Winter of the Witch

I had to laugh at the other comments that mention seeing this film in school -- Disston School in Philadelphia used to show it too, when they weren't running The Red Balloon (which I must have seen 10 times) or Paddle to the Sea (maybe 12 times, but better than The Red Balloon, for sure). All I remember from it was a witch and pancakes -- the acoustics in our auditorium weren't the greatest. They also would run Alan Arkin's film "People Soup," which was worlds more entertaining than any of the above. They also showed us "Brian's Song" once, but we girls cried so hard I don't think they wanted to risk it again.

You have to hand it to the filmmakers, though -- they must have done something right to make us remember it -- even if it was just the witch/pancake angle.

I remember Halloween, 2nd grade, sitting in our darkened classroom as we watched the "Winter of the Witch". All these years I never knew the title but thought it was very familiar because my mother had bought me the book, "Old Witch and the Polka Dot Ribbon" and I had read the book so many times it eventually fell apart. I remember then, in 2nd grade, trying to explain to my friends afterward that the characters were familiar but the story was not quite right, and no one knew what I was talking about! Now, I realize that this movie was based on the original children's book, "Old Black Witch" by Wende and Harry Devlin who were also the authors of my old witch book which was a sort of sequel. Oh, I loved these books! Anyone interested in watching it again, it is available on google videos as well as youtube. I just watched it for the 2nd time in nearly 40 years, and it was such a treat!

.....then by all means let me know directly at the above e-mail address so that I may arrange for a copy for you. Probably the most memorable memory of off-the-wall gradeschool 16mm screenings I've ever logged. And many seem to be in the same boat as I. Who could possibly forget the unsinkable Hermoine Gingold as a sad old witch whose abode is intruded upon by a single mom and her young son in search of an alternative to urban hustle & bustle, setting into motion an irresistibly oddball tale of friendship and redemption. An inspired and unique experience; there really is nothing else quite like it, and those 'happy' pancakes are a hoot. It's enough to make you want to drop everything and embark on a pilgrimage to Goshen (NY) where this was filmed, just to see if there's anything left of the gloriously creaky old mansion depicted in the film, if not any leftover pancakes.

I can't believe I found this movie! I have been thinking about it for years. We used to watch it on rainy days in elementary school (Grandview Elementary School, Manhattan Beach, California). The only people I knew who shared a memory of this movie were my old classmates but now I see we weren't the only ones that were left with indelible images from the "psychedelic pancake" movie. I didn't even know the original title until today. I really want a copy of it. I heard they have an old reel to reel copy of it in the archives of the Manhattan Beach library. My memories of the witch, the psychedelic dancing splotchy things, the pancakes, are so vivid. It was such a treat whenever it rained and the whole school got to see this movie. We never got tired of it. I am so stoked to know the memory of this awesome movie is alive through out the USA.

i watched this movie when i was in grade school too. i've wanted to see this movie again for a long time. i've looked for it for a long time, and this is the first time i have proof that it was a real movie and not a figment of my imagination. I have told my husband about it,and i'd love to show him the movie. i've asked people if they remember it, but most haven't. My older siblings remember seeing it too, but no one could remember the title of the movie. For a long time i thought it was a lost cause. Does anyone have a copy that can be downloaded to the computer? i've seen that it is available to buy, but i'd love to see it without having to pay $20 for a 22 minute program.