Bell, Book & Candle (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
Wanna know "which" movie kick-started the idea for the hit television shows Bewitched & I Dream of Jeannie? Well, look no further than 1958's 'Bell, Book & Candle' (directed by Richard Quine). Kim Novak stars as Gillian Holroyd, a vampy Greenwich Village witch who owns a cat named Pyewacket and laments about her lot in life (she's tired of conjuring magic). But one glimpse of her publisher neighbor Shep Henderson (Jimmy Stewart) gets Gillian thinking how pleasant it might be to, perhaps, "feel" something, aka ... love with a human man. Despite her respectful intentions to avoid magic, Gillian finds out that Shep is due to marry his fiance Merle Kittridge (Janice Rule) the very next day -- and so she impulsively casts a love spell on Shep!
The spell works. But over time, Shep wisens up & realizes that Gillian is a member of a coven witches & warlocks, including her Aunt Queenie (Elsa Lanchester), Gillian's bongo-playing warlock brother Nicky (Jack Lemmon), & grand dame Bianca de Passe (Hermione Gingold, popular in Gigi from the same year). All these witches/warlocks are known to frequent the jazzy Zodiac Club, which evokes the patrons' predilection for elicit activities. The plot thickens with the introduction of Sidney Redlitch (Ernie Kovacs), pompous co-author of a recent bestseller titled Magic in Mexico. Clearly an investigator of the occult, Sidney suddenly discovers that real magic & witchcraft dwells right down the road. Will he blow their cover? Will Bianca de Passe (Gingold) allow Gillian to continue her spells? Will Shep stay with Gillian or go back with Merle? And, as a witch, can Gillian ever feel true love?
'Bell, Book & Candle' brought a smile to my face. I had no idea what to expect of it going in, and thoroughly enjoyed it as lightweight entertainment. It's quirky, too. When you've got a plot involving antique African art, an underground coven, smoky jazz clubs, enchanted cats, green-lit street lamps, gypsy attire, magic potions ... then you know you're in for something offbeat. Thematically, I found it humorous that the machinations of the plot gradually turn the strong, independent Gillian into a woman who would rather choose love over freedom -- very anti-Feminism. But then, look at the year this was made {haha}. 'BB&C' entertained me; though, I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. It's slender, whimsical fluff. The movie also suffers a tad from a fairly blahh midsection.
Still, Kim Novak makes for an enchanting witch. Novak gives off an icy vibe, anyway. So her character's longing to feel emotion felt bang-on. I enjoyed Jimmy Stewart; who doesn't? He stepped in to the role when another actor dropped out; making it the 2nd time in 1958 that he & Novak starred together, the 1st being Vertigo. I loved Elsa Lanchester's amiable, nosybody Aunt. I like the wacky energy that Jack Lemmon brings. Hermione Gingold is always a delight. The color cinematography made me ooh-&-ahh (some of the blues, reds, & greens were stunning; such deep saturations). George Duning's playful musical score aided the movie, as well. So yeah, while 'BB&C' isn't earth-shattering, I still found it to be a fun comic fantasy flick that paved the way for some of the TV hits of the 60s.
The spell works. But over time, Shep wisens up & realizes that Gillian is a member of a coven witches & warlocks, including her Aunt Queenie (Elsa Lanchester), Gillian's bongo-playing warlock brother Nicky (Jack Lemmon), & grand dame Bianca de Passe (Hermione Gingold, popular in Gigi from the same year). All these witches/warlocks are known to frequent the jazzy Zodiac Club, which evokes the patrons' predilection for elicit activities. The plot thickens with the introduction of Sidney Redlitch (Ernie Kovacs), pompous co-author of a recent bestseller titled Magic in Mexico. Clearly an investigator of the occult, Sidney suddenly discovers that real magic & witchcraft dwells right down the road. Will he blow their cover? Will Bianca de Passe (Gingold) allow Gillian to continue her spells? Will Shep stay with Gillian or go back with Merle? And, as a witch, can Gillian ever feel true love?
'Bell, Book & Candle' brought a smile to my face. I had no idea what to expect of it going in, and thoroughly enjoyed it as lightweight entertainment. It's quirky, too. When you've got a plot involving antique African art, an underground coven, smoky jazz clubs, enchanted cats, green-lit street lamps, gypsy attire, magic potions ... then you know you're in for something offbeat. Thematically, I found it humorous that the machinations of the plot gradually turn the strong, independent Gillian into a woman who would rather choose love over freedom -- very anti-Feminism. But then, look at the year this was made {haha}. 'BB&C' entertained me; though, I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. It's slender, whimsical fluff. The movie also suffers a tad from a fairly blahh midsection.
Still, Kim Novak makes for an enchanting witch. Novak gives off an icy vibe, anyway. So her character's longing to feel emotion felt bang-on. I enjoyed Jimmy Stewart; who doesn't? He stepped in to the role when another actor dropped out; making it the 2nd time in 1958 that he & Novak starred together, the 1st being Vertigo. I loved Elsa Lanchester's amiable, nosybody Aunt. I like the wacky energy that Jack Lemmon brings. Hermione Gingold is always a delight. The color cinematography made me ooh-&-ahh (some of the blues, reds, & greens were stunning; such deep saturations). George Duning's playful musical score aided the movie, as well. So yeah, while 'BB&C' isn't earth-shattering, I still found it to be a fun comic fantasy flick that paved the way for some of the TV hits of the 60s.