I realized that this was a movie and as for Hollywood, "creative interpretation" in the norm. The 2nd part seemed to redeem some of the slow 1st part. The "effects" were to show what the accusers really believed they saw and how the town people watching the girl's fits were pulled into a panic they felt was real. The movie did make me feel the real fear and terror and appalling prison conditions that the poor victims had to endure. I felt the anger of being falsely accused and having no way to prove your innocence. The fact that we are still trying to understand how this could have happened all these years later shows how complex the reasons were. The last twist (the accusation of the Governor's wife) hinted at being done on purpose to bring the horror to an end and gave me another view to mull over. I never could figure a reason why she was accused. My ancestor was the accused "witch" Winifred Benham in CT. Dot Tully

Dear Bill, I came away with the same feeling about the Governor's wife. Seemed like a sure way to stop the madness. As long as he really loved his wife. Was that a redeeming grace for my Ann Carr Putnam. Deborah Ray Piper Spencer Co., IN allpiper@swindiana.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Tully" <WTully@carolina.net> To: <SALEM-WITCH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 11:13 PM Subject: [SALEM-WITCH-L] movie > I realized that this was a movie and as for Hollywood, "creative > interpretation" in the norm. The 2nd part seemed to redeem some of the slow > 1st part. The "effects" were to show what the accusers really believed they > saw and how the town people watching the girl's fits were pulled into a > panic they felt was real. The movie did make me feel the real fear and > terror and appalling prison conditions that the poor victims had to endure. > I felt the anger of being falsely accused and having no way to prove your > innocence. The fact that we are still trying to understand how this could > have happened all these years later shows how complex the reasons were. The > last twist (the accusation of the Governor's wife) hinted at being done on > purpose to bring the horror to an end and gave me another view to mull over. > I never could figure a reason why she was accused. > My ancestor was the accused "witch" Winifred Benham in CT. > > Dot Tully > >

I, too, saw Part II as acted out with more fervency and realism than in the first part. Beyond the plausible and trustworthy historical writings of that time, give or take a very few years...much still must be left to the imagination. First-hand recollection can be tainted over the years, a word here, a phrase there. By the time it is written down, personal thoughts and feelings have been added, either by inclusion or inference, and perhaps important facts deleted or forgotten. Although there are good legal records, personal day-to-day actions and conversations within a home's four walls must still be assumed. One must read between the lines to find the facts, if, indeed, that is possible. While watching this movie, I had moments of deep compassion for the victims and their families, as well as much frustration over their absolute lack of being heard. (The latter was a factual display of Puritanism, of women's obiesance to men, by rule.) Much had to be written in, to fill in those blank spaces, especially within the prison walls. The marvelous humanity of Rebecca certainly came through, as well as Tituba's suffering. But Bridget was still portrayed spectrally as a wanton woman, and nowhere did we see her husband, as even a reference point. And where was the 'bright red bodice' and the tavern? Margo, the best to you as you attempt to accurately verify and compile the real tale of this horrible time in history. I look forward to the end result of your tireless research, it will be well worth the read. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Tully" <WTully@carolina.net> To: <SALEM-WITCH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 12:13 AM Subject: [SALEM-WITCH-L] movie > I realized that this was a movie and as for Hollywood, "creative > interpretation" in the norm. The 2nd part seemed to redeem some of the slow > 1st part. The "effects" were to show what the accusers really believed they > saw and how the town people watching the girl's fits were pulled into a > panic they felt was real. The movie did make me feel the real fear and > terror and appalling prison conditions that the poor victims had to endure. > I felt the anger of being falsely accused and having no way to prove your > innocence. The fact that we are still trying to understand how this could > have happened all these years later shows how complex the reasons were. The > last twist (the accusation of the Governor's wife) hinted at being done on > purpose to bring the horror to an end and gave me another view to mull over. > I never could figure a reason why she was accused. > My ancestor was the accused "witch" Winifred Benham in CT. > > Dot Tully > >