The Witch's Mirror (1962) - full transcript

Since the dawn
of civilization until today...

witchcraft and magic
have existed...

as well as its practitioners...

magicians,
sorcerers and witches.

This mysterious caste...

in which women are
among the most devoted...

includes those initiated
in the boundless field...

of secret knowledge known
as Arcane Sciences or Occultism.

They are guilty of many crimes
and hideous practices.

They blaspheme, they sacrifice
unchristened children...

they swear
in the name of Satan...



they kill people
and have them cooked...

they feed on Carrion
and hanged men's corpses...

they kill with poisons
and spells...

they cause madness...

and hundreds
of other horrors...

that riddle the history
of this damned caste.

To use their
diabolical powers...

witches resort
to special potions...

brooms...

skeletons of children
and animals...

every kind
of untanned hide...

flasks and vessels
of every shape...

secret powders
and dreadful poisons...

and an infinite variety
of lethal herbs.



All this is used
by an average witch.

But only
a superlative witch...

endowed with genuinely
profound knowledge of the occult...

can make use
of a magical abject...

of infinite powers
and properties...

invented by a great magician
of ancient Persia.

The mirror.

Look.

All I can see
are strange figures.

That...

It's an evil sign, Elena.

It announces doom.

Look carefully
at the black blot.

It's an omen.

Danger hovers over you.

Death prowls
the rooms of this house.

Wait.

We must discover
who wants to murder you.

Murder me? But why?

Silence.

Come.

Oh Great General
of The Netherworlds...

almighty Satanaya...

through my magic mirror...

let me discover who wants
to hurt my God-daughter.

The Powerful
Spirits have listened.

But I -

We will discover everything.

Look.

Eduardo. My husband.

The man who wants
to kill you.

No. It's impossible.

the Great and Almighty
Spirits do not deceive us.

With my mirror...

they express Truth.

But he loves me.
Why would he kill me?

I love him, too.

It's impossible.

You're wrong.

Look at the mirror again.

Look carefully.

Who is that woman?

Your rival.

I don't know her.
I've never seen her.

She doesn't know you either.

But, unwillingly, she can
do you a great deal of harm.

Godmother, help me.
I'm araid.

It's not easy.

It's no easy task
to change what is written.

You've always helped me.

And I'll continue to do so.

As long as the Powers
of Lucifer let me.

Adonay has revealed the Truth.

A deadly Truth.

Death is stalking you, Elena.

Why don't you play
another song?

- Don't you like it?
- I hear it day after day.

You used to ask me
to play it.

Perhaps.
Things change.

You're right.
Things change.

I'm going to bed.

I, as your creature...

invoke you
to give me courage...

strength and determination.

I need to protect Elena...

from the terrible
harm coming her way.

I request you declare me
able enough...

to prevent this evil
upon the young lady...

to whom I am Godmother.

No one is able enough
to hinder Superior Rulings.

Your God-daughter must die.

Don't interfere...

or your Masters
will punish you.

I beg you...

I beseech you...

from my absolutely
loyal heart...

to protect my God-daughter...

from the terrible harm
she's about to suffer.

Don't let her die, Adonay.

Your God-daughter must die.

I'll take those away.

Their perfume is unbearable,
especially at night.

I like tuberoses, Eduardo.

Are you taking them away?

As you like it.

What's the matter, darling?

Nothing.

You look very
beautiful tonight.

Your first compliment
in a long time.

Good night, darling.

That milk will help you
sleep better.

You despise me,
don't you?

I've always loved you.

Why are you doing this?

You?

Why?

Almighty Spirits,
Elohim...

Belial and Anagaton...

let me speak
to Elena's soul.

Elena.

What?

Can't you see me?

I couldn't help you.

You were marked by fate.

I couldn't help you
while you lived...

but I promise
to avenge your death.

Thank you so much
for waiting for us.

This wonderful woman...

is Deborah, my wife.

I hope to be as useful
to you as to Dr. Ramos.

It will be my privilege.

Thank you, Sara. Eduardo has
told me so much about you.

She's my housekeeper
and trustworthy member of this house.

She's been with me for many years.
A good and loyal person.

He baffles me
with undeserved compliments.

I just do my duty.

I hope we get to be
very good friends.

I'd be very honoured.

You must have
received the telegram...

- that announced our wedding.
- Yes, I have.

But it wasn't necessary.

What do you mean?

I had already anticipated.

How is that possible?

A man like yourself, sir...

wouldn't remain single
for too long.

You see? Even your housekeeper
says it in front of me.

She knows you perfectly.

Will you be having dinner?

