Bell, Book and Candle
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- For the religious phrase, see Bell, book, and candle.
| Bell, Book and Candle | |
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| Directed by | Richard Quine |
| Produced by | Julian Blaustein |
| Written by | Daniel Taradash |
| Starring | James Stewart Kim Novak |
| Music by | George Duning |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 25 December 1958 |
| Running time | 106 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
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.
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[edit] Plot
Greenwich Village witch Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak) has been unlucky in love and restless in life. Then publisher Shep Henderson (James Stewart) walks into her gallery of primitive art to use the telephone. When she learns he's about to marry an old college enemy of hers, Merle Kittridge (Janice Rule), she takes revenge by casting a love spell on him, but must eventually make a choice between true love and witchcraft. Apparently witches can't fall in love and retain their supernatural powers.
Meanwhile, the author of a best-selling book, Magic in Mexico, whom Shep expresses an interest in meeting, arrives on the scene, thanks to a little magic. Sidney Redlitch (Ernie Kovacs) decides to research witches for a book and acquires an unlikely collaborator when warlock Nicky Holroyd (Jack Lemmon) catches the writing bug.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Awards
[edit] Academy Awards
Nominated:
- Best Art Direction - (Cary Odell and Louis Diage)
- Best Costume Design - (Jean Louis)
[edit] Golden Globes
Nominated:
[edit] Cast
James Stewart as Shepherd 'Shep' Henderson
Kim Novak as Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd
Jack Lemmon as Nicky Holroyd
Ernie Kovacs as Sidney Redlitch
Hermione Gingold as Bianca de Passe
Elsa Lanchester as Queenie
Janice Rule as Merle Kittridge
