Tyler Brooks
The 1958 romantic fantasy comedy film Bell, Book and Candle is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home. It can also be rented or purchased on these platforms. The movie stars Kim Novak as Gillian Holroyd, a modern-day witch living in Greenwich Village who falls for her dashing neighbour, Shep Henderson (James Stewart). When Gillian learns that Shep is engaged, she casts a love spell on him but risks losing her magical powers forever. The film is an adaptation of a popular 1950s stage play of the same name and features notable performances by Elsa Lanchester, Ernie Kovacs, and Jack Lemmon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance |
| Year | 1958 |
| Duration | 1 hr 43 min |
| Rating | 6.8 |
| Director | Richard Quine |
| Cast | James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs, Hermione Gingold, Elsa Lanchester, Janice Rule |
| Streaming Platforms | Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home |
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What You'll Learn
Streaming services: Tubi, Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
You can buy or rent "Bell, Book and Candle" on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home. The movie is available for purchase as a download on these platforms, and you can also choose to rent it online. Additionally, you can stream "Bell, Book and Candle" via a subscription on Tubi, which is a free streaming service.
The 1958 movie, directed by Richard Quine, stars James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, and Ernie Kovacs. It has a runtime of approximately 1 hour and 43 to 46 minutes, depending on the source. The plot revolves around a modern-day witch who likes her neighbour but dislikes his fiancée, so she casts a spell to make him love her instead, only to ultimately fall in love with him herself.
While the movie is not available for free streaming on major platforms like Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home, it can be rented or purchased on these services. So, if you're looking to own a copy or have a temporary rental period to watch the movie, these platforms provide flexible options.
Tubi, on the other hand, offers a free streaming service. By subscribing to Tubi, you can access "Bell, Book and Candle" without any rental or purchase costs. This is a great option if you prefer not to incur additional expenses and still enjoy the movie legally.
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Cast: Kim Novak, James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs
The 1958 American supernatural romantic comedy film Bell, Book and Candle stars Kim Novak, James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, and Ernie Kovacs. The film is an adaptation of the 1950 Broadway play of the same name by John Van Druten. It was directed by Richard Quine and written by Daniel Taradash.
Kim Novak portrays Gillian Holroyd, a witch and the owner of 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 (James Stewart), and casts a spell on him. This was Stewart's final romantic lead role.
Jack Lemmon and Ernie Kovacs feature in supporting roles, alongside Hermione Gingold, Elsa Lanchester, and Janice Rule. Lemmon plays Nicky Holroyd, Gillian's cousin, who reveals his powers to author Redlitch and offers him access to the witch community in exchange for half the profits of his book about witches.
The film was considered a "blockbuster" by Columbia, and it received significant promotion and favourable reviews ahead of its release. It premiered in Los Angeles on November 11, 1958, and played an exclusive engagement there until its New York premiere on December 25. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.
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Plot: A witch uses a love spell on her neighbour
The 1958 American romantic comedy film "Bell, Book and Candle" features a witch who uses a love spell on her neighbour. The film is directed by Richard Quine and stars Kim Novak as Gillian Holroyd, a modern-day witch living in Greenwich Village, and James Stewart as Shep Henderson, a publisher who moves into the apartment above hers.
Gillian takes an interest in her new neighbour, Shep, but discovers that he is engaged to her college nemesis, Merle Kittridge. On Christmas Eve, Shep arrives home to find Gillian's aunt, Queenie, inside his apartment. Offended at being ushered out, Queenie, who is also a witch, casts a hex on Shep's telephone. She encourages Gillian to use her magic to pursue Shep anyway, despite his engagement.
Gillian uses her cat, Pyewacket, to cast a love spell on Shep, who becomes immediately enamoured with her. The spell causes Shep to break up with Merle on the morning of their wedding and fall in love with Gillian. However, witches lose their magic if they fall in love, creating a dilemma for Gillian as she truly loves Shep.
To complicate matters, Shep is a publisher who expresses interest in a book about witches in New York, written by Sidney Redlitch. Unbeknownst to Shep, Redlitch is magically compelled to meet him and seeks access to the witch community for his research. Gillian's brother, Nicky, a warlock, offers to help Redlitch with his book in exchange for a share of the profits, revealing his powers in the process.
As the story unfolds, Shep proposes to Gillian, and she accepts, even though it means renouncing her magic. However, when Gillian confesses that she is a witch and their relationship is the result of her spell, Shep is upset and determined to break the enchantment. He seeks help from Bianca De Pass, a powerful witch, who brews a potion for him to drink, breaking Gillian's spell.
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Source material: John Van Druten's 1950s play
John Van Druten's play, Bell, Book and Candle, debuted on Broadway in 1950 and ran for 233 performances. It was directed by Van Druten himself, with set and lighting design by George C. Jenkins and costumes by Anna Hill Johnstone. The play centres on Gillian Holroyd, a modern-day witch living in Greenwich Village, New York City. When a publisher named Shep Henderson moves into the apartment above hers, she becomes enamoured and uses her magic to thwart his impending marriage to her college rival.
The play is a comedy, originally written as a more serious piece, exploring the nature of witchcraft and self-gratification. However, Van Druten chose to focus on the inherently selfish nature of witches, and how this conflicts with the realisation of love. The play is sexually liberated, with innuendos and suggestive themes, and features eccentric characters, including Gillian's magical aunt and older brother.
Following its Broadway run, Bell, Book and Candle toured the US in 1952-53, starring Rosalind Russell, and later Joan Bennett. The play then transferred to London's West End in 1954, running for 485 performances. This version made some changes, including relocating the setting from Manhattan to Knightsbridge and altering the name of the male lead from Shep to Tony.
The play formed the basis for the 1958 film of the same name, starring Kim Novak, James Stewart, and Jack Lemmon. It also inspired the popular TV series Bewitched, showcasing the enduring appeal of Van Druten's magical tale.
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Reviews: Pleasant, light and fluffy entertainment
Charming and amusing
One IMDb reviewer called the film "amusing and charming", with its mix of fantasy and comedy. They praised the cast, particularly the performances of James Stewart and Jack Lemmon, although they felt that Stewart and Novak had better chemistry in Vertigo. They concluded that fans of comedy and fantasy would enjoy the film.
Light entertainment
Another IMDb reviewer described the film as "light entertainment", and praised the performances of the supporting cast, including Hermione Gingold, Elsa Lanchester, Ernie Kovacs, and Jack Lemmon. They also highlighted the film's art direction, costumes, and music.
Magical air
A Rotten Tomatoes review called the film "marvellous", praising its effects, cute cat, quirky parrot, amusing humour, cool witchcraft, compelling acting, and intriguing romance. They also noted the film's "delightfully magical air".
Smooth and refined
A review on ErikLundegaard.com praised the cinematography of James Wong Howe, particularly the close-up shots of Kim Novak and Pyewacket's eyes, as well as the art direction, set decoration, and film score. They also highlighted the costume design, noting that the film has "some of the prettiest outfits in Old Hollywood pictures".
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy the film on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango At Home, or rent it on these platforms. You can also watch it for free on Tubi.
It's about a modern-day witch, Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak), who lives in Greenwich Village. When a new neighbour, Shep Henderson (James Stewart), moves in upstairs, she falls for him and casts a love spell on him when she learns he is engaged.
The film stars Kim Novak, James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs, Hermione Gingold, Elsa Lanchester, and Janice Rule.
Reviews of the film are mixed. While some sources say it is "pleasant, lite and fluffy entertainment", others claim it is "not a great movie by any means". However, most agree that Kim Novak and James Stewart give strong performances.
