Bell, Book and Candle (film)

Infobox Film
name = Bell, Book and Candle


imdb_id = 0051406
writer = Daniel Taradash
starring = James Stewart
Kim Novak
Jack Lemmon
Janice Rule
Elsa Lanchester
Ernie Kovacs
Hermione Gingold
director = Richard Quine
producer = Julian Blaustein
distributor = Columbia Pictures
released = 25 December 1958
runtime = 106 min.
music = George Duning
amg_id = 1:4752
language = English

"Bell, Book and Candle" is a 1958 romantic comedy directed by Richard Quine and starring James Stewart and Kim Novak in their second on-screen pairing (after the Alfred Hitchcock classic "Vertigo"). The film, based on a play written by John Van Druten and adapted by Daniel Taradash, was Stewart's last film as a romantic lead.

Fans of the film point to similarities between it and the earlier "I Married A Witch" and especially the television series "Bewitched", speculating that this picture may have been an inspiration.

Plot

Greenwich Village witch Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak), a free spirit with a penchant for going barefoot, has been unlucky in love and restless in life. She admires from afar her neighbor, publisher Shep Henderson (James Stewart), who one day walks into her gallery of primitive art to use the telephone. When she learns he is about to marry an old college enemy of hers, Merle Kittridge (Janice Rule), she takes revenge by casting a love spell on him, but begins falling for him herself. She must eventually make a stark choice, as witches who fall in love lose their supernatural powers. Gillian's cat and familiar, Pyewacket, becomes agitated and leaves her when she decides in Shep's favor.

Meanwhile, the author of a best-selling book, "Magic in Mexico", whom Shep has expressed an interest in meeting, arrives on the scene (thanks to a little magic). Sidney Redlitch (Ernie Kovacs), who is researching a book on witches in New York, acquires an "inside" collaborator when Gillian's warlock brother Nicky (Jack Lemmon) volunteers his services - in exchange for a portion of the proceeds.

Gillian uses her magic to make Shep lose interest in Nicky and Redlitch's book and then confesses her identity as a witch to Shep. He becomes angry that she enchanted him just to spite Merle, and the two fight. Gillian attempts to cast various spells on Merle (such as making her fall in love with the first man that walks into her apartment and sending her around the world), but finds that she has lost her powers because of her love for Shep. Shep meanwhile, tries unsuccessfully to explain to Merle that Gillian is a witch. He then finds that he literally cannot leave Gillian, because of the spell. To escape, he turns to another witch, Mrs. Bianca de Passe (Hermione Gingold), who breaks the spell. He leaves, leaving Gillian heartbroken. Months later, Shep returns and discovers that Gillian has lost her magic powers because of her love for him. The two reconcile.

Reception

When first released in 1958 by Columbia Pictures, "Bell, Book and Candle" was a moderate success. The soundtrack, featuring Philippe Clay and The Brothers Candoli who appeared in the film in cameo appearances, also found success.

Cast

*James Stewart "as" Shepherd 'Shep' Henderson
*Kim Novak "as" Gillian Holroyd
*Jack Lemmon "as" Nicky Holroyd
*Ernie Kovacs "as" Sidney Redlitch
*Hermione Gingold "as" Bianca de Passe
*Elsa Lanchester "as" Aunt Queenie Holroyd
*Janice Rule "as" Merle Kittredge

oundtrack

*"Stormy Weather" - performed by Jack Lemmon on the bongo drums with the band at the Zodiac Club (the Brothers Candoli on trumpets, and an unknown guitar player)
*"Deck the Halls" - performed by James Stewart by whistling
*"Jingle Bells" - played during the opening credits

Awards

Academy Awards

"Nominated:"
* Best Art Direction - (Cary Odell and Louis Diage)
* Best Costume Design - (Jean Louis)

Golden Globes

"Nominated:"
* Best Motion Picture - Comedy

References

External links

*tcmdb title|id=68407|title=Bell, Book and Candle
* [http://imdb.com/title/tt0051406/ "Bell, Book and Candle" at IMDB]
* [http://mooninthegutter.blogspot.com/2007/11/overlooked-classic-of-week-bell-book.html "Overlooked Classic of the Week: "Bell, Book and Candle" (1958)", movie review by Jeremy Richey]
* [http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Book-Candle-Original-Soundtrack/dp/B00061X9K6 Original movie soundtrack at Amazon]
* [http://www.bellbookandcandlsupply.com Bell Book and Candle Webstore inspired by the movie]