energy” into her.

Finally, and with much ballyhooing, Ford presents us with ‘the rarely witnessed, never photographed, ‘Egyptian rite of Ra, taken from the forbidden Book of the Dead’. Having had an almost obsessive interest in witchcraft as an early teenager, it is not surprising that I was keen to watch this film. There are are all sorts of Black Masses and strange rituals being done under the moonlight and they simply come across beautifully on the screen. Like Derek Ford, Legend of the Witches director Malcolm Leigh will be best remembered as a sexploitationeer. We can start with the wonderful cinematography, which takes a very low-budget and makes it look like something more.

As someone with a hobbyist interest in witchcraft and old religions, this film is an interesting look at Wicca in the modern age.

However, I suspect it is simply the style of the time, particularly for educational films which often resemble the ramblings of an old professor, deep in thought with no real acknowledgement of an audience. Parallels between Christian and pagan rituals are drawn, and time is spent putting witchcraft into a historical context and reflecting on its influence on everyday life. It is a home for UK cinematic oddities, offering everything from exploitation documentaries to B-movies, countercultural curios and obscure classics, If it's weird, British and forgotten, then it's Flipside.The historical origins of witchcraft in moon-worship and the witches’ legend of creation; initiation rites undergone by the modern witches’ divination by birds and animals; Christianity’s absorption of pagan rites; revenge killing; the Black Mass; Cecil Williamson’s Museum of Witchcraft in Cornwall; investigations into the efficacy of witchcraft; extra-sensory perception; foretelling the future. Followed by the introduction of Catholicism, where we are given information regarding the integration of Catholicism and old Pagan teachings. Similarly, to other creation stories, it tells of how life on earth began with the smallest of fish and birds, to the creation of animals and man. We then meet Penny, who wants to join a coven although we never find out precisely why she is so keen to do so. Directed by Jo Gannon, Pink Floyd’s one-time light show operator, there’s an interview with Caroline Coon railing against ‘the fuzz’ for victimising pot smokers and psychedelic mandala paintings by Larry Smart.