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Bell, Book, and Candle

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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.

Follow Ups:

"I Married A Witch" - Rob Doorack 12:37:04 06/02/05 (0)
The 1942 comedy I Married A Witch starring the stunningly beautiful Veronica Lake is a more likely influence on the Bewitched TV series.
Re: Bell, Book, and Candle - patrickU 08:40:23 06/01/05 (9)
The only word that can describe this film is: boring. Boring to death.
- 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)
    nt
    - 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)
        
        In Reply to: Simple: I just sat there, looked at it, and enjoyed it a lot... (nt) posted by orejones on June 2, 2005 at 10:45:50:
        
        Well it was more of a reference to V�lker Schl�ndorf " Billy how did you did it " ...
        Still tell me how you did not get asleep...Amphetamines?
        Or just sweet homo erectus Kim?
        
        Icey Kim helped a lot, indeed. And those bongos played by Jack... - orejones 11:11:16 06/02/05 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Simple: I just sat there, looked at it, and enjoyed it a lot... (nt) posted by patrickU on June 2, 2005 at 11:07:03:
        
        I never said it was a great film, only that I enjoyed it!
        BTW, look somewhere in this page, and you�ll find your question about Shaw and "Pygmalion"�s ending answered...
        Regards
        BF
- Re: Bell, Book, and Candle - jamesgarvin 10:58:14 06/01/05 (3)
  It can't be that bad. You are still posting. Or are you a witch?
  - Re: Bell, Book, and Candle - patrickU 11:15:35 06/01/05 (2)
    Well actually as I like Kim very much ( Vertigo ) I bought this DVD and...I try it twice but could not finish once....
    I must be bewitched.....
    - Re: Boring? Mostly...but it does have two good points! - Gee LP 16:29:09 06/01/05 (1)
      Yeah, I know (quoting patrickU here: "Hehe!")
      1) Kim Novak, at the height of her beauty. Simply stunning.
      2) Jack Lemmon and the visit to the Greenwich Village nightspot. When I watched the film on TV once with a friend, she exclaimed, "Why isn't there a place like that around here?" (Hmmm. Two reasons. This is Texarkana, and this movie was made in what, 1958? Maybe there was a place like that around here, uh, 31 years ago!)
      I agree the movie is VERY slow paced. But I can watch paint dry if a beautiful woman is standing between me and the paint. Kim Novak!
      - Re: Boring? Mostly...but it does have two good points! - patrickU 01:30:52 06/02/05 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Re: Boring? Mostly...but it does have two good points! posted by Gee LP on June 1, 2005 at 16:29:09:
        
        We both agree on this two points and it was what I also felt in the first place, even if JL was a little, somehow weird playing his instrument...
        This two reasons were not enough to keep through, helas.

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