Noted horror-fantasy writer Fritz Leiber wrote an effective short story entitled “Conjure Wife” which depicted a group of catty campus wives who advance their husbands’ careers through witchcraft. In 1944, Universal Pictures produced a low budget adaptation as part of their Inner Sanctum series under the title WEIRD WOMAN which featured Lon Chaney Jr., Anne Gwynne, and “scream queen” Evelyn Ankers in the lead roles. Although this adaptation was a passable retelling of the original Leiber short story, the definitive version was yet to be made. In 1962, such a version was co-produced by England’s Independent Artists and the United States’ own American International Pictures. Originally titled NIGHT OF THE EAGLE in Great Britain, the film was re-titled BURN, WITCH, BURN! when AIP released it in the United States on a double-bill with the fourth Edgar Allan Poe adaptation, TALES OF TERROR. With an effective and interesting script by expert horror-fantasy writers and TWILIGHT ZONE veterans Richard Matheson and Charles Beaumont and some excellent performances by lead actors Janet Blair, Peter Wyngarde, and most especially Margaret Johnson, this version is fondly remembered as an excellent horror thriller in the tradition of NIGHT OF THE DEMON (1958) and THE INNOCENTS (1961). Finally after TEN years of being almost released on DVD, MGM has finally made this classic available as part of their limited edition of made-on-demand DVDs.

At a small college in a quaint British village, noted anthropologist Professor Norman Taylor (Peter Wyngarde) seems to have it all…his beautiful wife Tansy (Janet Blair), a lovely home and a rewarding career as a popular professor with the strong probability that he will be promoted to department chairperson very soon. This does not sit well with the jealous and petty wives of Taylor’s colleagues most especially Evelyn Sawtelle (Kathleen Byron) and Flora Carr (Margaret Johnson). These women feel their husbands’ many years of service to the college far outweigh the much younger Professor’s Taylor’s recent triumphs.

Meanwhile, after discovering Tansy has been dabbling in witchcraft (having learned the practice on an anthropology expedition with her husband in Jamaica), the staunch non-believer of the black arts Taylor destroys all her good luck charms which she vehemently claims has protected him from the evil forces at the college who want to destroy him and his career. Soon after spectacularly burning all Tansy’s charms, Taylor’s life turns for the worse. First, he is almost run down by a truck. Secondly, a female student, Margaret Abbott (Judith Stott), accuses him of raping her. Thirdly, Margaret’s jealous boyfriend Bill Jennings (Bill Mitchell) threatens Taylor with a gun, and finally, strange noises and supernatural phenomena terrorize Norman and Tansy during a violent thunderstorm.

As the strange occurrences become more and more sinister (including what seems like the possession of Tansy), Taylor must confront his own doubts and fears and ask a very viable question…is it possible that all the recent events have been caused by witchcraft or are they all coincidence? Norman’s quest for an answer leads him and the audience to a very thrilling climax.

Director Sidney Hayers was no stranger to British horror as he directed the spectacular cult classic, CIRCUS OF HORRORS in 1960. He does an excellent job in sustaining a sinister mood throughout BURN, WITCH, BURN! while Reg Wyer’s moody black and white cinematography is also an asset. William Allwyn’s music is also excellent especially the scenes set at the abandoned cemetery. In addition, the stars are all extremely convincing and the pleasant surprise here is how well the all-American Janet Blair holds up quite nicely opposite her British co-stars. The scene in which Miss Blair is possessed by the spirit of the film’s true villain is particularly memorable. Miss Blair was an extremely talented actress/singer who was a Columbia Pictures’ contract player in the 1940s. For some reason however, she did not become a huge movie star which is an absolute shame because she carries this film so well. Her co-stars Peter Wyngarde and Margaret Johnson are also excellent throughout as are the other supporting players. As a side note, Peter Wyngarde gets top billing in the British release print (entitled NIGHT OF THE EAGLE) and in the American release print Janet Blair gets star billing. Mr. Wyngarde also appeared as a vengeful ghost in another classic of British horror cinema in Jack Clayton’s brilliant 1961 film version of Henry James’ THE TURN OF THE SCREW entitled THE INNOCENTS.

MGM’s Limited Edition Collection DVD is an absolutely beautiful looking transfer in 1.85:1 with anamorphic enhancement for 16x9 televisions. It seems obvious that this title underwent some significant re-mastering and it looks like the same gorgeous transfer that appeared on the now defunct Monsters HD channel in 2008. This version also retains the campy voice-over opening by Paul Frees uttering an incantation to protect the audience members from any spells the witches may put on them. There are chapter stops at ten minute intervals and an original 1962 theatrical trailer also presented with anamorphic enhancement.