No, Sara, thank you.
You may rest.

A strange woman,
but she appears kind.

Very pleasant and very efficient.

I hope you're happy here.

Frankly speaking,
I didn't like her at first...

but I learned
to appreciate her.

Well, what do you think
of the house? Do you like it?

Very much. I was looking
forward to seeing it.

And I was looking forward
to sharing it with you.

I love you
so much, Deborah.

Nothing would have stopped me...

from making you my wife.

And you are now my wife.

Your wife forever.

Before, no matter what you said,
I couldn't and wouldn't believe you.

It would have been
unfair or dishonest.

You were married
to another woman -

That belongs to the past.

Let's talk about
the future, not the past.

Come, I'll show you
the house.

I want you to get
acquainted with the house.

Well, all the rooms
are very similar.

I swear this is our room.

No. It was...

her room.

- May I see it?
- Not now, tomorrow.

You're such a fool, darling.

Do you think
it will upset me?

You know
I've never been jealous.

Especially now that,
unfortunately, she's -

I'm sorry, Eduardo.

What's wrong?

Nothing.
But... I felt a breeze.

A current of cold air
held me back.

The window is shut.

There's no possibility
of a draft in here.

I may have
just imagined it.

Deborah. Listen.

What a beautiful mirror.

We can look at it
another time.

Come, let's go.

Such a wonderful mirror.

What an agreeable room.

It seems like someone's
caring for this room.

Tuberoses were
the favourite flowers of -

Why won't you say it?
Your wife's favourite flowers.

Do you think
that saying it will upset me?

Don't be silly.
There's no harm in the truth.

Because you do love me,
don't you, Eduardo?

If I didn't love you...

do you think
you'd be my wife now?

Now, tomorrow and forever.

I'm sorry. We shouldn't
be doing this.

It's my fault.
I'm acting foolishly.

Will you forgive me?

What's wrong?

I don't know.

I don't know
what's wrong with me.

Being in her room
has upset you.

This was the room
you both shared, wasn't it?

Perhaps.

Well, I'm proud of you...

for being sensitive and regardful
of a past attachment.

You're right,
let's leave this room.

- Where's Madam?
- Downstairs, sir...

in the dining room, waiting
to have breakfast with you.

- Good morning, darling.
- It's rather late.

Where did you
get that music?

It was here,
on the piano.

Have I done anything wrong?

No. That was
the favourite melody of -

I promise
not to play it again.

But you'll have
to do me a favour, too.

Of course.

Remember I said
I wasn't over-sensitive?

Well, it's not true.

I realised
I'm quite the opposite.

I'm suffering, Eduardo...

I suffer horribly each time,
for some reason in this house...

I'm reminded of the woman
that was here before me.

I promise she will never
be mentioned again.

Who put these flowers here?

I don't know, Madam.

Now listen, Sara...

Regardless who left these flowers...

I just don't want it
to happen again.

I hope I make myself clear.
No more tuberoses in this house.

What's wrong, Madam?

There's something
horrible in this room.

I don't see anything odd.

Look, they've withered
in a just a few seconds.

This is absurd, impossible.

Since Mrs. Elena's death...

strange things are
happening in this house.

Especially in this room.

I don't like this room, Sara.

Less so after what I've seen.

You'll help me change it
and burn everything within.

As you wish, Madam.

But, will Mr. Eduardo agree?

He will.

I'll make sure of that.

And remember, Sara...

no more tuberoses.

Today, the Day of Jupiter...

a full moon
is on the horizon...

aromatic plants offer
their blood and perfume...

to soak the shrouds
of our deceased.

L, as faithful slave
of your Rulings...

invoke and beseech you...

to allow me once again...

to speak with the soul
of my innocent God-daughter Elena.

Thanks to our
Immortal Spirits, Elena...

I have been able
to invoke you.

I just wanted
to tell you that no one...

No-one can harm you
anymore...

and that he who murdered
your body will pay for it.

Revenge will fall upon
the person he loves most.

Do you know
where my husband is?

Or when he'll be back?

I don't know
that either, Madam.

What's wrong?

I have the impression
that you're worrying unnecessarily.

Yes, we must discuss
something very important.

Something of great
interest to you.

To me? What is it?

Did you know
that Elena kept a diary?

Impossible.
I don't understand.

I placed it here,
on the table...

- the moment you walked in.
- Calm down, you're nervous.

Yes. Stange things
are happening here...

the disappearance
of the diary...

is just one more occurance.

You may think
I'm hallucinating.

That wasn't an hallucination.

You saw for yourself
how the fire went out for no reason.

