THE RELUCTANT WITCH (Part 4 of 7), a feature film adapted from the novella by James E. Gunn. (2017).
3A feature film by MUNROW'S RETRO.
This is Phase 2 of a film project using the original unused footage, found footage, parts from a film originally televised in 1972 (previously public domain, that status mayhave changed since re-release on DVD), clips from the television series Smallville and Charmed, old film footage from the early 1960's and 1930's now in the public domain, snippets from some video games, snippets from video shorts, clips from videotaped stage plays, and other sources. Actor dialogue is accomplished by use of captions. Soundtrack music is provided by copyrighted music in Parts 1 and 6 only, and free music and music licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (with link back) in the other parts. Phase 3 may be anywhere from a year to four years away, and necessary changes including changes to plot points may be necessary, but enjoy the story in its current form as it unfolds which pretty much follows Mr. Gunn's novella.
"The Reluctant Witch" by James E. Gunn was originally entitled "Happy Is The Bride" but was ultimately published in Galaxy Magazine in May 1953 under the title "Wherever You May Be." Gunn never liked the Galaxy title and when the story was published as the first of a trilogy of tales in a short-story collection entitled The Witching Hour in 1970, he re-titled it "The Reluctant Witch." I quote him here from his introduction: "I never liked 'Wherever You May Be' ... and changed it, in this collection, to "The Reluctant Witch." Thus, "the Reluctant Witch" (as it was labeled on Herk Harvey's film can) could not have been a working title Herk Harvey would have used until at least the summer of 1970 if not later. To me, based on my memory of the times, the footage looks as though it was either shot then or, much more likely, around the summer of 1971.
The lead role of Matthew Wright, played by Leonard Schneider in Part 1, in this reconstruction, shifts between two different actors: Tom Welling (Smallville) and Jamie Dornan (50 Shades of Grey). The role of Abigail Jenkins, likewise, shifts between three actresses: Erica Durance (Smallville), Dakota Johnson (50 Shades of Grey), and Holly Marie Combs (Charmed). The majority of Part Four is played by Tom Welling and Erica Durance. According to a YouTube comment by Paul Miles Schneider, the son of Leonard Schneider, actress Jennifer Salt had been contracted to play opposite Schneider in the film in the role of the 19-year-old "reluctant witch," Abigail Jenkins. His comment can be read at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raCkB9a2qbI at Joel Sanderson's short reconstruction of the footage: “I can't believe you have this footage! That professor is my father, Leonard Schneider. He was working for Centron as well, at the time, as a director and writer. They had him play the lead in this unfinished film, along with Jennifer Salt (later of "Soap")."
I felt a suspension of disbelief regarding the dramatic change in actors playing Matthew Wright was in order for the time being. As later footage shot by Herk Harvey will show, Leonard Schneider removed his eyeglasses during part of one scene. Thus we can conclude that the character of Matthew Wright is not continuously bespectacled. Tom Welling and Jamie Dornan both have the right look and hair color for the character with or without glasses. Erica Durance who played opposite of Welling as Lois Lane, in this reconstruction plays Abigail Jenkins, although she is somewhat mature for the role (she was 32 in the Smallville footage used). Jennifer Salt would have been 26 had she starred in The Reluctant Witch and was 27 when she appeared in Gargoyles a year later. She could have passed for 19 in the film. Holly Marie Combs of Charmed has certain facial characteristics that are similar to those of Jennifer Salt at age 26 and 27, and was her age and a little older when she starred in most of the seasons of Charmed ... which was why I used her as an alternate.
The ultimate goal is to find film footage with actors who look quite similar to Leonard Schneider at age 39 and Jennifer Salt at age 26/27 to star in the roles of Matthew Wright and Abigail Jenkins. Thus far only Holly Marie Combs is a reasonable "double" for Jennifer Salt. Otherwise, I have found only snippets of films and shorts with actors who look something like Leonard Schneider (in the cabin scene in Part One and working at the typewriter in Part Two).
Music credits:
Heliograph by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/divider/
Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/
Dance Monster - Electronic Medium by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100272
Artist: http://incompetech.com/