The origin of witch hats can be traced back to ancient pagan and shamanistic practices. These practices involved the use of pointed hats as a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and power. The witch hat, as we know it today, became popularized during the Middle Ages in Europe, particularly during the time of the witch trials and persecutions. At this time, the hat was associated with witchcraft and was used to identify individuals who were accused of practicing magic. The pointed shape of the hat was believed to represent a connection to the spiritual realm and was often seen as a sign of a witch's ability to communicate with otherworldly beings. Despite its association with witchcraft, the hat has also been used by non-magical individuals, such as folklore figures and entertainers, throughout history.
I have a fondness for irreverence; one of my favourite shows is The Young Ones , which has this terrific blend of British absurdity and slapstick violence. It’s outlandish and not to everyone’s taste, but it strikes my sense of humour. Where The Magic Christian differs is that it takes its core message of “Everyone has a price” so much to hard, it becomes abrasive to watch. By the end of the film, the donkey is well and truly flogged.
I have a fondness for irreverence; one of my favourite shows is The Young Ones , which has this terrific blend of British absurdity and slapstick violence. But where Holy Grail uses its non-traditional structure to its advantage where it develops its core characters through their expeditions, The Magic Christian doesn t develop either of Sellers or Ringo s characters at all.
Despite its association with witchcraft, the hat has also been used by non-magical individuals, such as folklore figures and entertainers, throughout history. Today, the witch hat is often seen as a Halloween costume accessory and has become an iconic symbol of witches in popular culture. Whether it be in literature, film, or art, the witch hat continues to carry a fascinating and mysterious history.
Book and Movie Review: “The Magic Christian” by Terry Southern
A couple weeks ago, I finally decided I needed to see the movie The Magic Christian that is mentioned so often in Beatles books when discussing Ringo or the year 1969 when it was filmed and released. After watching the film, I decided to buy a copy of the book to see…well, read the reviews and you’ll understand…
I tried to find this movie on-demand from several outlets, but eventually I ended up renting this movie from Amazon Prime for about $3.99. The opening credits of The Magic Christian could draw anyone in to wanting to see this movie. Besides the author of the book, Terry Southern, the other writers of the screenplay and script include: Joseph McGrath, Graham Chapman, John Cleese and Peter Sellers – who also stars in the movie with Ringo Starr. There are guest appearances from Richard Attenborough, Spike Milligan, Roman Polanski, Rachel Welch, John Cleese, Gram Chapman and Yul Brenner. Denis O’Dell, who was the Associate Producer of this film, was also the AP of A Hard Day’s Night, Magical Mystery Tour and How I Won the War. Sounds like a winning line-up, huh? There is even a scene where it appears John and Yoko make a cameo, but when looking at the credits on IMDb, it was just two un-credited actors.
I fell asleep after the first 45 minutes and had to watch the second half the following day! The whole thing seems to want to tell a story, but without explanation as to why. Ringo was heralded for his acting in this film, but he really does nothing more than follow around Peter Sellers, his adopted billionaire dad, Guy Grand, in the movie. Ringo’s lines are limited to mostly just one sentence. The plot – they go around spending millions of dollars making rich and poor people look like asses for being so greedy. But why?
I decided that I needed to read the book for more clarity on the who, what and whys to what was happening on the screen….
So I ordered a used copy of The Magic Christian book which took way too long to arrive (damn media mail!). The book, published in 1959, is just 134 pages and can be easily read in a day. Again…it took me two.
The first difference I noticed between the book and film is that Peter Sellers didn’t match the physical description of his character Guy Grand who was “rather stout”. The various scenarios/scenes portrayed in the movie are in the book, but not necessarily in the same order, sometimes with a little more detail or a little less. And Guy Grand does pull off several more antics in the book.
But the major difference…there is no adopted son (aka Ringo’s character Youngman Grand) in the book! I spent the entirety of my reading waiting for him to pop-up, but he never did. Why? Why did Terry Southern and the other writers decide it was necessary to add this character? Was it just to add a Beatle to the film’s line-up and pull in his fan base? Sure seemed that way to me, but I’ll have to do a little research to be sure. Either way, it didn’t work…the critics hated the movie, but loved the book.
So, did I find my answer to the who, what and why of the film in the pages of the book. No. I’ve read it’s an observance of greed in America, but the film was set in England. Does that mean that the author/screenwriters thinks Brits are as greedy as Americans? I have no clue what he thinks. My advice is, don’t feel obligated to watch or read this story because you’re a Beatles or Ringo Starr fan! And for that reason…
I rate the movie: 1 out of 3 Beetles !
I rate the book: 2 out of 3 Beetles !
I won’t recommend it, but I could imagine that there might be some people who might click with it. And while I probably wont watch it again, I don’t think I can go as far to say that I regret watching it. Yeah, it’s overindulgent and flimsy, but I can’t say I was bored.
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Reviews for "From the Sorcery Trials to Modern Witchcraft: The Legacy of the Witch Hat"
- Emily Smith - 1 star
I found "What is the origin of witch hats" to be incredibly dull and uninteresting. The author didn't provide much historical context or in-depth research on the topic. It felt like they just threw together a few random facts about witches and called it a day. I was hoping to learn something new and exciting about the origins of witch hats, but instead, I was left disappointed and unsatisfied.
- John Thompson - 2 stars
While "What is the origin of witch hats" had the potential to be an intriguing read, it fell short in many aspects. The writing style was dry, and it was challenging to stay engaged throughout the book. Moreover, I felt like the author focused too much on insignificant details, instead of providing a comprehensive understanding of the topic. I expected more from this book, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver the necessary depth and analysis.
- Sarah Miller - 3 stars
"What is the origin of witch hats" was an okay read for me. I did appreciate the author's effort to explore the origins of witch hats, but I found the overall execution to be lacking. The writing style was a bit too academic and dense for my taste, making it difficult to grasp the information. Additionally, I was hoping for more visual aids or illustrations to accompany the text and make it a more visually appealing read. While it wasn't terrible, it certainly didn't leave a lasting impression on me.
- David Wilson - 2.5 stars
I had mixed feelings about "What is the origin of witch hats." On one hand, I appreciated the author's attempt to shed light on this somewhat obscure topic. However, I found the book to be too short and lacking in depth. It felt more like an extended blog post rather than a comprehensive exploration of the subject. If you're looking for a quick overview of witch hats' origins, this might suffice, but if you're seeking a more immersive and detailed read, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.