Brooke Martin
In the 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle, James Jimmy Stewart was 50 years old. This was his final romantic leading role, and he starred alongside Kim Novak, who was 25. The film is based on the 1950 Broadway play of the same name by John Van Druten. It is a supernatural romantic comedy about a witch who casts a spell on her neighbour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the movie | Bell, Book and Candle |
| Year of release | 1958 |
| Genre | Supernatural romantic comedy |
| Lead actor | James Stewart |
| Stewart's age | 50 |
| Co-star | Kim Novak |
| Novak's age | 25 |
| Director | Richard Quine |
| Screenplay | Daniel Taradash |
| Based on the Broadway play | Yes |
| Play's author | John Van Druten |
| Play's year | 1950-1951 |
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What You'll Learn
James Stewart was 50 in Bell, Book and Candle
James Stewart was 50 years old when he starred in the 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle. This was Stewart's final romantic leading role, with critics noting the age difference between him and his 25-year-old co-star Kim Novak. Despite this, the film is considered a success, with Stewart and Novak reuniting the following year for Hitchcock's Vertigo.
In Bell, Book and Candle, Stewart plays a staid, secure publisher, Shep Henderson, who leads a quiet life until he meets his bewitching downstairs neighbour, Gillian Holroyd, played by Novak. Holroyd is a witch who takes an interest in her new neighbour, casting a love spell on him. The film is based on the 1950 Broadway play of the same name by John Van Druten.
The film is considered a "blockbuster" by Columbia, with favourable write-ups in major magazines ahead of its release. It premiered in Los Angeles on November 11, 1958, and later in New York on December 25. Despite some criticism of the screenplay, the film was praised for its camera work, set design, and use of colour.
While some viewers found Stewart's age noticeable and even off-putting, others considered him "sexy" in the role. One review noted that the age difference between Stewart and Novak added to the dynamic of the film, with the character's age making him a prime target for Novak's seduction.
Overall, Bell, Book and Candle is recognised as a successful romantic comedy, with strong performances by its lead actors and a fun, Halloween-themed plot.
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Kim Novak co-starred with Stewart
In Bell, Book and Candle, James Jimmy Stewart was 50 years old, co-starring with Kim Novak, who was 25 at the time. The film, released in 1958, was based on the 1950 Broadway play of the same name.
Novak portrayed Gillian, a witch who casts a spell on her neighbour, Shep Henderson, played by Stewart. The film is considered Stewart's final role as a romantic lead.
Novak and Stewart had previously co-starred in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller Vertigo, released the same year as Bell, Book and Candle. In Vertigo, Stewart's character, a detective, is hired to tail a friend's wife (Novak) and witnesses her suicide. In the end, Stewart's character discovers he has been duped in an elaborate scheme.
Novak described Vertigo as one of her two favourite films, and Stewart as her favourite leading man. She also said that she got along well with Stewart, who supported her during the filming of Vertigo. The two actors later appeared together as presenters at the 61st Academy Awards in 1989.
Novak, born in 1933, began her career as a model in 1953 and signed a contract with Columbia Pictures in 1954. She quickly became one of Hollywood's top box office stars, appearing in films such as Picnic (1955), The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), and Pal Joey (1957). She gained prominence for her performance in Vertigo, which is recognised as one of the greatest films ever made.
Novak stepped away from acting by 1966 and has only worked sporadically in films since. She pursued a career in painting and exhibited her artwork in galleries around the country. In 2024, she celebrated her 91st birthday.
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The film premiered in 1958
The film Bell, Book and Candle premiered in 1958. It is an American supernatural romantic comedy starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, and Ernie Kovacs. The film is an adaptation of a 1950 Broadway play of the same name by John Van Druten.
In the film, Novak portrays a witch, Gillian Holroyd, who owns a rare ethnological art store in Greenwich Village, New York City. She casts a spell on her neighbour, played by Stewart, who is known as Shep Henderson. The film is considered Stewart's final role as a romantic lead.
The film premiered in Los Angeles at the Warner Beverly Theatre on November 11, 1958, and later had its New York premiere on December 25. Despite some mixed reviews, with Bosley Crowther of The New York Times finding the premise "silly and banal", the film was praised for its camera work, set design, and use of colour.
The film is known for its lighthearted and whimsical take on witchcraft, with Gillian's magic adding a fantastical element to the romantic comedy storyline. It also explores the dynamics of May-December romance, with Stewart's character being twice Novak's age, creating an age-inappropriate pairing that has been criticised as "creepily patriarchal".
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It was based on a 1950 play
The 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle was based on a play of the same name, written by John Van Druten. The play was first performed on Broadway in 1950 and ran for 233 performances during the 1950–1951 season. It starred Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer, who were married at the time.
The play was later adapted for the screen by screenwriter Daniel Taradash, with Richard Quine directing. The film stars James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, and Ernie Kovacs. In the film, Novak portrays a witch who casts a spell on her neighbour, played by Stewart. The film is considered Stewart's final role as a romantic lead.
The film was considered a ""blockbuster"" by Columbia, and it received significant promotion ahead of its release. It premiered in Los Angeles on November 11, 1958, and later in New York on December 25. Despite some negative reviews of the screenplay, the film was praised for its camera work, set design, and use of colour.
The play and film have inspired several other adaptations, including a television sitcom fantasy series that was pitched in 1976 and a planned remake by The Walt Disney Company in 2006.
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It was Stewart's final romantic lead
James "Jimmy" Stewart was 50 years old when he starred in the 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle. The film is considered Stewart's final role as a romantic lead.
In the film, Stewart plays a publisher named Shep Henderson who becomes the target of a love spell cast by Gillian Holroyd, a witch and his neighbour. Kim Novak, who plays Gillian, was 25 at the time, half Stewart's age. The obvious age difference between the two leads was criticised as making the romance unrealistic. Critics in 1958 felt that Stewart was miscast as a suave New York businessman, and Stewart himself apparently agreed.
After Bell, Book and Candle, Stewart concentrated on roles that portrayed him as an everyman or a father figure. He was considered to be at his best when playing the naive sap, the everyday man, or the straight nose who is thrust into unusual situations.
Novak, on the other hand, was praised for her performance in Bell, Book and Candle. She gives the character a detachment befitting a witch, showing emotion only when appropriate. With her voice, fabulous face, and magnificent wardrobe, she is described as "magical".
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Frequently asked questions
Jimmy Stewart was 50 years old when he starred in Bell, Book and Candle.
No, Bell, Book and Candle was not Jimmy Stewart's first film. He had starred in several films before 1958, such as Mr. Smith, Destry, Harvey, Made for Each Other, and Philadelphia Story.
No, Bell, Book and Candle was not Jimmy Stewart's last film, but it was his final romantic leading role.
Kim Novak, who played Gillian Holyrod in Bell, Book and Candle, was 25 years old.
