"Reluctant Witch" Centron, unfinished film

"The Reluctant Witch" is an unfinished, unreleased film produced by Centron Films of Lawrence, KS and directed by Herk Harvey. This clip is a reconstruction of the only know footage spooled onto a workprint reel that was a left from when Centron Films closed its doors. The original footage consisted of a series of scenes shot out of order showing what appears to be a professor at the University of Kansas who gains supernatural powers. This version of the footage reassembles the footage into an order that might follow the films original story, since the original audio track for the footage was lost, music from the soundtrack of Carnival of Souls was added.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Centron films
• Lawrence
• Kansas
• Unreleased
• Herk Harvey

[yamwacky]

Thanks for posting! My father (Lyle Hart) worked at Centron with Herk, John, Len, etc. from about 1962 until 1970-71. Herk was a close friend of our family. I spent a lot of time roaming the Centron studios and being on set during shoots as a little kid-- I'm even in several of their education films. Centron was unique. Herk was a creative, talented man. Thanks again for posting.

[50zcarsman]

Are you sure this is supernatural stuff? Looks like an LSD cautionary tale -- right era, right company.

[50zcarsman]

See what happens when you imagine ducks appearing next to you? You take your eye off the road, become a careless driver, and almost crash! Centron would be VERY disappointed...

[12dave9]

The music used here is from COS and is a great score,too bad the film was never finished.

[GoldenAshe9]

Wow, thankyou so much for sharing this! I'm planning on doing my University dissertation on Centron's films, and since I'm in England until next year it makes it kind of difficult getting to see any of them... So this is a great help. :)

[TwangGuru]

I had the privilege of working with Herk at Centron on dozens of movies from 1974 to 1985, though I first met Herk in 1968 -- probably close to the time when this clip was in production. I also knew Len Schneider, though only from his later visits to his alma mater. I wish Herk (and not doubt John Clifford) could have finished this... all the folks that might know what it was about have passed away.

[PaulMilesSchneider]

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").