Jessie Taylor
The 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle, starring Kim Novak as a witch, is said to have inspired the TV series Bewitched. The film is based on a 1950 Broadway play of the same name by John Van Druten. Bewitched creator Sol Saks admitted that he drew on Bell, Book and Candle, and the film's mix of fantasy and comedy is comparable to Bewitched. However, some have argued that neither Bell, Book and Candle nor the film I Married a Witch inspired Bewitched, and that the similarities are coincidental, as all three works draw on 17th-century folklore about witchcraft.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | Bell, Book and Candle – 1958; Bewitched – 1964-1972 |
| Genre | Bell, Book and Candle – supernatural romantic comedy; Bewitched – fantasy |
| Format | Bell, Book and Candle – film; Bewitched – TV series |
| Inspiration | Bewitched creator Sol Saks admitted that Bell, Book and Candle inspired the series, along with I Married a Witch (1942). |
| Characters | Bell, Book and Candle's Aunt Queenie and Nicky are said to have inspired Bewitched's Aunt Clara and Uncle Arthur. |
| Cast | Bell, Book and Candle – Kim Novak, James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs; Bewitched – Elizabeth Montgomery |
| Director | Bell, Book and Candle – Richard Quine |
| Awards | Bell, Book and Candle received Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. It was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy. |
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What You'll Learn
- Bewitched creator Sol Saks admitted he drew on Bell, Book and Candle
- The film's lead character, Gillian, is a witch who casts a spell on her neighbour
- Bewitched's Aunt Clara and Uncle Arthur characters are based on Bell, Book and Candle's Aunt Queenie and Nicky
- The film's Pyewacket became a popular name for cats
- Both feature a witch in the romantic lead
Bewitched creator Sol Saks admitted he drew on Bell, Book and Candle
The creator of Bewitched, Sol Saks, admitted that he drew on Bell, Book and Candle, as well as the earlier witch-themed film I Married a Witch (1942). Bewitched, which aired from 1964 to 1972, starred Elizabeth Montgomery as a witch married to a human. Some of the characters in Bewitched were based on those in Bell, Book and Candle, such as Aunt Queenie becoming Aunt Clara and Nicky becoming Uncle Arthur.
However, it is important to note that some sources dispute this claim. Elizabeth Montgomery, William Asher, and the writers of Bewitched have stated that neither Bell, Book and Candle nor I Married a Witch served as inspiration for the show. They argue that all three stories draw on similar folklore about witchcraft and that any connections are merely coincidental.
Bell, Book and Candle, released in 1958, starred Kim Novak as a witch who casts a spell on her neighbour, played by James Stewart. The film combines fantasy and comedy, blending these elements with a charming 1950s Manhattan setting. The success of Bell, Book and Candle is believed to have contributed to the increased popularity of witches and witchcraft in media.
The film Bell, Book and Candle was based on a play of the same name by John Van Druten, which ran on Broadway in 1950. The play starred Rex Harrison and Lili Palmer and closed due to the inability to find a satisfactory substitute cast. The film adaptation featured stunning visuals, with meticulous attention to costume and set design, earning Academy Award nominations in these categories.
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The film's lead character, Gillian, is a witch who casts a spell on her neighbour
The 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle stars Kim Novak as Gillian Holroyd, a witch who casts a spell on her neighbour, Shep Henderson (James Stewart). The film is considered Stewart's final romantic lead role. The film is an adaptation of a 1950 Broadway play of the same name by John Van Druten, and was directed by Richard Quine.
Gillian Holroyd is a smart, sensual, and independent witch who owns a rare ethnological art store in Greenwich Village, New York City. Bored with her routine life, she takes an interest in her new neighbour, publisher Shep Henderson. On Christmas Eve, Shep arrives home to find Gillian's Aunt Queenie inside his apartment. Gillian casts a spell on Shep, and he falls in love with her. However, when she realises that she is also falling in love, Gillian faces a dilemma: she will lose her magical powers if she acts on her feelings.
The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Comedy. While the lead performances of Novak and Stewart received mixed reviews, the supporting cast, including Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs, Hermione Gingold, and Elsa Lanchester, was widely praised.
Bell, Book and Candle is acknowledged as one of the inspirations for the television series Bewitched, which aired from 1964 to 1972. Bewitched creator Sol Saks admitted that he drew on Bell, Book and Candle, as well as the earlier film I Married a Witch (1942). However, some have disputed this, claiming that the similarities between the two works are superficial and that Bewitched draws on earlier folklore about witchcraft.