It's reasonable
that in a closed room like this...

a fire is extinguished suddenly.

But what about
the missing diary?

It's probably elsewhere.
We'll soon find it.

You don't believe
that at all.

I'd rather not believe.

A bit of Cognac
will do you good.

You know, Deborah...

I've been thinking
we should move from this house.

No, Eduardo,
you must understand.

- I'm not afraid.
- You act like you are.

Perhaps I am.

About the diary...

have you read any of its contents?

No, I didn't have time.

The moment I was
about to read, you came in.

Well, let's forget
about this.

I told you
not to play that song.

Somebody's
playing the piano.

This is not possible, Deborah.

We're letting ourselves
get carried away by our emotions.

There's someone
in this house.

Yes, someone's
trying to fool us.

I'll find out
who's doing this.

There's no-one here.

We will soon
discover who it is.

Don't be afraid.

We're behaving
like frightened children.

Yes, we might be...

but why are these
things happening today?

The fire goes out...

the diary disappears...

the piano looks like it's played
by invisible hands...

You heard it,
Eduardo, you saw it.

the dead don't return.

Why do you speak
of the dead?

Because that's
what we're both thinking.

That she may rise from the dead
and come play the piano.

Why do you think of her
when speaking of the dead?

- You're thinking of her.

It's a mere
association of ideas...

it's because she's dead--

What if it is Elena,
here, among us?

Remember the piano.

I am a man of science,
a Medical Doctor.

I cannot believe in ghosts.

Who's there?

It's me, sir. I thought
you might need anything.

See how everything
that scared us...

has a reasonable
explanation?

Eduardo, what did you expect
to find in Elena's room?

I don't know. I admit
it was foolish to look there.

There ought
to be no one there.

Did you hear it?

It's all natural, Deborah...

it's the sound of normal things,
the wind, rain, thunder.

What about the groan
that seemed to come from her room?

Please, Debora.
Restrain yourself.

There's no point
in saying all this...

you can't fool me.
You're afraid, too.

Me? Afraid?

Afraid of what?

Of that.

Did you hear that?

It must be her, Eduardo.
It must be her. Yes, it is!

- Shut up, Deborah. Shut up.

It is her.
And she's after me.

- Let's get out of here.

She returned because
she wants something from us.

Something from me.

I won't give anyone
my love for you. It's mine.

Where are you?

Talk to me. Where are you?
What do want with me, Elena?

you may rest in peace...

you are avenged.

Have something
to eat, Madam.

You must stop
rejecting your meals.

Take it away.
I don't want anything.

Excuse me, sir.

Nobody can take care
of my wife as good as you.

Don't turn on the light.

I understand your reasons.
it's a normal reaction...

- but--
- Don't. I beg you.

You must get over this.

It's not time to give up.

It is for me.

do you want to recover
your original face?

Don't be cruel.

What kind
of a question is that?

I feel I'm able
to give your face...

the beauty it once had.

Why do you lie to me?

Listen...

after working night and day...

I finally obtained a formula...

that will let us achieve
this wonderful goal.

I can give you back
your flesh, skin...

which was the most
beautiful in the world.

Enough.

Don't increase my pain.

No one can do what you say.
Not even you.

Stop tormenting me.

You know this evil
came from her...

she wants to punish me
from her grave.

I must reason
as a man of science.

I'd never forgive myself if I did nothing
to repair this terrible damage.

Say no more.

It's impossible.

at least let me
prove I love you.

I love you
more than ever.

Can you love this?

Trust me.
Soon, very soon...

you will be beautiful
once again.

"Two corpses mysteriously
disappear from the morgue".

"This case has truly
unusual aspects".

"The corpses belong
to two young women".

As you can see, Gamboa,
this makes no sense.

Who could possibly
care for corpses?

Well, Inspector,
whoever can sell them.

Sell corpses?

You can be sure that if you
ever tried to sell me a corpse...

I wouldn't buy it.

I'm sure you wouldn't.

But a doctor would,
in order to practice anatomy.

Well then, Gamboa...

Investigate this if you want,
and let me know the results.

All right, Inspector.
Excuse me.

Who'd ever think
the remains would end up here?

Ever since the accident,
I despise fire, Gustavo.

But in this case,
I have no choice.

This other body
will have the same end.

It will last me three more
days at the most.

It would be a crime
to put off the treatment now...

when I'm just about to discern
the possibility of amazing success.

Professor, you wouldn't want
to suspend it after all this work...

just because you ran out
of your supply of skin grafts.

Why can't you be honest with me?

I will, Gustavo.

I trust no one.

