Nineteen people were hanged and one man pressed to death, while hundreds went to jail during the witch hysteria of 1692. THREE SOVEREIGNS FOR SARAH offers an accurate portrayal of the Salem witch trials, with real characters and original transcripts woven into the dialogue.
Abby Williams, the preacher's niece, starts getting into fourtune telling and such illegal activities, as taught to her by the slave Tituba. Other local girls get into it, and then start acting strange. Abby and the girls eventually start to name local people as 'witches' and blame their sicknesses on witchcraft. Hundreds are accused and sent to jail, though there are many who doubt the truth of the accusations. Among these are three sisters, Mary, Rebecca, and Sarah. All are kept in jail for some time until the inevitable trial.
The three sovereigns of the title are symbolic gestures in the story.
The film is a powerful, moving story about three loving sisters accused of witchcraft, starring Academy Award winners Vanessa Redgrave, Kim Hunter, and Phyllis Thaxter. Patrick McGoohan (The Prisoner) plays one of the judges.
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