- published: 19 Aug 2015
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Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch (from Old English wicca masculine, wicce feminine) is a practitioner of witchcraft. Historically, it was widely believed in early modern Christian Europe that witches were in league with the Devil and used their powers to harm people and property. Particularly, since the mid-20th century, "bad" and "good" witchcraft are sometimes distinguished, the latter often involving healing. The concept of witchcraft as harmful is normally treated as a cultural ideology, a means of explaining human misfortune by blaming it either on a supernatural entity or a known person in the community.
Beliefs in witchcraft, and resulting witch-hunts, existed in many cultures worldwide and still exist in some today, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa (e.g. in the witch smellers in Bantu culture). Historically these beliefs were notable in Early Modern Europe of the 14th to 18th century, where witchcraft came to be seen as a vast diabolical conspiracy against Christianity, and accusations of witchcraft led to large-scale witch-hunts, especially in Germanic Europe.
"Hansel and Gretel" ( /ˈhænsəl/ or /ˈhɑːnsəl/, and /ˈɡrɛtəl/; German: Hänsel und Gretel, diminutives of Johannes and Margaret) is a well-known fairy tale of German origin, recorded by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812. Hansel and Gretel are a young brother and sister threatened by a cannibalistic hag living deep in the forest in a house constructed of cake and confectionery. The two children save their lives by outwitting her. The tale has been adapted to various media, most notably the opera Hänsel und Gretel (1893) by Engelbert Humperdinck and a stop-motion animated feature film made in the 1950s based on the opera. Under the Aarne–Thompson classification system, "Hansel and Gretel" is classified under Class 327.
The following summary is based on an 1853 anonymous translation by Iona and Peter Opie in 1972.
Hansel and Gretel are the young children of a poor woodcutter. When a great famine settles over the land, the woodcutter's second, abusive wife decides to take the children into the woods and leave them there to fend for themselves, so that she and her husband do not starve to death. The woodcutter opposes the plan but finally, and reluctantly, submits to his wife's scheme. They are unaware that in the children's bedroom, Hansel and Gretel have overheard them. After the parents have gone to bed, Hansel sneaks out of the house and gathers as many white pebbles as he can, then returns to his room, reassuring Gretel that God will not forsake them.
Actors: Jan Krüger (producer), Jan Krüger (director), Toby Ashraf (actor), André Weinreich (editor), Marlene Melchior (actress), Vasilis Thanasis (actor), Tim van Nuland (actor),
Plot: It's a cold December night in Berlin. Once again, Hänsel and Gretel have lost their way. They stumble through the big city in search for warmth and company. An invitation to a night club ('Witch's night - couples welcome') looks like lucky turn...
Genres: Short,Actors: Zachary Strobel (miscellaneous crew), Bradley Creanzo (actor), Bob Socci (actor), Genoveva Rossi (actress), Matt Brunson (editor), Alan Bendich (actor), Robert Arensen (actor), Joseph Ciminera (actor), Joseph Ciminera (writer), Joseph Ciminera (director), Joseph Ciminera (producer), Tiffany Browne-Tavarez (actress), Larry Costa (actor), Fran Capo (actress), Timothy Schweitzer (actor),
Plot: Acedia is set on a country estate where six priests are sent to rid a teenage girl of demons. While waiting for the ritualistic tenth hour, the priests start to uncover demons of their own as well as the dark secrets that haunt the estate. A small box created from wood made from the boat of Noah's Arc can make wishes come true. Once the wish is granted the souls are trapped in the dark corners of hell!
Genres: Horror,Actors: Philip Gardiner (producer), Philip Gardiner (editor), Warren Croyle (producer), Philip Gardiner (director), Philip Gardiner (producer), Philip Gardiner (writer), Nick Pope (actor), James Earnshaw (composer), Nik Spencer (editor), Nik Spencer (producer), Suzy Deakin (actress), Layla Randle-Conde (actress), Andrew Gough (actor), Tony Rotherham (actor), Andrew Gough (producer),
Plot: In the UK's most haunted location, a group of seekers arrive to find the truth about life after death. They uncover much more than they bargained for. Very quickly they unearth an ancient stone artefact that shines a mirror upon their souls. Filmed on location at Annesley Hall in Nottinghamshire and once the home of Lord Byron, this film is a paranormal thriller in true British fashion. Featuring real British Druids filmed on location at Stonehenge and a host of British authors and musicians.