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Bewitched's Aunt Clara and Uncle Arthur characters are based on Bell, Book and Candle's Aunt Queenie and Nicky
The 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle is said to have inspired the TV series Bewitched, which aired from 1964 to 1972. The film stars Kim Novak as Gillian "Gil" Holroyd, a witch who owns a rare ethnological art store in Greenwich Village, New York City. On Christmas Eve, Gillian's Aunt Queenie enters the apartment of her new neighbour, publisher Shep Henderson. Shep is offended by Queenie's intrusion and, upon learning that he is engaged, Gillian casts a spell on him.
Gillian's brother, Nicky, is a bongo drum-playing warlock. Nicky quarrels with Gillian about exposing their world to Redlitch, and about her preparing to renounce magic and marry Shep. Nicky also helps Shep break Gillian's spell over him.
The characters of Aunt Queenie and Nicky in Bell, Book and Candle are said to have inspired the characters of Aunt Clara and Uncle Arthur in Bewitched. Aunt Clara (played by Marion Lorne) is Samantha's bumbling, elderly, and absent-minded but lovable aunt. She has a good relationship with Darrin, unlike most of Samantha's relatives. Her spells usually backfire, and her entrances and exits are often dramatic. Uncle Arthur (played by Paul Lynde) is also a beloved character on the show.
While Bell, Book and Candle is acknowledged as an inspiration for Bewitched, the primary inspiration for the TV series is usually credited to the 1942 film I Married a Witch.
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The film's Pyewacket became a popular name for cats
The 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle is a supernatural romantic comedy starring Kim Novak as a witch who casts a spell on her neighbour, played by James Stewart. The film features Novak's character's cat, Pyewacket, who has a pivotal role in the story. Pyewacket is described as a "familiar", a supernatural entity that aids a witch in their practice of magic. In the film, Pyewacket brings Gillian Holroyd (Novak) a mortal love interest, Shep Henderson (Stewart), and pursues him on her owner's behalf.
The name Pyewacket is derived from a 1647 account by Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, who investigated instances of witchcraft in Maningtree, Essex County, England. One of the suspected witches confessed to having several "familiars", one of which was named Pyewacket. The name Pyewacket has since become strongly associated with cats, particularly Siamese cats, due to the popularity of the film and the impact of Pyewacket's character.
Pyewacket, the cat in the film, was played by the first-ever Siamese cat to appear on film. The popularity of the film, along with the growing craze for the Siamese breed, contributed to the name Pyewacket becoming fashionable for cats. The name's connection to witchcraft and its memorable appearance in the film captured the public's imagination.
The film's impact on popular culture extended beyond just cat names. It is also acknowledged as an inspiration for the television series Bewitched, which featured a similar premise of a witch married to a mortal man. The success of Bell, Book and Candle helped pave the way for more depictions of witches and witchcraft in media, with Bewitched building on this legacy.
The enduring appeal of Bell, Book and Candle and its influence on pop culture have ensured that the name Pyewacket remains a popular choice for cat owners, especially those drawn to its magical and whimsical connotations.
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Both feature a witch in the romantic lead
The 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle and the subsequent TV series Bewitched (1964-1972) both feature a witch in the romantic lead. In Bell, Book and Candle, Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak), a witch and owner of an ethnological art store in Greenwich Village, New York City, takes an interest in her neighbour, publisher Shep Henderson (James Stewart). She casts a spell on him, and he falls in love with her. However, when Gillian herself falls in love, she faces a dilemma: she will lose her powers if she acts on her feelings.
In Bewitched, the witch Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) is married to a mortal, Darrin. Other characters in the series, such as Aunt Clara and Uncle Arthur, are also based on characters from Bell, Book and Candle. For example, Aunt Queenie in the film is described as a precursor to the "flighty" Aunt Clara in the series, while Nicky in the film is said to be the basis for the "over-the-top" Uncle Arthur.
The similarities between the two works have led many to believe that Bell, Book and Candle was an inspiration for Bewitched. Bewitched creator Sol Saks admitted that he drew on the film, as well as the earlier witch-themed I Married a Witch (1942). However, Elizabeth Montgomery, William Asher, and the writers of Bewitched have stated that neither Bell, Book and Candle nor I Married a Witch were used as inspiration for the series. They argue that all three works simply draw on the same 17th-century and prior folklore about witchcraft.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Bewitched creator Sol Saks admitted that he drew on Bell, Book and Candle, as well as the earlier witch-themed movie I Married a Witch.
Both involve a witch who casts a spell on a man, only to fall in love with him herself. In both stories, there are also older witches.
Bewitched is a lot more lighthearted and cutesy than Bell, Book and Candle, which has a more subtle and intelligent script.
The main character is Gillian Holroyd, a witch and owner of an ethnological art store in Greenwich Village, New York City. Other key characters include her neighbour Shep Henderson, her aunt Queenie, and Nicky Holroyd.
