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Bell Book and Candle (1958)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
January 1959 (USA)
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Tagline:
A bewitching comedy about an enchanting subject!
Plot:
A modern-day witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancee, so she enchants him to love her instead... only to fall in love with him for real. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
Another 2 nominations
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NewsDesk:
User Comments:
A very pleasant romantic comedy
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Cast
(Complete credited cast)| James Stewart | ... | Shepherd 'Shep' Henderson | |
| Kim Novak | ... | Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd | |
| Jack Lemmon | ... | Nicky Holroyd | |
| Ernie Kovacs | ... | Sidney Redlitch | |
| Hermione Gingold | ... | Bianca de Passe | |
| Elsa Lanchester | ... | Aunt Queenie Holroyd | |
| Janice Rule | ... | Merle Kittridge | |
| Philippe Clay | ... | French Singer at the Zodiac Club | |
| Bek Nelson | ... | Tina - Shep's Secretary | |
| Howard McNear | ... | Andy White - Shep's Co-Publisher | |
| The Brothers Candoli | ... | Musicians at the Zodiac Club |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Bell, Book and Candle (USA) (poster title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
106 min
Country:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)
Certification:
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
USA:Approved (PCA #19072) |
USA:PG (TV rating) |
Finland:S |
UK:U |
West Germany:12
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The title "Bell, Book and Candle" is a reference to excommunication, which is performed by bell, book and candle. It is opened with "Ring the bell, open the book, light the candle," and closed with "Ring the bell, close the book, quench the candle."
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Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the scene in which Gil makes a pot of tea, she puts six or seven spoons of loose black tea into a small two-cup pot. This would result in tea as thick as tar and about as palatable.
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Quotes:
Shepherd 'Shep' Henderson:
I may sound like a lunatic, but I'm not crazy!
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Jack Benny Program: Ernie Kovacs Show (#9.10)" (1959)
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Soundtrack:
Deck the Halls
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FAQ
Was "Bell Book and Candle" the inspiration for the TV series "Bewitched"?Who was the French singer and what song was he singing at The Zodiac Club?
Is the soundtrack for this movie available?
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Stewart is a distinguished bachelor and a successful executive who is about to marry his fiancée Janice Rule but instead gets involved with a capricious, sensual art dealer (Kim Novak) who turns out to be a Greenwich Village witch Novak desires earnestly and intensely to love, but is unable to feel it...
Stewart slowly falls in love with her, and looks for a way to free her from her witch-spell... Novak resents his well-intentioned concern, as does her Siamese cat, Pyewacket... Still, Stewart continues in his attempts to change her into a loving, feeling woman as he aspires to marry her...
Also blocking his way are such talented supporting actors as Novak's brother (Jack Lemmon), a silly, charming sorcerer who can walk nonchalantly through walls; a terrible author who is writing a book about witchcraft; and the Head of the Association of Manhattan Witches, none other than the incredible Hermione Gingold...
Novak's Aunt Queenie (Elsa Lanchester), unlike her other relatives, is a tender witch who accepts that nothing should prevent the course of true love... She aids and stimulates them in turning Novak into the woman of Stewart's dreams, for a happy ending...
If you like to see a lightweight comedy about magic, fantasy and love; beautiful cinematography; stunning use of color; and with an exceptional cast; don't miss this enjoyable and amusing movie