Keywords: annesley, colon-in-title, five-word-title, ghost, hammer, haunting, paranormal, paranormal-phenomena, pentagram, ritualActors: Ken Meyer (producer), Ken Meyer (miscellaneous crew), David A. Davidson (miscellaneous crew), Xenia Seeberg (actress), Todd Livingston (writer), Todd Livingston (actor), Todd Livingston (director), Todd Livingston (producer), Andy Kubiszewski (composer), Seth Hanser (editor), Seth Hanser (actor), Mace Archer (actor), Nicholas Capetanakis (producer), Nicholas Capetanakis (actor), Jason Harris (actor),
Genres: Comedy, Horror,Actors: Niv Fichman (producer), Barbara Willis Sweete (director), Linda Muir (costume designer), Mark Morris (miscellaneous crew), Mark Morris (writer), Liam Burke (actor), Publius Vergilius Maro (writer), Russell Braun (actor), Ann Monoyios (actress), Shari Saunders (actress), Jennifer Lane (actress), Benjamin Butterfield (actor), Meredith Hall (actress),
Genres: ,Actors: Tom Davenport (director), Marlene Elbin (actor), Marlene Elbin (actor), Scott Honeycutt (actor), Aeron Mack (actress),
Plot:
When a poor Depression-era mountain father and stepmother can no longer afford to feed their children, Hansel and Gretel, they walk them into the woods and "lose" them. Banjo tunes serenade the resourceful pair through the misty forests, the harrowing adventures in the witch's decorative log cabin with its outdoor kitchen, and eventually back home to their backwoods hollow. This tale of self-reliance and mutual loyalty is narrated by Tom Davenport.
"Our audiences loved it. Kids hissed at the witch and shouted 'do it' as Gretel hesitated before pushing her into the oven...Excellent for stimulating talk about scary feelings and things. Great for mask-making, dramatizations, and mime. A four-star film for all ages."
--More Films Kids Like by Gerry Laybourne and Maureen Gaffney
Genres: Family, Short,Actors: L.Q. Jones (actor), Anthony Jochim (actor), Alvy Moore (actor), Alvy Moore (producer), Jaime Mendoza-Nava (composer), L.Q. Jones (writer), L.Q. Jones (producer), Strother Martin (actor), Jonathan Erickson Eisley (actor), Phyllis Coghlan (actress), Charles Robinson (actor), Helene Winston (actress), Ahna Capri (actress), Bernard McEveety (director), Sean MacGregor (writer),
Genres: Horror,Actors: L.Q. Jones (actor), Anthony Jochim (actor), Alvy Moore (actor), Alvy Moore (producer), Jaime Mendoza-Nava (composer), L.Q. Jones (writer), L.Q. Jones (producer), Strother Martin (actor), Jonathan Erickson Eisley (actor), Phyllis Coghlan (actress), Charles Robinson (actor), Helene Winston (actress), Ahna Capri (actress), Bernard McEveety (director), Sean MacGregor (writer),
Genres: Horror,Actors: Red Buttons (actor), Hans Conried (actor), Mae Questel (actress), Rudy Vallee (actor), Paul Bogart (director), Shaike Ophir (actor), Stubby Kaye (actor), Barbara Cook (actress), Paul Hartman (actor), Diki Lerner (actor), Sondra Lee (actress), Risë Stevens (actress), Will B. Able (actor), Alec Wilder (composer), Paula Laurence (actress),
Genres: Musical,Actors: Kote Daushvili (actor), Vasili Dolenko (editor), Rezo Lagidze (composer), Akaki Kvantaliani (actor), Yakov Tripolsky (actor), Kote Miqaberidze (writer), Giorgi Shavgulidze (actor), Dodo Chichinadze (actress), Nino Kakabadze (actress), Gocha Abashidze (actor), Zura Kikaleishvili (miscellaneous crew), Mavr Piasetsky (actor), Aleqsandre Lortqipanidze (producer), Victor Chankvetadze (actor), Aleqsandre Gomelauri (actor),
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance,