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The first time I saw this film, I was about ten years old and I was expecting something like Bewitched. However, this film plays more like a supernatural version of Breakfast at Tiffany's. This film is nothing more that an average romantic comedy at best and is not as funny as the the aforementioned show that it supposedly inspired. James Stewart shines in this role as Shep, the object of Gillian's (Kim Novak's) desires and Jack Lemmon and Ernie Kovacs both shine in their roles as well. However, this film pretty much was a "chick flick" before the term was invented. I found the love story somewhat cheesy and Kim Novak gave a somewhat weepy performance. Everyone may have called "Bewitched" inane and "I Dream of Jeannie" may have been television's version of a sex farce, but at least those two shows were funny.

this is a wonderful film, makes the 1950'S look beautifully stylish. Kim Novak is intriguing and compelling as a modern-day witch with one foot in Manhattan and another in infinity. All the supporting performances are terrific, from Jack Lemmon as her bother Nicky to Ernie Kovacs as the author of Magic in Mexico who is working on Magic in Manghattan, to Elsa Lanchester as the slightly batty as well as witchy Aunt Queenie. And then there is the cat- I have no idea how many witches (besides me) have named a cat Pyewacket but suggest a zillion. Jmes Stewart looks out of place, but only just as much as his character is out of p;ace in this weird sub-world of magic and witchcraft. Perfect. And it has the perfect romantic happy ending, which we believe in because movies of this vintage do have those happy endings. Gillian and Shep certainly have as much chance to be happy ever after as Rose and Charlie Allnut in The African Queen (another great film)

Kim Novak, the "Lavender Lady", trades in her purple chiffon for witchy black in this glossy--but not very crafty--witchcraft comedy. James Stewart is Novak's new neighbor and, unaware of her powers, gets lured into her trap...but can he teach her what true love is really about? Jack Lemmon has the brightest moments as a happy-go-lucky warlock, but there's really no character there; Lemmon gets laughs strictly by winging it. "Vertigo" co-stars Novak and Stewart have a terrible time trying to create chemistry. Some smoldering smoke arises, but no real sparks. When the stars have to try this hard, the effort is noticeable and the picture falls down around them like an expensive soufflé. **1/2 from ****

As a Pagan, I must say this movie has little if any Magickal significance. It's a "fun" witchcraft movie and not meant to teach us anything except that love is the strongest Magick of all, and never to use it in a controlling or vengeful way. That's a lesson everyone needs to learn, not just Pagans. That having been said, this movie is wonderfully written and sweetly executed by Kim Novak and the venerable Jimmy Stewart. Hermione Gingold delivers a stellar performance as Bianca, Elsa Lanchester (with too many movie credits to mention except as Ms. Jane Marbles of "Murder By Death") was wonderful as Ms. Novak's absent-minded-yet-capable upstairs neighbor Queenie. Also starring Jack Lemmon (wonderful performance) and Jim Kovacs (brilliantly witty). "Witches can't cry. Why, they can't shed a single tear because their heart is full of Magick. They don't have time for silly things such as love." Queenie. Gillian Holroyd (Novak) and her brother Nicky (Jack Lemmon) are Manhattan witches. Cloaked deeply within the secret underworld of those of the Craft, they live among other New Yorkers as one of them, without so much as causing a raised eyebrow. But then, along comes Shepherd "Shep" Henderson (Stewart), a steadfast, no-nonsense, dedicated businessman who is engaged to be married to Gillian's old college rival. By a quirky mishap of chance, he finds himself moving into Gillian's building and is instantly "bewitched" by her charm and grace. By the use of Magick, with a little help from Pyewacket (Gillian's familiar, trained by Robert E. Blair) and Queenie, Gillian begins to work on this handsome new dream man to get back at her old enemy. But Magick should never be used to control, nor to hurt, and Gillian learns that the hard way in the most bittersweet way. Not only does she have to face what she's done, but she has to face Shep in her guilt. From the critical perspective; however, the movie takes a serious turn: The effects are very dated to the point of being pure camp. Some of the scenery was seemingly shot in the basement of someone's small home, but at least the characters were quirky and fun. On a personal note, Pyewacket steals the show. Great cat! Great training by Robert E. Blair. As a Note of Trivia, this is the roots for the beloved Bewitched television sitcom. This introduces the original Samantha and Darrin. All the characters of note are present and accounted for. You have but to look, to see it for yourself. This is one of my favorites, and I watch it often. This movie gets a 9.1/10 from... the Fiend :.

"Bell, Book and Candle," one of two 1958 pairings of James Stewart and Kim Novak, may or may not be a great movie. I've long since given up caring about that question; these days, at the umpty-umpteenth viewing of the film (which dates back to the first time I ever caught it in its "secondary," or "neighborhood release" at San Francisco's Castro Theatre), I find myself still enjoying it as though I were seeing it for that first time. On the surface, this should rightly be only one among many so-called, and largely formulaic, "sophisticated comedies" of the late-50s era. Wrong! For one thing, you can't cast James Stewart in such a film and expect it to run true to form! More to the point, you shouldn't expect him to appear opposite Kim Novak (and 'opposite' here is the key word, in that his aura of decency and groundedness were diametrically contrary to the glacial other-worldliness which she personified), and not expect strange sparks to fly. (Hitchcock, after all, relied on this dichotomy, for different purposes, in "Vertigo.") Add to this mixture certain key scenes which rely upon the comic chemistry between Jack Lemmon and Ernie Kovacs --already well-established in the previous year's "Operation Mad Ball" (and catch this overlooked gem, if you can, if only to see Kovacs at his absolute cinematic best) -- and you're well on your way to understanding why "Bell, Book and Candle" still turns up regularly on such venues as American Movie Classics, to say nothing of its "shelf life" in video rental outlets. Were that not enough, you get BOTH Elsa Lanchester and Hermione Gingold, a first-rate score by George Duning ("Picnic"), superior production values and -- oh, yeah, by the way -- a storyline that can both make you laugh and pluck at the errant heartstring or two (if you don't watch out!) . .. You get a lesson in cinematic chemistry. Maybe even . . . alchemy!

