Customer Reviews

Cinema Salem - A Cinematic Guide to the Witch City

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As a fan of TCM's famed film historian Robert Osborne and a major film and TV buff myself, I was enthralled by author Peter Mac's Unique book. It is a fascinating look at all of the independant and Hollywood "A" List productions that have used the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692 as a backdrop for great story telling. First time author Peter Mac has clearly done his home work researching the turbulent history of this legendary 17th Century village in Salem, Massachusetts and the atrocities that befell 20 innocent people during the hysteria. Having never been to Salem, Mass. myself, I am now, more determined than ever to visit the landmarks and sites that are depicted in Mr. Mac's wonderful book. I only hope and pray that the once tormented and tortured souls of the 1692 witch trials have found peace now and have gone on to a more beautiful plane of existence !

This book is a must for anyone interested in the treatment of Salem, the "witch" town, in cinema. In the hands of a less-skilled writer, it could have been just a dull recounting of various facts. Instead, Peter Mac brings everything to life in a most entertaining and informative way. Adding this to your library would greatly enhance it!

I was fascinated by Peter Mac's "Cinema Salem: A Cinematic Guide to the Witch City". I love film and movies as well as the genres of supernatural, fantasy, horror, sci-fi and history in general. For me it was an absolute treat! It is an excellent read and worth picking up a copy. The research wowed me and I highly recommend this book.

While I SORT OF like witch-y things and REALLY like classic film, I LOVED this book. As other reviewers have said, it is incredibly thorough. Clearly, the author invested an incredible amount of time, and it shows. The book comes off as a mix between historical document and love letter. Maybe it's time for me to visit Salem myself!

If you're looking for a unique and VERY interesting book, this is it. Prepare to learn a multitude things that you didn't know about witches represented on film! The book is well-written, the photographs are great, and the information is amazing! If you need a Halloween, Christmas, or whatever gift for ANYONE, this book is it!!!

I only have a couple of recurring G-rated fantasies: 1) to be an out gay Witch living in Salem, MA where freedom of expression is welcomed and embraced, and 2) and to be a working Actor in my own single- theater in this small town. It is during the exploration of this dream I stumbled upon Peter Mac's book "Cinema Salem".
As a film-lover with a major line-item in my budget for going out to see movies, I always notice - with great sadness - the forlorn and forgotten plot scenarios that deal with complex issues like the Salem Witch Trials. Everything is of the flash and trash variety now. Now don't get me wrong I LOVE Bewitched and the comedy genre that deals with the "Witches" of Salem. However, I am OBSESSED with Salem and the documentation of the tragic events that happened here. Long before Hitler and McCarthy there was an egregious act perpetrated on innocent victims.
When I found this gem of a book (meticulously researched and detailed in its content) I would read a section and put it down. I didn't want to finish it too fast. This was right up my alley. Names, plot devices, Author and/or Director commentary, etc... it is all here. People associated with the town and creators of these works talked to him. From the tragic to the comic. Mac captures in this book the minutia of celluloidic intent of the Modern Master of Witches or supposed Witches on film in Salem. I loved it. Kudos Mac!

I can only imagine the amount of research that had to go into the preparation of this book. Peter Mac has uncovered in-depth information on even the most obscure film titles. I myself have found in this book, quite a few movies, previously unknown to me, that I have put on my must-see list.

Growing up in the 1960's, I especially enjoyed reading the behind the scenes stories about the filming of the "Bewitched" TV series in Salem. For myself and most of the generation that were coming up at the time, those on location shows were our first glimpse of Salem, Mass. I'm sure if I could have visited back then I would have been looking for that floating bed warmer...

I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to find out more about a visit to Salem, the movies & filming locations. It is amazing in how many different ways that the city of Salem and it's infamous events have been portrayed over the years both factually and in fiction.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It was very informative and interesting. I found out many things about movies that were based on the witch trials that I never knew before and that there was even a silent movie on the witch trials. You can say Mr. Mac really did his research.