But I know you can help me
solve this problem.

What we have
once begun...

you will repeat until
we are crowned by success.

- Do you agree?
- Of course.

As long as it's worthwhile
taking the risk...

I'll give you twice the amount
I gave you before.

- Agreed?

I've always appreciated
your gratitude.

Who is it?

It's me, Eduardo.

I'm preparing
some saline solution.

I'll open the door
in a minute.

Get out.
She must not see you.

Deborah, I forbade you
to come to my laboratory.

I know, but I haven't
seen you all day.

Will the next
operation be soon?

Tomorrow.

It will be
a turning point.

I live on that hope.

I have to go.

I'll be with you shortly.

I've been thinking
about our conversation.

I thought of an ideal
place for our plans.

What place?

First, the robbery
of corpses from the morgue...

now, another stolen corpse.

It's more than mere
coincidence, Gamboa.

That's what I think,
Inspector.

Let's not forget
that in both cases...

the stolen corpses
belonged to young women.

We must find the motive.

This kind of robbery...

is not usual among
most robbers.

And less so the steeling
of corpses of young women.

We are facing
a very unusual case.

I'm sure
that behind all this...

we'll find
an abnormal person...

some kind of maniac.

Is this an untimely moment?

No. My wife's
still anaesthetised.

You may speak.
The operation is over for tonight.

Have you been successful?

Yes. There have been
no difficulties.

I have good news.

What is it?

It's about
a girl that died.

A pianist. Very beautiful.
Very young.

She had a heart condition
and had a final attack today.

That's what
the medical certificate says.

Where is this girl?

In the apartment next to mine.
She was my friend.

The wake is today.

- How are we going to do it?
- Not there...

Afterwards. Once she's
buried in the cemetery.

Cover those remains
and put them away.

I'll take Deborah
to her room.

Beautiful hands.

The hands of an artist.

They remind me of other
hands I knew so well.

I see, those of your wife
before the accident.

No, they remind me of the hands
of my first wife, Elena.

They were
as beautiful as these are.

I need these hands, Gustavo.

I need them.

All you have to do
is make up your mind.

I've made my decision.

Tomorrow...

tomorrow at 6pm
is the burial.

Great Spirit of Darkness...

leave your abode...

and bequeath me
your advice...

on how to destroy
this man's evil wiles.

A man
who became insane...

trying to give new life
to the face and hands...

of that evil woman.

You have heard my voice
and my grievances.

I await your advice.

What belongs to death,
only returns to death...

on the night
of a Wednesday moon...

the Black Night of Mercury.

Tell me if my time
of revenge will be then.

Thank you, Noble
Spirit of Eternal Darkness.

L know you are infallible.

I hope the guards
watching out.

After all the money he got,
he should keep watch for a week.

So this girl died
of a heart attack?

According to the medical certificate,
she died of a coronary thrombosis.

We must hurry.

We're almost done.

What was that?

Did you hear anything?

Yes, a noise.

We must hurry.

The knocking
comes from down there.

Someone's
knocking down there!

Don't shout.

I keep hearing
that knocking.

It's getting louder.
Can you hear it?

Yes, I can.

Do you think it's coming
from the coffin?

Of course, where else
could it come from?

- Holy Lord.
- Restrain yourself.

- We must keep on digging.
- But--

I can't take it.

Gustavo, stop.
Give me the crowbar.

She's alive.

This woman
has been buried alive.

A case of catalepsy
was taken for a heart attack...

and she's alive.

I have a live
woman's body.

A body no-one
will ever claim.

For the rest of the world,
she no longer exists.

Her hands...
the hands I need.

They're mine.

For Deborah.

Let's get her out right now,
before it's too late.

Hurry.

This injection will keep her
in a state of catalepsy.

that means you'll
amputate her while she's alive.

- Exactly.
- That would be atrocious.

It would be atrocious
if she could feel the pain.

She'll be sound asleep.

She won't know or feel
that she's losing her hands.

I never dreamed
of such a privilege.

A live transplant.

The same...

identical hands Elena had.

I'd never find more
beautiful hands for Deborah.

not in my presence.

Go away.

Tomorrow will be the most
wonderful day of my life...

and you'll be able to share
with me the joy of a miracle.

From the wastes of death...

I'm contriving life.

And beauty.

If you want
to save your soul...

you must turn yourself in
to the police...

and report the crimes
of Doctor Eduardo Ramos.

Aren't you the Doctor's
housekeeper?

Why are you doing this?

I already told you,
to save your soul.

Fool...

you think you're
achieving your goal...

but you don't know
you're digging your own grave.

