MovieChat Forums > Buried Secrets (1996) Discussion > The Real Mary Roff

The Real Mary Roff

posted 19 years ago by christinekay
9 replies | jump to latest

I thought it was interesting that the girl taking over Tiffany's character was called Mary Roff. There was a real-life Mary Roff, who was born in 1846 and suffered severe illness (possibly epilepsy) at an early age. It was discovered she possessed psychic powers, ie being able to "read" while blindfolded. Mary died in 1865, and we then take up the story of Lurancy Vennum, who was a baby at the time of Mary's death. During her early teens, Lurancy started having trances and eventually took on the character of Mary, "recognising" Mary's family as her own and providing them with details of their late daughter's life which they had kept private. Lurancy told them that "Mary" would be leaving in May, when Lurancy would be ready to come back. And that is what happened - Lurancy Vennum was effectively reborn, having no memory of her life as Mary, and also cured of her illness. She eventually married and had 11 children, and was still alive in 1940. Just wondering - was it coincidence that the girl in the picture was given the name of Mary Roff, or was it intended as a reference to her?

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] christinekay 19 years ago

[–] LotusFlower7 19 years ago

You know, I had just finished posting my message when I noticed that the character played by Tiffani-Amber was called VELLUM, which is very close to the surname of Vennum - I think that they must have got the idea for the film from the real-life story, as having one identical name and another very similar one is probably too much of a coincidence. A film version of the true-life event would make an intriguing story, I think.

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I am glad this thread is on here. I too, thought the same as you all. I would love a film to be made of The Watseka Wonder.

David St. Clair did write a book about Mary Roff and Lurancy Vennum. Apparently, I did hear that Aaron Spelling has the rights to the book and has had them for some time, so maybe the film will never be made, which is shame.

Ann Roff was also the real name of Mary's mother, they used that name in the film too. So I agree, they used bits and pieces from the real life story for the film.

[–] christinekay 19 years ago

Thanks for all the information - I never knew there was a whole book on the subject. Likewise, that Ann Roff was another name used in the film.

I would love to see a film made on the subject - it would make a change from the usual teen shock horror we've had so much of lately.

[–] carebears_7185 19 years ago

[–] LotusFlower7 18 years ago

I live in Watseka, IL and I have been to one of the houses that Mary and Lurency lived in. I have been to Mary's grave. the house is freaky. Ann Roff was not the orginal name it was Ava Roff. Here are some pics of the house.

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As far as I know, Ann Roff was Mary's mother, Asa Roff was her father, the house that is currently in Watseka was not the one that she lived in before she died at 19 years old but it was the house that she visited once she had taken over Lurancy's body - she went to live with Ann and Asa in the house you are talking about until Lurancy's body was made well.

The house that she would have lived in up to the age of 19 had been demolished, however the house that Lurancy lived in is still standing and occupied

[–] hello_sexy_kitten 18 years ago

[–] LotusFlower7 18 years ago

Well either way the house that is still standing that I visited is owned but not occupied. Nobody well live there because its haunted. And how do you know so much about a little town of Watseka? I've only learned about mary roff recently becouse my boyfriends mom is obsseced with stories like this.

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I visited there too.

It's a very long story which I don't want to go into, but I tell you this, I wish that Aaron Spelling, who has the rights to David St Clair's "Child Possessed" book (called "Watseka" in US but by the same author) which was about The Watseka Wonder would indeed make the film. I did email the Aaron Spelling company about this subject, unfortunately, all I got back was, I gather, a computer generated reply that said something along the lines of "Thank you for your enquiry" Hmmm, not much use as an answer lol.

What is really needed is someone to take the whole subject seriously and to make a film that is worthy of the story that it tells.

[–] LotusFlower7 16 years ago

The Booth Brothers are making a movie of The Watseka Wonder, due to be released in mid 2008.

It is about time a movie was made about this story :)