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Bell Book and Candle (1958) 6.9
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. Director:Richard Quine |
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| James Stewart | ... | ||
| Kim Novak | ... | ||
| Jack Lemmon | ... | ||
| Ernie Kovacs | ... |
Sidney Redlitch
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| Hermione Gingold | ... |
Bianca de Passe
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| Elsa Lanchester | ... | ||
| Janice Rule | ... |
Merle Kittridge
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Philippe Clay | ... |
French Singer at the Zodiac Club
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Bek Nelson | ... |
Tina - Shep's Secretary
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| Howard McNear | ... |
Andy White - Shep's Co-Publisher
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The Brothers Candoli | ... |
Musicians at the Zodiac Club
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Edit
Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
Gillian Holroyd is just your average, modern-day, witch, living in a New York apartment with her Siamese familiar, Pyewacket. But one day a handsome publisher, Shep Henderson walks into her building and Gillian decides she wants him--especially as it turns out he's marrying Merle Kittridge, an old poison penpal from Gillian's college days. So, Gillian casts a spell over Shep. But her powers are in danger of being exorcised by something stronger than the bell-book-and-candle routine: Love. Written by Kathy Li
Taglines:
Getting here is half the fun... See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
19 December 1958 (Finland) See more »Also Known As:
Bell, Book and Candle See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: Oh, Pye, Pye, Pyewacket. What's the matter with me? Why do I feel this way? It's such a rut. The same old thing day after day. Same old people. I know I'm feeling sorry for myself but it's true. Why don't you give me something for Christmas, Pye?
The Cat: Meow.
Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: What would I like?
The Cat: Meow.
Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: I'd like to do something different. I'd like to meet something different.
See more »
(uncredited)
Traditional lyrics and Welch melody
Performed by James Stewart by whistling
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
This was James Stewart's final appearance as a romantic lead. This was because many of the leading ladies that were playing his romantic interest were becoming younger and a few were half his age. The critics in 1958 felt that Stewart was miscast as a suave New York businessman, and he apparently agreed. After this film he would concentrate more on roles that portrayed him as an everyman or as a father figure. See more »Goofs
Although the story takes place in Greenwich Village, and Nicky's trick of turning out street lights happens just outside Gillian's shop, she later refers to her brother turning out the lights on 57th street, which would be 40 blocks north. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: Oh, Pye, Pye, Pyewacket. What's the matter with me? Why do I feel this way? It's such a rut. The same old thing day after day. Same old people. I know I'm feeling sorry for myself but it's true. Why don't you give me something for Christmas, Pye?
The Cat: Meow.
Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: What would I like?
The Cat: Meow.
Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: I'd like to do something different. I'd like to meet something different.
See more »
Soundtracks
Deck the Halls(uncredited)
Traditional lyrics and Welch melody
Performed by James Stewart by whistling
See more »
It took Bell, Book, and Candle almost a decade to get from Broadway to the screen. John Van Druten's play ran for 233 performances during the 1950-1951 season and served as a starring vehicle for the then married Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer. I'm sure that the Shepherd Henderson that Harrison portrayed must have been light years different than Jimmy Stewart. Also the entire play took place in the Holroyd apartment and a whole lot of characters were added for the screen.
A good job was done in transferring this stage work for the screen, it barely betrays it's stage origin. Stewart is very good as the puzzled publisher who gets ensnared in a witch's spell because Kim Novak takes a fancy to him.
Novak was quoted as saying that her favorite leading man during her career was Jimmy Stewart and her two favorite films, Vertigo and Bell Book and Candle are the ones she did with him.
Hermione Gingold is absolutely brilliant as the head witch, Mrs. DePass, and watching Stewart drink that concoction she mixed up to kill Kim Novak's spell was a scream.
Jack Lemmon plays Novak's brother and by this time he was doing leads and carrying films on his own. He's good, but I do wonder why he accepted a supporting part here.
One thing I am curious about. How did they manage to get Pyewacket the cat to act on stage for 233 performances?