Your time has come.

I invoke you.

I thought
I'd find you asleep.

It's useless.
I can't sleep, Eduardo.

This will all
be over soon, Deborah.

But when?

Today. Tonight.

You will reach the end
of your suffering.

I'll operate your hands
and finish your face.

Really? Or are you just
building up my hopes?

No. Today's procedure
will be a long one.

Very long.

I trust you, Eduardo.

But if something
unexpected--

if she appears again...

Look, Eduardo.
Look. There.

It's her. It's Elena.

Deborah, there's nothing there.
Nobody's there.

But I saw her
in the garden.

Look again and you'll
realise you were wrong.

How strange.

Nobody's there now.

But I'm sure I saw her.
I'd swear I did.

No. It was your imagination.
But that's over now.

Come, let's go.

I was expecting you.

These are the hands...

your husband wants for Deborah.

But she'll never use them.

I have other hands
in store for her, Elena.

Leave your hands
where the others were.

Your very own hands
will avenge you.

You may now rest in peace.

Return to your abode.

Can I see them now'?

My hands...

it's true.
You didn't lie to me.

I have my hands again.

Try to move your fingers.

The other hand.

I won't ever thank you enough
for what you've done for me.

Don't worry now...

I'll make the scar on the joint
disappear little by little.

I can caress you
once again.

Let go!

I wanted to caress you...

but these hands suddenly
acted on their own.

I couldn't control them,
I had no power over them.

L suppose it's normal. It'll take
some time getting used to them.

What a strange feeling...

they seem to have
a will of their own.

I'm not ordering them to move.
I don't want them to move.

They move on their own.

Don't worry.

You will soon control
every movement.

Try now.
Keep them still.

See?

now I want
to touch my bandage.

Now I'll lower my hands.

when will you take off
this horrible bandage?

Tomorrow.

In its place, you'll see the most
beautiful face on earth.

You need
to rest now, darling.

Stop that music!

I can't. It's not me.

These hands.
I can't stop them.

I'm sorry, Deborah.

I can't stand that music.

It's maddening.

Please forgive me.
I didn't want to do it.

Swear you won't
do it again.

How could I say that now?

You must turn yourself in
to the police...

and report the crimes
of Doctor Eduardo Ramos.

To save your soul.

You must turn yourself in
to the police...

and report the crimes
of Doctor Eduardo Ramos.

To save your soul.

It's Wednesday.

The Black Night of Mercury.

Do you hear me?

Wednesday night.

Night of Mercury.

You must hear me.
It's your night.

It's our night.

The full moon has appeared.

The Forces of Evil
are with us tonight.

Yes, to destroy our enemies.

The satanic rays
of this moon...

will return to death
what belongs to death.

Forces of Evil...

Creatures of Darkness...

show me your power.

May all the doors
of disgrace be opened!

And that's all, gentlemen.

Everything.

This is the most atrocious
statement ever heard in this place.

I told you that in the end...

we would have
a criminal maniac.

Let's go get him.

We must stop
this dreadful massacre.

- You're coming with us.

Everybody must be armed
and expecting the worst.

Where's Madam, Sara?

She's in the lab.

What are you doing here?

Why are you here?

What am I doing?
I know what you've done.

- Look.
- Deborah, I -

What have you given me?

The hands of your victim.

I have the skin of a dead
woman in my face. Murderer.

- Deborah.
- Leave me, don't touch me.

- Listen to me. Listen.
- Get away from me!

You criminal.

Yes, I know, I know.
But I did it all for you.

What have you done?

You made a face
and hands for me...

from the remains
of dead women?

My face is probably
as disgusting as their's.

You'll see for yourself.

I'm taking off
the bandages.

You will be convinced
of the beauty of your face.

- I don't believe you.
- Yes, you will.

May my magic mirror
be remade.

Grant me that request,
Forces of Night.

A miracle come true, Deborah.

Come here.

Come, look in the mirror.

Look.

Nothing matters anymore.

You have nothing
to blame me.

Get ready.

- Where's the Doctor?
- In the laboratory.

This way.

It's locked.

See'? I couldn't let
anything stop me.

You were my first concern.

This is the proof of my love.

No one can love you
more than I do, Deborah.

This is unbelievable.

We must find that monster.

This way.

I didn't want
to do it, I swear.

I wasn't me...

it was them.

These hands.
These terrible hands!

What belongs to death...

shall return to death.

This is incredible.

Human eyes have never
seen the likes of this.

Since the dawn
of civilization until today...

witchcraft and magic have existed,
as well as its practitioners...

magicians,
sorcerers and witches.