Considering its pedigree, this should be a far more enjoyable film than it is. Even with a lip-smacking collection of eccentrics in the cast - what aficionado would not eagerly anticipate a movie which brings together Lemmon, Lanchester, Kovacs and Gingold? - the entire event is dully paced, drearily shot and, more often than not, witless. Kim Novak's gifts were not essentially comic, as she went on to confirm in Kiss Me Stupid. James Stewart was a fine comedian, as he ably demonstrated in movies from ranging from The Philadelphia Story to Harvey. I think he comes out better from this mess than anyone else does. Except maybe the cat.

As a huge fan of both Novak and Stewart, I was amused by this light-hearted romantic comedy. Novak was brilliant in her role as the darkly attractive bohemian witch. ----Spoiler Alert---- However, take a look at the stunning anti-feminist angle of this movie... Witches lose their powers if they fall in love, leaving Novak's character at the end powerless, but *of course* she is glad to trade independence and her family connections for domestic bliss with Stewart. Watch how her wardrobe changes, moving from uninhibited (and comfortable) to standard 1950's Donna Reed fare at the end, complete with pantyhose and high-heels around the house. It's sad, really. Apparently, this movie believes that women should give up all their power and individual Self gladly in order to have love and a home of their own. Still amusing, but don't take it to heart.

The John Van Druten Broadway hit is brought to the screen with a maximum of star power in this romantic fantasy about a modern-day witch who beguiles a successful Manhattan publisher. James Stewart may get top billing, but it is Kim Novak who steals the show as one of the most alluring witches ever to cast a spell on the movie screen. The lead pairing is, in fact, one of the movie's few weaknesses: the gray-haired Stewart seems a bit old for the role, and while it is easy to see why he falls hard for Novak, it's a little harder to understand what she finds attractive about him, as they seem mismatched in temperment and outlook. (It is one of the story's amusing conceits that witches and warlocks are portrayed as Greenwich Village beatniks and bohemians.) Curiously, the Stewart-Novak pairing would generate a lot more heat in "Vertigo", released the same year as this film, but then "Vertigo" had a compelling suspense story, and the benefit of Alfred Hitchcock's direction. The film's comic moments are mostly provided by the stellar supporting cast, including a young Jack Lemmon (as Kim's warlock brother), Elsa Lanchester (their ditzy aunt), and Ernie Kovacs (!) as a befuddled writer. Hermione Gingold even shows up in a hilarious cameo as a sort of Grand Witch. There's lots to like in this movie--wit, romance, and a great cast--that is, if you can possibly take your eyes off the enchanting Miss Novak. I have seen the movie a half a dozen times, and I never can.

This works well as light entertainment, but it is rather uneven, and it leaves you thinking that it probably could have been better. The premise is interesting and creates good opportunities both for comedy and for romantic complications, the production values are generous, and the cast is first-rate. And it's certainly worth watching, yet the whole seems to be just a little less than the sum of its components. Kim Novak works very well as Gillian, making her believable and quite captivating. The role is also written effectively, and it gives Novak a lot of good material to work with. James Stewart is equally believable (and, of course, always likable) in his part, but he is given much less to work with. The dialogue for his character never rings true the way that Gillian's does, and even though Stewart does his usual fine job with it, it's hard not to notice some of the less-inspired lines. With Jack Lemmon, Elsa Lanchester, Ernie Kovacs, and Hermione Gingold, the supporting cast is also loaded with talent. Lanchester and her role are well-matched and quite entertaining, and the others make good use of their opportunities when the script allows them to. The movie usually looks very good, and in particular Gillian's shop is a very nice creation that also serves as an interesting backdrop to the story. Yet it never really hits high gear, and given the concept, it might have worked better with a more episodic approach, instead of trying to sustain one story line all the way through. It is definitely worth seeing, as the cast and some of the settings alone make it worth watching. But there are some missed opportunities, and if they had been taken, it could have resulted in a really fine movie.

"Bell Book and Candle" was shown recently on cable. Not having seen it for a while, we decided to take another look at this comedy. Based on the James Van Druten's Broadway hit, which was a vehicle for Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer in the early fifties, the film was adapted for the screen by Daniel Taradash. The film was directed by Richard Quine, who turned the play into a delightful comedy. Evidently, judging by some of the comments submitted by IMDb, the big issue seems to be the pairing of the two stars, who had collaborated on "Vertigo", released the same year. Movie audiences didn't think anything about the age difference when this film was released. In fact, most of the aging male stars of that period were always involved with much younger women. The film set in Manhattan during Christmas is a delightful comedy that has enchanted viewers. Kim Novak was at the height of her beauty as it's clear the camera adored her no matter what was she playing. As the witch that becomes human, her Gillian is charming. James Stewart, who plays the publisher Shep' Henderson, is also seen at his best. Mr. Stewart was an excellent comedy actor who shows in here why he was at the top. In supporting roles the wonderful Elsa Lanchester, playing Queenie, is a welcome addition to any movie, as she proves here. Jack Lemmon's Nicky Holroyd, the brother of Gillian, is also good. Ernie Kovacs is also seen as the writer Sidney Radlitch. This is an excellent way to spend a winter night at home watching "Bell Book and Candle".