Salem Witch Trials (film)

Last updated
Salem Witch Trials
Screenplay byMaria Nation
Directed by Joseph Sargent
Starring Kirstie Alley
Alan Bates
Theme music composer Jonathan Goldsmith
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerJohn Ryan
Cinematography Pierre Gill
Editor Debra Karen
Running time189 minutes
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseMarch 2, 2003 (2003-03-02)

Salem Witch Trials is a 2003 American-Canadian historical drama miniseries directed by Joseph Sargent and starring Kirstie Alley and Alan Bates. It is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials. [1] [2]

Contents

Cast

Production

The series was shot in Toronto and Cornwall, Ontario. [3]

Release

The series debuted on DVD and Blu-ray on September 30, 2008 via Echo Bridge Entertainment. Neither version contains any extras. [4]

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This timeline of the Salem witch trials is a quick overview of the events.

Elizabeth Hubbard is best known as the primary instigator of the Salem Witch Trials. Hubbard was 17 years old in the spring of 1692 when the trials began. In the 15 months the trials took place, 20 people were executed.

Sarah Cloys/Cloyce was among the many accused during Salem Witch Trials including two of her older sisters, Rebecca Nurse and Mary Eastey, who were both executed. Cloys/Cloyce was about 50-years-old at the time and was held without bail in cramped prisons for many months before her release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Booth</span>

Elizabeth Booth was born in 1674 and was one of the accusers in the Salem Witch Trials. She grew up in Salem, Massachusetts, as the second eldest of ten children. When she was sixteen she was accused of being a witch. When she was eighteen, she began accusing people of practicing witchcraft, including John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Sarah Proctor, William Proctor, Benjamin Proctor, Woody Proctor, Giles Corey, Martha Corey, Job Tookey, and Wilmont Redd. Five of these people were executed due to Booth's testimony. Elizabeth Proctor would have been executed as well if she was not pregnant. After the Witch Trials, Booth married Israel Shaw on December 26, 1695, and had two children named Israel and Susanna. Booth's death date is unknown.

Mary Black was an African-American enslaved by Nathaniel Putnam of the Putnam family who was accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials. Nathaniel's nephew was Thomas Putnam, one of the primary accusers. However, Nathaniel himself was skeptical and even defended Rebecca Nurse. Mary was arrested, indicted, and imprisoned, but did not go to trial, and was released by proclamation on January 21, 1693 [O.S. January 11, 1692]. She returned to Nathaniel's household after she was released, another indication of Nathaniel's view of the charges against her.

References

  1. Gates, Anita (1 March 2003). "TELEVISION REVIEW; Fanning Mass Puritan Hysteria, in the Salem Style". The New York Times . Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  2. Herndandez, Ernio (1 February 2003). "Bates, Ustinov and MacLaine Star in CBS Mini-Series "Salem Witch Trials," March 2–4". Playbill . Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  3. Fries, Laura (27 February 2003). "Salem Witch Trials". Variety . Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  4. "Salem Witch Trials Blu-ray".