Bell Book and Candle (1958)

Director:

Richard Quine

Writers:

John Van Druten (play)
Daniel Taradash (screenplay)

Release Date:

January 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Fantasy

Tagline:

A bewitching comedy about an enchanting subject!

Plot:

A modern-day witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancee, so she enchants him to love her instead... only to fall in love with him for real.

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Collaboration | Playing Footsie | Incantation | Herb

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

Cast

James Stewart	...	Shepherd 'Shep' Henderson
Kim Novak	...	Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd
Jack Lemmon	...	Nicky Holroyd
Ernie Kovacs	...	Sidney Redlitch
Hermione Gingold	...	Bianca de Passe
Elsa Lanchester	...	Aunt Queenie Holroyd
Janice Rule	...	Merle Kittridge
Philippe Clay	...	French Singer at the Zodiac Club
Bek Nelson	...	Tina - Shep's Secretary
Howard McNear	...	Andy White - Shep's Co-Publisher
The Brothers Candoli	...	Musicians at the Zodiac Club

Also Known As:

Bell, Book and Candle (USA) (poster title)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #19072) | USA:PG (TV rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:S | UK:U | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Julian Blaustein Productions Ltd.

Trivia:

The title "Bell, Book and Candle" is a reference to excommunication, which is performed by bell, book and candle. It is opened with "Ring the bell, open the book, light the candle," and closed with "Ring the bell, close the book, quench the candle."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Shep and Gillian are on the roof, their hands frequently change positions between shots. Most noticeably on Shep's line "It's a whale of a fire" when his hand jumps from running up Gillian's arm to down near her side.

Quotes:

Shepherd 'Shep' Henderson: She used a cat.
Parrot: Cat!

Movie Connections:

Remade as Bell, Book and Candle (1976) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Jingle Bells

Bewitching...Somewhat

Fairly sophisticated yet simple tale of mortal human Jimmy Stewart falling in love with witch Kim Novak. The fare is pretty light here, but director Richard Quine and a fine cast breathe life into it nonetheless. The film has some funny moments, some genuine acting, and is entertaining if not profound. Quine creates some beautiful backdrops. The subject of witches and warlocks is handled almost with the most moderate view to the subject I have seen...including the television show Bewitched which is said to owe part of its genesis to this film. Stewart gives an amiable and one-sided performance. Novak is lovely and stoic. For me it is the supporting cast which really shines by giving wonderful character actors eccentric roles. Elsa Lanchester and Hermione Gingold excel in these types of vehicles and Bell, Book, and Candle is no exception. Ernie Kovas also shines in his role as a mortal out to write a book on the subject of witchcraft. And lest I forget, Jack Lemmon plays a humorous warlock playing bongos no less. There is little magic to be seen and virtually no real malice performed. Wiches in Quine's world are somewhat misguided, lonely people who need to worry about money. Who knew possessing magic wasn't lucrative? Anyway, Bell, Book, and Candle is a fun, fluffy film.