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

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As she emerges from Notting Hill Gate Underground station, she looks like she could be on her way to a modelling assignment for Nova.

It certainly sounds like a British film from the 1970s (which it is of course) but there's no question that it's a bit too try and a bit too much like a professor talking to himself.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. With the new popularity of witchcraft in its modern form, it is probably impossible to be completely accurate because of the different deviations dependent on which practising witch you speak to, so it would be unfair to criticise Leigh for this. We find out how her letter to Alex, instigates her meeting with a fellow witch, how covens determine a person is right for initiation into a coven, and more about what is expected of a witch.

Finally, there is a collection of images from the film Legend of the Witches and of rare memorabilia and newspaper clippings related to the spooky 70s. My inner hippy found it fascinating until my inner punk surfaced the moment Quintessence began performing the track that gave the documentary its title. With no connection to Witchcraft, I can only imagine this was added to the set because of the Alex Sanders connection to Notting Hill. 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.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. Providing a very 70s psychedelic sound, the music fits brilliantly with the performance of the rituals within the film. Legend of the Witches(1970, 85 mins): The originally X-rated film documentary which looks in detail at previously hidden magic rites and rituals. However, there is no doubt in Leigh’s real intentions for making this film (he followed this with British Sex film, Games that Lovers Play, 1971 starring Joanna Lumney). This is the popular conception of what witches do and how they practice their craft,’ we’re informed.

The biggest let down is the drafting in of actress Penny Beeching as the hairdresser with an interest in the Occult. Followed by the introduction of Catholicism, where we are given information regarding the integration of Catholicism and old Pagan teachings. Although nice to see, it is difficult for the director to fully encapsulate the significance of these objects on film and the shot is simply a scan over objects as the narrator goes on to talk about spells and the doll effigies with pins stuck into them.

Featuring the only footage in existence of the infamous “King of Wicca,” Alex Sanders, who uses this documentary to guide us through his coven. Even so, stretches of it proved intriguing enough to make it a very worthwhile, though never totally bewitching, watch. The proceedings are then infiltrated by a priest with a cross, set on bringing down the evil goings on. This remastered version of the film is of good quality which makes the most of Leigh’s beautiful cinematography of the countryside both in daylight and under moonlight. Sadly, I felt that the narration by Standeven often added to what is in most part, a slow film with a few interesting highs.

We then meet Penny, who wants to join a coven although we never find out precisely why she is so keen to do so. The extra quality also allows for some detailing to be seen clearer during the performance of each mass and ritual. Before a minute is on the clock, he has managed to notch up some full frontal nudity accompanied by a gasp!

Unlike Legend of the Witches, the pace is much quicker and because the lighting is better and it is shot in colour, it is clearer for the audience to see exactly what is happening with the tying of the three coloured cords and the ritualistic kissing of the five points. Displayed here are the remains of the last witch to be executed in England and artefacts from around the world. Overall, this is an interesting and insightful look at Witchcraft practises in 1970s Notting Hill and does go some way to dispel the myth surrounding orgies, virgin sacrifice and roots in evil.