Chloe Adams
The 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle is an adaptation of the 1950 Broadway play of the same name. The film is a romantic comedy about a witch, played by Kim Novak, who casts a spell on her neighbour, played by James Stewart. The film was directed by Richard Quine and is considered Stewart's final role as a romantic lead. The film was released in colour and was praised for its cinematography, art direction, and costumes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Release date | 25 December 1958 |
| Genre | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance |
| Director | Richard Quine |
| Screenplay | Daniel Taradash |
| Based on the Broadway play by | John Van Druten |
| Starring | James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs, Hermione Gingold, Elsa Lanchester, Janice Rule |
| Plot | A witch who casts a spell on her neighbour |
| Filming technique | Hue-saturated Technicolor filming |
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What You'll Learn
Bell, Book and Candle's colour cinematography
The 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle is an adaptation of a Broadway play of the same name. The film is a romantic comedy with fantasy elements, starring Kim Novak, James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, and Ernie Kovacs.
The film's cinematography was particularly notable for its use of colour. Although colour movies had been around for about 20 years by 1958, they were not yet the norm. The New York Times' critic Bosley Crowther praised the film's "hypnotic" visuals, noting the vivid and suggestive imagery that transported viewers from the heroine's atelier to a smoky nightclub in Greenwich Village.
The film's colour cinematography was achieved through the work of art director Cary Odell, colour consultant Eliot Elisoforn, and cameraman James Wong Howe. One notable technique they employed was saturating camera-distorted images in a deep melancholy blue to suggest how things appeared to the witch's cat.
The film also featured stylish costumes designed by Jean Louis, including a reversible leopard cape and a chic black polo neck, trousers, and red tunic ensemble worn by Novak. The use of colour extended to the film's promotional materials, with Columbia Studio turning Novak's hair lavender, her signature colour for the film, and even having her answer fan mail using purple ink.
The film's score, by George Duning, also contributed to its sensory appeal, with a main theme that melded bongos and violins and incorporated "Jingle Bells" during the opening credits to set the Christmas tone.
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The film's Christmas setting
Bell, Book and Candle is a 1958 romantic comedy about a witch who falls in love on Christmas Day. The film was released on Christmas Day 1958 and is considered one of the greatest festive films ever made. The story begins on Christmas Eve, with Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak) telling her cat, Pyewacket, that she yearns for a man. She soon falls in love with her new neighbour, Shep Henderson (James Stewart).
The Christmas setting adds a festive atmosphere to the film, and the magic and fantasy elements blend well with the holiday season. The film's success is also attributed to the chemistry between the leads, Stewart and Novak, who had previously starred together in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. The supporting cast, including Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs, and Hermione Gingold, also deliver strong performances.
The film's cinematography and use of Technicolor filming also captured the eye of critics, with vivid visuals and a stylish, beatnik wardrobe designed by Jean Louis. The fantasy and comedy mix worked well, and the film is considered amusing and charming, making it a unique and enjoyable Christmas film.
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The movie's cast and performances
The 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle features a star-studded cast, including James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs, Hermione Gingold, Elsa Lanchester, and Janice Rule. The film is based on the 1950 Broadway play of the same name by John Van Druten and is considered Stewart's final romantic leading role.
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 (Stewart). On Christmas Eve, Shep arrives home to discover Gillian's aunt, Queenie (Lanchester), inside his apartment. Offended at being ushered out, Queenie casts a hex on Shep's telephone, prompting him to visit Gillian to use her phone. Despite knowing that Shep is engaged to her old college nemesis, Merle Kittridge (Rule), Gillian takes a shine to him and uses her magic to pursue him. She puts a spell on him using her cat, Pyewacket, and he falls in love with her.
Stewart delivers a great performance as the puzzled publisher who finds himself ensnared in a witch's spell. Novak, who considered Stewart her favourite leading man, is charming and pleasant in her role, blending within the film's atmosphere more naturally than Stewart. Lemmon plays Gillian's brother, Nicky Holroyd, a bongo drum-playing warlock. By the time of the film's production, he was doing leads and carrying films on his own, which made his decision to accept a supporting part here a curious one. Nonetheless, he gives a good performance.
