The Power of the Witch (1971)

The Power of the Witch: Real or Imaginary? is a 1971 BBC documentary that explores the history and contemporary practice of witchcraft in Britain, focusing on its resurgence in the late 1960s and early 1970s amid countercultural influences. Presented by Michael Bakewell, the 50-minute film features interviews with prominent figures such as Doreen Valiente, a key developer of modern Wicca rituals; Alex Sanders and Maxine Sanders, leaders of the Alexandrian tradition; Eleanor Bone, a high priestess; and Cecil Williamson, founder of the Museum of Witchcraft. It also includes perspectives from skeptics like psychologist Theo Brown, historian Keith Thomas, and Church representatives such as Captain Barry Irons, alongside archival footage of rituals, covens, and historical witch trials from the 1500s onward. The production examines witchcraft's evolution from persecuted folk practices to organized pagan groups, reflecting societal debates on spirituality and superstition during the era.