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"Keeping the Story Real"
Copyright © 1998 - 2008
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Bell Witch Movie Information
From Pat Fitzhugh, owner of the "Bell Witch" web site:
The legend of the Bell Witch is like the Civil War – there is always someone making a movie or writing a book about it. That is not necessarily a bad thing and, if done properly, is actually a very good thing. As of May, 2006, three (3) Bell Witch movies have been released; this has generated many e-mails in my mailbox each day.
All of those e-mails deserve a reply; however, the reply would be essentially the same in almost every case. I am including my “blanket response” on this page, in the form of a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section.
Q: Do you know there is going to be a movie about the Bell Witch?
A: Yes. Bell Witch movie projects are not uncommon. There are three movies currently in existence and one scheduled for release in the 2008-2009 timeframe. The only Bell Witch movies I have seen thus far are The Bell Witch Haunting. and An American Haunting. My reviews of movies and other Bell Witch-related projects can be found here.Q: Which movie do you think is the best?
A: All movies, books and plays have both high and low points. I can't really say that there is a "best," but as a researcher, the primary thing I look for is historical accuracy. That having been said, I feel that The Bell Witch Haunting is the best Bell Witch movie thus far.Q: Which Bell Witch play do you think is the best?
A: My pick is The Bell Witch Story which, ironically, was written and produced by the same people who wrote and produced The Bell Witch Haunting (the movie). The Bell Witch Story hasn't been performed much in recent years; the first time I saw it was back in the 1990s at the Sumner County Playhouse, north of Nashville. I really wish they would bring it back; it easily surpasses every other Bell Witch play that I have seen. In fact, I have seen one play that actually "borrowed" some lines from The Bell Witch Story, but still managed to blow historical accuracy out the window.Q: Do you know any of the people who made Bell Witch movies?
A: Yes, I know both the director and producer of "The Bell Witch Haunting," and I spent the better part of a day with the crew of "An American Haunting." The people from BOTH movies are very nice and respectable people, and I enjoyed their company.Q: Does "An American Haunting" follow closely to the actual legend?
A: No. However, they placed a disclaimer at the end of the movie, explaining that their take is one of many possible takes on the legend and that it remains an unsolved mystery. I applaud their decision to include the disclaimer. Additionally, they do not say it is a true story; they say it is only BASED on a true story. For some reason, many people inadvertently filtered out the word, "based," and only got the "true story" part.Q: Were you involved in another way, with either movie?
A: Yes, I was involved with "An American Haunting." They shot footage around the Adams, TN area and interviewed several locals and historians, including me. Some of the interviews are on their web site, and a bigger piece appeared on the DVD when it came out in October of 2006. I am on that one as well.Q: What about making your own movie about the Bell Witch?
A: A long documentary (2 hrs) or a mini series (2 hrs a night for 4 or 5 nights) is the best way to entertain the masses with the legend of the Bell Witch, I feel. I researched, photographed, and scripted such a project years ago. However, I do not have the money to bring it to fruition, so it will have to remain in a downstairs filing cabinet with the rest of my research.
Those are the answers to the most popular Bell Witch movie-related questions I receive by e-mail. If your question is not listed above, feel free to drop me a line. I will do my best to answer you.
And finally, please make sure to check my reviews page. I will be adding reviews of Bell Witch-related movies and plays as they come out.
Sincerely,
Pat Fitzhugh, Author / Historian
www.bellwitch.org