Bob Mizer | Witch Boy / 1955

calling up the boy

by Douglas Messerli

 

Bob Mizer (director) Witch Boy / 1955

 

Perhaps one of the very least sexually interesting of Mizer’s posing strap films, the color 9-minute Witch Boy is more interested in the narrative about a Warlock (Bob Adams), who through his chemical vials, calls up the spirit of a young obedient minion (Charles Lee Butler), from whom he mostly expects a thorough brushing-up of the room.

    The new “witch boy” rejects the broom, as again and again the Warlock hands it over to him. Finally, flashing the book of magic symbols before his cute assistant’s eyes, the Warlock forces the boy takes up the broom. But like all disobedient children, drops it the moment the controlling Warlock leaves the room. Our witch boy quickly cooks up some other chemical mixtures, notices that some of the past minions have become on-the-wall portraits, and falls into a deep sleep.

    The Warlock returns, unable to find his new assistant, who has hidden under this work-table. But finally, espying the rascal, who refuses to obey his orders, he banishes him from his presence.

Left alone, the sexy Warlock is frustrated, mixing up another batch of the toxic chemicals to bring him back to life.

    Our cute boy witch returns and immediately goes back to sleep. Afterall, he is simply a figment of the Warlock’s magical imagination, and we are sure his constant commands to reappear are exhausting.

    No sex here, no wrestling, not even any frottage. These boys are simply up to their tricks.

    If you don’t believe female witches and male warlocks are gay, which I argue for Bell, Book, and Candle of just three years later, well think again. Mizer was telling us something that, for the moment, was not about his beefcake boys.

 

Los Angeles, February 13, 2025

Reprinted from My Queer Cinema blog (February 2025).