One Step Beyond (TV Series) Make Me Not a Witch (1959) User Reviews

There's nothing evil about a miracle

[sol1218 · 7/10 · 21 December 2010]

***SPOILERS*** All of a sudden as if out of thin air 12 year old farm-girl Emmy Horvath, Patty McCormack,is able to read peoples minds as if it were a gift that Emmy received from beyond. Both of Emmy's parents, Elleen Ryan & Leo Penn, are horrified in Emmy's newly acquired powers and tell her to keep them to herself so that she doesn't end up being put away into a mental institution like old lady Coal who exhibited the same powers years ago!

Feeling that she had somehow become a witch and is to be dammed for all eternity a desperate Emmy, who's Protestant, goes to see the local Catholic Priest, Robert Emhardt, for both help and understanding of the situation she now finds herself in. At first not believing Emmy Priest Emhardt soon realizes, by her reading his mind, that Emmy in fact is the real McCoy but promises her he'll never reveal her secret, by breaking the voes of the Catholic Church, unless she agrees to it.

It's not long after that it becomes very apparent why Emmy received these supernatural or God given power of reading peoples minds. It involved two children who after their boat capsized got themselves lost on an island outside of town. With the only person who knew where they were stranded at fisherman Juan Orriba, Pedro Regas, having suffered a stroke that left him both parlayed and unable to talk it was only Emmy by being able to read his mind who can locate where the two are before high tide ends up both engulfing and drowning them!

***SPOILERS*** Going against her parents wishes Emmy sneaks out of the house and goes to the hospital where Juan is to find out from him, by reading his mind, where the two children are! It also help Emmy that Priest Emhardt was able to understand Spanish so he could find out from Juan who only speaks Spanish where the island is which with that important information in fact ended up saving the lost at sea children's lives. In the end Emmy's mind reading powers left her as fast they they came some 48 hours earlier! It then became apparent not only to Emmy and Priest Emhardt but Emmy's parents as well that there was a reason for her receiving those strange and unexplained powers. And the reason had nothing to do with witchcraft or the supernatural but with the goodness of one's own heart! Even if that goodness was at first mistaken by those not quite familiar with it.

Not A Witch

[AaronCapenBanner · 7/10 · 15 April 2015]

Patty McCormack stars as a young girl named Amy Horvath, who one day innocently mentions to her mother(played by Eileen Ryan) that she can read other people's thoughts. At first skeptical, Amy proves that her power is real, which alarms both the mother and her father(played by Leo Penn) when he finds out about it, as they believe such a power is a curse, not a gift, and don't want her branded a witch. When a local priest learns of this power, he urges her to use it to locate two missing children, despite her parents' protest. Fine episode with good performances and story, even if the emotional resolution may feel a bit too trite.

"You gave me a female with the devil inside her!"

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 4 February 2015]

All of the other posters for this episode before me gave a good accounting of the story so I don't see a need to repeat it. This turns out to be a heart warming little tale once the initial shock of Emmy Horvath's (Patty McCormack) mind reading ability becomes known to her parents, particularly her father who literally has a meltdown over the revelation. Besides the life saving result of Emmy's agreeing to help the local priest (Robert Emhardt) by 'reading' a seriously ill man's mind, the ending provides a little twist of sorts as Emmy's gift goes away once she's accomplished the miraculous task. As opposed to the usual type of story presented by host John Newland, this one leaves you with a feel good ending along with the usual questions about how these unexplainable events occur. And Emmy didn't have to turn into a witch!

Beautifully done

[nvasapper · 10/10 · 24 December 2008]

PATTY McCORMACK turns in a heartwarming and sensitive portrayal as Emmy Horvath, a sweet young farm girl who discovers one day that she has been made the recipient of a very unique and special gift. She suddenly finds that she can read people's minds and this ability causes consternation to her and her folks, especially her father. She's afraid that he will reject her for being a "witch." But what she doesn't know is that she has been given this ability for a very special reason. Praying in church one day, she confides in the priest (ROBERT EMHARDT)who saw that she was troubled and wanted to help her. The reason for this strange chain of events becomes very clear when two children become trapped on an island and have no means of getting off. The authorities do not know what specific island they're on, making the search for them all the more difficult. But there is someone who does know where the children are- an elderly Hispanic fisherman who, because of a paralytic stroke, has lost his ability to speak. The priest realizes that, with her ability to hear people's thoughts, young Emmy can be of help. She could "read" the old man and tell the priest where the children are. He knows now this is why she was given this gift. He goes to her home and tells her that this is the reason and that she's the only one who can help them find the children. They leave together and go to the old man, who's confined to a bed. The priest tells the elderly man to think of the island where the children are and Emmy will be able to hear his thoughts and pass them along. But when Emmy tries to "read" him, she cannot understand what he's "saying." It's unintelligible to her. The priest quickly realizes that he's thinking in Spanish. He tells him that Emmy does not speak Spanish and could he try to think in English. The man tries but cannot. Then the priest says that he knows a little Spanish and that the man should think slowly in Spanish so that Emmy could repeat his words. The priest would then attempt to translate them into English. This strategy works and watching Emmy haltingly pronounce the Spanish words, knowing that the children are going to be saved as a result, will bring tears to your eyes. And that this was indeed a miracle from God. Because once the children are found and rescued, Emmy's very special gift is no longer needed.

One of the best of the series.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 6 March 2014]

"Make Me Not a Witch" is one of the best episodes of "One Step Beyond". While I still don't believe the narrator (John Newland) when he insists that the story is true, it did make for a very dandy story.

The show is set somewhere in the rural US and the people involved are a bit superstitious. So, when their 12 year-old suddenly begins reading her parents thoughts, they panic and warn her NEVER to tell anyone. If she does, they believe she'll be put away in a mental institution or others will think she is a witch. However, this secret is too much for the girl to keep to herself and she ends up talking to a very kindly priest. He is skeptical at first but soon realizes she can, indeed, read his mind. However, he's not superstitious and thinks, perhaps, this is not an omen of evil but might be used for good. But the girl and her parents are afraid—and when an opportunity arises for her to use her God-given powers, they are hesitant to get involved or divulge their secret.

I liked this episode a lot because it surprised me several times. It also provided a really neat twist at the end, though I won't say more! See this one for yourself.

The Good Seed

[wes-connors · 4/10 · 14 March 2010]

Twelve-year-old farm girl Patty McCormack (as Emmy Horvath) rattles her parents by telling them she can read some folk's minds. Father Leo Penn (as Jed) and mother Eileen Ryan think their daughter could be condemned for witchcraft. They forbid Ms. McCormack use her telepathic powers. McCormack is unhappy with her supernatural abilities. Going to church, she pleads with God, "Make Me Not a Witch!" There, McCormack meets priestly Robert Emhardt, who wants to use her mind-reading power to locate some missing children. Obviously, the priest's own God line is on the fritz.

Well, this is the place for seeing "The Bad Seed" (1956) star McCormack (rather too mature for twelve, though) in an uncharacteristically sweeter role, the sometimes villainous Mr. Emhardt in a priestly robe, and Mr. and Mrs. Penn as the parents.

In real life, the latter couple parented actors Chris and Sean Penn. Sean looks a lot like his mom, don't you think?

**** Make Me Not a Witch (12/22/59) John Newland ~ Patty McCormack, Robert Emhardt, Leo Penn, Eileen Ryan