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Michael ReevesMichael Reeves (October 17 1943 - February 11 1969) was a talented young director best known for directing the 1968 American International Pictures/Tigon motion picture Witchfinder General (known in the US as The Conqueror Worm). Reeves begun making short films at an early age, some of which starred his friend the actor Ian Ogilvy. In his brief career Reeves has only made three films. Witchfinder General was his last film and brought him cult status. Reeves was only 24 years old when he directed the picture. The film is recognised today as one of great horror films that Britain has ever produced. Filmed on a very modest budget in East Anglia and adapted from the novel by Roland Bassett, Witchfinder General tells the story of Matthew Hopkins, an infamous lawyer-turned-witchhunter, culled from history, who travels the countryside rooting out those opposed to the revolution. Reeves wanted actor Donald Pleasance to play the title role. However American International Pictures the film's co-financers insisted in using their resident horror star Vincent Price instead. To begin with this caused friction between the veteran actor and the young up and coming director, as Price is well known for his camp mannerism. A famous story is often told how Reeves won over Price's respect. Tired of Price rolling his eyes and delivering his lines in a stilted manner, Reeves was constanting telling him to stop waving his arms and play the role seriously. An infuriated Price then confronted Reeves and demanded: 'Young man, I have made eighty-four films, how many how you made?', in which Reeves famously replied: 'Two good ones'! This brought the cast and crew in fits of laughter, no one more so than Price himself. Price was won over and begun taking the role seriously and delivered a performance that many believe is is finest. Reeves died tragically in London only a year after the film's release. The circumstances of his death remain mysterious. What is known is after shooting Witchfinder General he had trouble getting other projects off the ground and was suffering from depression. He became disillusioned and begun to drink heavily. At the same time he begun to take antidepressant tablets to combat his depression. On the night of February 11 1969 after bout of heavy drinking Reeves was found dead of a barbiturate overdose. The coroner’s report stated that Reeves’s death was accidental, though some believe he committed suicide. Reeves's two other films were less notable, though promised much. La Sorella di Satana (1965; also called Revenge of the Blood Beast) was made very cheaply in Italy, where Reeves was given four days of the horror icon Barbara Steele's time; it is still comparable to work by masters such as Mario Bava. The other was The Sorcerers (1967), made in England with Boris Karloff, which some think rivals the intelligence of Michael Powell's Peeping Tom (film). Boths these films, like Witchfinder General, starred his friend and muse Ian Ogilvy. Layin Madhavan External link IMDB entry
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