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Folklore: The Bell Witch

06 May 06 - 12:35 AM (#1733831)
Subject: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: LadyJean

All this began with a blurb in the movie section for a flick called, "An American Haunting". It described the movie as being about a family in Tennessee in the early 19th century, who are plagued by a haunting. Ah! I say, the Bell Witch, and wonder how much of the story they'll tell. Then I wondered what mudcatters would have to say on the Bell Witch, so I'm starting this thread. I haven't seen the movie. I don't suppose it's very good. But I thought it might make for a good discussion.


06 May 06 - 02:34 AM (#1733862)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: Joe Offer

Hmmmm.
Don't know a thing about the Bell Witch, but Google helped find some interesting sites:


06 May 06 - 08:46 AM (#1733961)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: SINSULL

I vaguely remember the Bell Witch haunting. A spirit in the walls and assorted "happenings" attributed to a poltergeist? Hans Holzner talks about it in one of his books.


06 May 06 - 07:28 PM (#1734172)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: GUEST

Bores the hell out of me.


06 May 06 - 10:56 PM (#1734304)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: LadyJean

I have, somewhere among my books, a complete account of the haunting, in a volume of American folklore. Of course I think some of it must have been exaggerated. What is interesting, is that there is some sort of cave that went under the Bell house, and there have been suggestions that it was one of Miss Bell's beaux causing all the trouble.


07 May 06 - 01:50 AM (#1734387)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: Cluin

Wasn't another movie about the Bell Witch haunting made already recently?


07 May 06 - 01:53 AM (#1734388)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: Cluin

I heard a bluegrass band at a festival saying something a couple of years ago about having some of their music on the soundtrack, it seems to me.


07 May 06 - 03:35 AM (#1734415)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: Lin in Kansas

Cluin, check out the second link Joe gave above. There are clips from the soundtrack and quite a bit of information about the performers.

Lin


07 May 06 - 03:49 AM (#1734421)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: GUEST

I saw the film last week, and even without any knowledge of the Bell Witch, it wasn't the best film I'd seen by a long stretch!! I'm not familiar with the Bell Witch folklore.


07 May 06 - 03:50 AM (#1734422)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: Louisey

Sorry, that was me, minus log-in!!


07 May 06 - 11:57 AM (#1734531)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: Cluin

Yeah, I checked out that link after I'd posted, Lin, thanks. Bad habit, I know...

Nice music. I'd like to see that film just for the soundtrack, I think.


07 May 06 - 03:56 PM (#1734708)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: Rapparee

I think that the Bell "hauntings" were discussed on one of B. A. Botkin's compilations, but which one I can't say offhand. I've read about it somewhere and remember finding it mildly interesting, as I find most of those sorts of things.


15 May 06 - 05:26 PM (#1741286)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: GUEST,Zuly

do see bell witch?


15 May 06 - 06:41 PM (#1741345)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: MAG

Jackie Torrance has (had) a recording of her version of this. If you like scary stories, you can't beat a Jackie Torrance recording. I assumer they are still available. Jackie, alas, is not.


15 May 06 - 09:40 PM (#1741446)
Subject: RE: Folklore: The Bell Witch
From: GUEST,mack/misophist

I read the storey in a compendium of American spooks almost 50 years ago. The book it was in was about that old itself - assuming you mean the Bell Witch of Tennassee. It was a good yarn, well told. Caves under the house shouldn't matter since about half way through, the family moved to get away from the ghost. The daughter died anyway. Her last words were supposed to have been "O Father, I am going to love him." Note: The ghost had stated his intention was to kill her so they could be together. The courtship was not described.