Now on Peacock: The Witches of Hollywood

A documentary about the history of witches in the movies

An image from The Witches of Hollywood

I took part in this project several years ago. French filmmaker Sophie Peyrard created the 2020 documentary Les sorcières à Hollywood for French television. But as all of the subjects are English speakers, the film, when shown on French and Canadian TV, had French subtitles, and is now available in an English language version. I was joined by Heather Greene (author of Lights, Cameras, Witchcraft!), Pam Grossman (podcaster and author of Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power), Kristen J. Sollée (author of Witches, Sluts, Feminists: Conjuring the Sex Positive), and Dianca London Potts (academic and scholar), and we discuss the figure of the witch in major Hollywood films from the 1920s through the present, like:

• Haxan (Witchcraft Through the Ages)

• The Wizard of Oz

• Bell, Book and Candle

• Rosemary’s Baby

• The Craft

• The Love Witch

  and many others, as well as the figure of the witch in history and literature.

Billie Burke as Glinda, The Witch of the North, in The Wizard of Oz

The film was shown at film festivals around the world, and on French television. It’s now available streaming on Peacock, and free on Tubi. It’s full of intelligent commentary and analysis from all the guest speakers, alongside iconic and fascinating scenes from a wide assortment of movies. I’m very proud of this project and I know you’ll enjoy it.