Kovacs portrays Sidney Redlitch, an author character whom Nicky meets and takes to an occult apothecary. His performance is described as "an absolute riot". Gingold is brilliant as the head witch, Mrs. DePass, and Lanchester, known for her role as the Bride of Frankenstein, is hilarious. Rule rounds out the main cast as Merle Kittridge, Shep's fiancée and Gillian's nemesis.
The film also features a notable performance by Pyewacket, the cat who plays a major part in the story as Gillian's familiar. As many as 12 cats were needed to perform the various stunts in the film, but the primary cat used for close-ups was owned by animal trainer Frank Inn, who gave the cat to Novak when he saw how strongly she had bonded with the animal.
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Its plot and source material
"Bell, Book and Candle" is a 1958 American supernatural romantic comedy film directed by Richard Quine. It is based on the 1950 Broadway play of the same name by John Van Druten. The film stars James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, and Ernie Kovacs.
The film follows Gillian Holroyd (Novak), a modern-day 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 (Stewart), who lives in the apartment above hers. When Gillian learns that Shep is engaged to her college nemesis, Merle Kittridge (Janice Rule), she decides to make him hers by casting a love spell on him with the help of her cat, Pyewacket.
Shep is immediately enamoured with Gillian and breaks up with Merle on their wedding day. Gillian's warlock brother, Nicky (Lemmon), gives her a potion to summon best-selling author Sidney Redlitch (Kovacs) to New York, as Shep had expressed interest in meeting him. Redlitch visits Shep and offers him a book about witches in New York, but Shep is sceptical. Shep and Gillian take Redlitch to a club where Nicky works.
As the film progresses, Gillian and Shep's relationship becomes more complicated. Shep proposes to Gillian, but she is reluctant to accept because she knows that witches can't fall in love and will lose her powers if she does. She eventually accepts, upsetting Nicky. To prevent Shep from learning about her witchcraft, Gillian hexes Redlitch's manuscript. However, she is overcome by guilt and confesses her true nature to Shep, who is upset and determined to break the spell. Despite this, Gillian has genuinely fallen in love with Shep, leading to a romantic conflict.
The film features a memorable supporting cast, including Hermione Gingold as the head witch, Mrs. DePass, and Elsa Lanchester as Gillian's aunt, Queenie, who is also a witch. The film's score, by George Duning, blends bongos and violins, reflecting the plot's fantasy and comedy elements. It also incorporates "Jingle Bells" during the opening credits to set the Christmas tone of the initial action. Pyewacket, the cat, is a major part of the story and helps Gillian cast her spells, stealing every scene with his mesmerizing eyes.
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The film's production and release
Bell, Book and Candle is a 1958 American romantic comedy film starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, and Ernie Kovacs. It was directed by Richard Quine and based on the 1950 Broadway play of the same name by John Van Druten. The film is considered Stewart's final role as a romantic lead.
The film rights to the play were acquired by Columbia, and Van Druten's stage play was adapted for the screen by Daniel Taradash, who wrote the screenplay. Initially, the producers considered Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer, who had starred in the play, for the lead roles. However, due to scheduling conflicts and creative differences, the roles ultimately went to James Stewart and Kim Novak.
The film's production involved a talented crew, including composer George Duning, who created a unique score that incorporated bongos and violins, with each witch, including the cat Pyewacket, identified by a musical signature. The film was shot in Technicolor, and the cinematography, art direction, and costume design were particularly notable, with Oscar nominations for the latter two. The film was released on Christmas Day, 1958, and was a hit with audiences.
In the decades following its release, Bell, Book and Candle continued to find appreciation among audiences and critics alike. It has been recognised as an inspiration for the television series Bewitched, and its stylish, beatnik wardrobe designed by Jean Louis has also been praised. The film has become a festive season favourite for many, and its mix of fantasy and comedy has been deemed "charming" and "amusing."
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the film was in colour.
The film was released in 1958.
The film starred Kim Novak, James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs, Hermione Gingold, Elsa Lanchester, and Janice Rule.
