Bell, Book, and Candle

Films/DVD Asylum

Movies from comedy to drama to your favorite Hollyweird Star.

1958 film starring Jimmy Stewart as a book publisher, Kim Novak as a witch, and Jack Lemmon as a warlock. Stewart moves into a building in which Novak operates an exotic artifacts store on the ground floor. He is engaged to another woman, but Novak decides that she wants Stewart, but is determined to snare him without using magic. Turns out that Novak went to college with Stewart's intended, who is rather high maintenance.
Because of the impending marriage, Novak is forced to use magic. She first uses her magic to snare an author on witchcraft whom Stewart would like to publish. Sensing time running short, she casts a spell upon Stewart, Stewart falls in love, and ditches his fiancee.
Predictably, he learns about the spell, breaks their relationship, and goes back to his fiancee. Of course, he then realizes that he really loves Novak, and returns to her arms. Along the way, we see a witch bar, Jack Lemmon, who plays a bongo player in said bar, who attempts to write the book.
A rather predictable romantic comedy, the attraction being Stewart and Novak. I suspect this was the inspiration for Bewitched. Stewart is his generally dependable self. Novak is very sultry, but her performance is largely one note, displaying the same emotion throughout the entire film. Never really happy, or sad, just there. Though she does look very sultry and alluring, her performance convinces me that Stewart would want to spend a night or two with her, but once the spell is broken, I am not sure why he would want to spend a lifetime with her. He does most of the work, she just looks good.
I learn that Novak was twenty-five when this film was released, Stewart fifty. I was not alive when the film was made, and can only wonder if any press was generated because of the age difference, similar to what Michael Douglas faces today.
The D.V.D. transfer is good, but the special features are limited to the actor's filmography. I have come to the conclusion that you can tell a studio is serious about a release of an older film by the special features they provide. They apparently thought little about this release.
Recommended for fans of Jimmy Stewart, and those needing a little light comedy, and would like to check out Kim Novak during the time that she was beginning her short ride.

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Parts Connexion

Topic - Bell, Book, and Candle - jamesgarvin 08:32:03 06/01/05 (11)

"I Married A Witch" - Rob Doorack 12:37:04 06/02/05 (0)

Re: Bell, Book, and Candle - patrickU 08:40:23 06/01/05 (9)

I liked it. A lot. (nt) - orejones 09:59:55 06/02/05 (4)

Re: How did you do it? nt - patrickU 10:02:29 06/02/05 (3)

Simple: I just sat there, looked at it, and enjoyed it a lot... (nt) - orejones 10:45:50 06/02/05 (2)

Re: Simple: I just sat there, looked at it, and enjoyed it a lot... (nt) - patrickU 11:07:03 06/02/05 (1)

Icey Kim helped a lot, indeed. And those bongos played by Jack... - orejones 11:11:16 06/02/05 (0)

Re: Bell, Book, and Candle - jamesgarvin 10:58:14 06/01/05 (3)

Re: Bell, Book, and Candle - patrickU 11:15:35 06/01/05 (2)

Re: Boring? Mostly...but it does have two good points! - Gee LP 16:29:09 06/01/05 (1)

Re: Boring? Mostly...but it does have two good points! - patrickU 01:30:52 06/02/05 (0)

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