Top 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsMost Popular Video GamesMost Popular Music VideosMost Popular Podcasts
    Release CalendarBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersSundance Film FestivalIndependent Spirit AwardsBlack History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Bell Book and Candle

  • 19581958
  • PGPG
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
12K
YOUR RATING
James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Kim Novak, Elsa Lanchester, Hermione Gingold, Ernie Kovacs, and Janice Rule in Bell Book and Candle (1958)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:37
3 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyFantasyRomance
A modern-day witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancée, so she enchants him to love her instead.A modern-day witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancée, so she enchants him to love her instead.A modern-day witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancée, so she enchants him to love her instead.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
12K
YOUR RATING
    • Richard Quine
    • Daniel Taradash(screenplay)
    • John Van Druten(play "Bell, Book and Candle")
  • Stars
    • James Stewart
    • Kim Novak
    • Jack Lemmon
    • Richard Quine
    • Daniel Taradash(screenplay)
    • John Van Druten(play "Bell, Book and Candle")
  • Stars
    • James Stewart
    • Kim Novak
    • Jack Lemmon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 126User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars

    Videos3

    Bell Book and Candle
    Trailer 2:37
    Watch Bell Book and Candle
    Bell Book And Candle
    Trailer 2:36
    Watch Bell Book And Candle
    Our Favorite On-Screen Witches
    Clip 3:43
    Watch Our Favorite On-Screen Witches

    Photos177

    Kim Novak in Bell Book and Candle (1958)
    Kim Novak in Bell Book and Candle (1958)
    Kim Novak in Bell Book and Candle (1958)
    "Bell, Book and Candle" Kim Novak 1958 Columbia
    "Bell, