Where was The Witches of Eastwick filmed?
1987
City Locations
Ipswich, Milton, Cohasset, Massachusetts, Beverly Hills, California
Location Types
Architectural, American, Castles, Colonial, House, Mansions, NatureScapes, Retro, Victorian, Diners, Hospital, Miscellaneous, Religious, Restaurant, Schools, Studios, Theaters
Location Styles
Americana, Bohemian, Castle, Classic Car, Colonial, Hotel, Luxury Hotel
About The Witches of Eastwick
The Witches of Eastwick is a 1987 dark fantasy film by George Miller. The film is based on 'The Witches of Eastwick' novel by John Updike penned in 1984. While the book is set in the 1970s in Rhode Island, the movie adaptation was made for the 80s audiences and was filmed in Massachusetts and Beverly Hills in California.
The film is based on three women who realize they are witches when several things they wish for take place in their sleepy little town. They hope for the perfect man of their deepest desires, and suddenly there is talk of a new homeowner who has purchased the largest mansion in their town and fulfills each of their passions and dreams. However, not everything is as wondrous as it seems.
The Witches of Eastwick has a superstar cast. The three witches, Alexandra Medford (portrayed by Cher), Jane Spofford (Susan Sarandon), and Sukie Ridgemont (Michelle Pfeifer), carry the movie forward on their shoulders and are the perfect protegees for the diabolical Daryl Van Horne (portrayed by dashing Jack Nicholson).
The three women have lost their husbands because of divorce, abandonment, or death and are generally fed up with the male species. They are unaware that they are witches and unknowingly form a coven. Since they are childhood friends, they still meet up each week to catch up and discuss where their lives are when they end up talking about their ideal man.
As they do so, a mysterious man (whose name no one can remember) buys a mansion in their town and becomes the talk of the city. He introduces himself to the three women and brings each under his wing.
What follows is a tale of love, sacrifice, black magic, betrayal, and ultimately, revenge with the three witches reclaiming their lives.
The Witches of Eastwick Locations
The Witches of Eastwick was shot primarily in 2 significant locations – Beverly Hills, California, and a few towns in Massachusetts. Historic houses, schools, waterfront homes, parish houses, academies, and more are in Massachusetts. However, the lobby scene that is the foyer of the Lenox House is shot in Beverly Hills, with a few shots in studios in Hollywood. Castle Hill is used for all the exterior shots of the Lenox Mansion, with many interior scenes filmed at the Wang Theater in Boston and Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. Daryl's library and swimming pool were sound stage sets constructed at the Warner Brothers studio.
All of The Witches of Eastwick action scenes were in a controlled environment like the flying, tumbling over on the roads, and other crash and burn settings. However, even during these scenes, the crowd control was perfect in that there were no bystanders in any of the shots. The geographical backgrounds, hilly regions, vast plains, and small-town effect of the gossip mill and buzz are perfect for the movie adaptation.
Teaser: Originally, the film, like the book, was set for film shoots in Rhode Island. However, there was a controversy over whether the local Congregational Church should be in the filming. Instead, Warner Brothers chose the Massachusetts filming location.
Fun fact:
Several book adaptations were dropped from the film since the original book was much darker in theme for audiences. In the book, Daryl is a perverse predator who is less of an enabler of wishes and more selfish. He also marries an innocent girl - Jenny, and the three witches cause her death by cancer. The three witches also aren't pregnant at any time in the book.
Alexandra and Carol talk in the kitchen scene in The Witches of Eastwick
82 Border Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts
Alexandra Medford (Cher), a single mother and sculptor, is sculpting at her home when she finishes her figurine and enters the kitchen. Her daughter Carol (Caroline Struzik) is writing and working on something at the table. Alexandra is fixing a sandwich when Carol says, "You don't have to come today, you know, I mean if you don't want to." Alexandra looks at her daughter and stops putting butter on the bread. She replies, "No, Sweetheart, I want to. It's just that I have a million things I have to do first."
It is pretty evident in this opening scene that Alexandra has plenty of responsibilities, and she doesn't have time to keep prioritizing her daughter each time. It is also apparent that Carol, her daughter, understands this and is letting her mother know it's okay if she doesn't attend Carol's music recital.
The Witches of Eastwick production team decided on private homes for the houses of the three main witches. Alexandra's house is the lovely waterfront property at 82 Border Street in Cohasset. Visitors can drive via Pond St to Border St and take a quick look at the private property before stopping off at the Cohasset Lobster Pound.
Sukie tells her kids what she packed for their lunch scene in The Witches of Eastwick
28 Otis Avenue, Cohasset, Massachusetts
Sukie Ridgemont (Michelle Pfeiffer) is a single mom to 6 children and is a columnist. She is usually trying to get her daughter to eat healthy food and is generally overworked with handling her children and her work schedule. In this scene at Sukie's house, viewers get a glimpse of the chaotic life that Sukie leads when her children storm out of the main door (ready for school) and head straight for their mother in the garden.
The eldest asks Sukie, "Mom, what's this?" Sukie looks at her children and responds, "Peanut butter." The minute she tells her eldest what's in their hands, the daughter asks, "Peanut butter and what?" Sukie replies, "Peanut butter and jelly." Her other daughters recite in unison, "What kind of jelly?" Sukie sighs, "Zucchini jelly." The instant she tells them, they all start groaning and mumbling at her that they don't like zucchini.
At the corner of Otis and Gardner Streets is 28 Otis Avenue which was the filming location of The Witches of Eastwick for this scene. Getting here is easy via Pond St and Border St to Otis Avenue. However, this is a private residence that was rented for the filming duration, so it is best to take permission from the owners before clicking pictures.
Daryl and Alexandra have lunch together in front of the mansion scene in The Witches of Eastwick
Castle Hill on Crane Estate, Ipswich, Massachusetts
Daryl Van Horne (Jack Nicholson) invites Alexandra Medford to lunch while she is watching his property from a distance. Daryl instantly recognizes her as the local sculptress who makes the voluptuous dolls. He tells her there's fish for lunch, hoping she likes fish. When they get near his house, there is an elaborate outdoor meal setup done beneath a pink canopy and a meal server.
As Alexandra looks at the server, Daryl tells her, "Interesting, huh? Fidel, that's his name. Women love him; they're crazy about him." He talks about his male parts and how it's about scale and sizes for everyone. Alexandra is taken aback by the directness of the conversation and looks slightly appalled and intrigued by his line of conversation.
Many of the best scenes in The Witches of Eastwick are filmed at the Lenox Mansion. This mansion is the historic Castle Hill on Crane Estate at Ipswich. It's open to visitors, who can take a round through the gardens and see the interiors. If you drive via the MA-133 E to Argilla Rd, you can go to the main entrance and park in the designated lot.
Daryl gives Alexandra a tour of his house scene in The Witches of Eastwick
Greystone Mansion, Beverly Hills, California
After having lunch, Daryl asks Alexandra if she wants to see his house. While he is showing her around, they enter the lobby at the entrance to the enormous mansion. Plenty of people are still setting up the house, working on the interiors, and setting things up.
Daryl tells Alexandra, "In case anybody ever needed any exercise, the pool is right over there, past the piano where the ballroom used to be. Interesting word, 'ballroom.'" Alexandra responds, "It's always been one of my favorites." Daryl continues giving her a tour, "Over there is my… my study." Alexandra is awed at the opulence, furnishings, and grandiose scale of the house and is openly gawking at everything Daryl is pointing out.
The production team decided on different parts for the interiors of the Lenox Mansion. This The Witches of Eastwick film scene was shot at Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, California. While the rooms are filmed in another location, the entire ornate lobby and furnishings are of Greystone Mansion. Getting here is easy if you hop onto bus number 2 and get off at Sunset/ Alta. Once you alight, the walk to the mansion is approximately 10 minutes.
Felicia creates a massive scene in the church scene in The Witches of Eastwick
First Parish Meeting House of Cohasset, now First Parish Unitarian Church, Massachusetts
In this scene at the Church, the choir sings a hymn to the Lord while the parishioners look up at the singing in the galley. Felicia Alden (Veronica Cartwright) and her husband, Clyde Alden (Richard Jenkins), also attend the Church. While the choir is singing their melodious tunes, Felicia clenches her hands and suddenly blurts, "Wh*res! Wh*res!"
Clyde tries to calm her down, but she starts shouting. He tries to get her to sit back down. Felicia says, "Look around you. Look around you. Do you see what's happening in our town? In our very homes? You know what's going on in that house! Vice! Perversions! Shamelessness! Cavorting with that Devil!" Clyde tries to get his wife out of the Church and stop her from creating a larger scene.
Many of The Witches of Eastwick locations are around Milton and Cohasset in Massachusetts. This scene was shot at the First Parish Meeting House of Cohasset, built in 1746, now the First Parish Unitarian Church. The exterior of the Church is still the same, but there are refurbishments done to the interiors. To get to this picturesque Church, drive via MA-228 N to East St and N Main St. The Church is on the right.
The three ladies make a voodoo doll scene in The Witches of Eastwick
The Milton Academy, Milton
Alexandra Medford, Jane Spofford, and Sukie Ridgemont confirm that Daryl is the source of all their troubles. They even realize that each of them is pregnant with his unborn child. The ladies decide to end their relations with him by using witchcraft since there is no other way he would leave. The three spend a night with him and then send him off on some errands the following day.
While he is gone, the three women make a voodoo doll out of wax, Daryl's hair, and the ash of a few of his things by using a spell from the Maleficio while saying, "three pinches, three pinches." They take a poker and shove it through the wax leg. Simultaneously, Daryl (in the ice cream store) screams out, "My leg! My leg!" in pain while hopping on one foot. As they continue poking the wax voodoo doll, Daryl's pain intensifies till he falls over.
Many of the interior shots of Lenox Mansion are shot in some of the rooms at The Milton Academy in Milton, south of Boston. This The Witches of Eastwick filming location was chosen for its gorgeous campus, beautiful interiors, and popularity. Getting here is straightforward via Canton Avenue to 170 Center Street, Milton.
Conclusion
The Witches of Eastwick rose to become quite the cult classic in the late 1980s. It brought about a new look to a less-known genre that many men and women identified with. Audiences accepted the film's new look, feel, and dark nature with open arms. Considering many of the movies in the 80s were more mellow, The Witches of Eastwick was a breath of dark air in an otherwise flowery world filled with love and action (Hello, Die Hard).
The locations chosen for the movie were perfect, with an ideal balance of a small town, large open spaces, irritable neighbors, gossip mongers, and more. Fans can visit The Witches of Eastwick locations quite easily, without having to search too much for information. Since there have been improvements to the towns since the filming, in case people live in any of the houses used for filming, it is best to get permission from the homeowners before clicking any pictures.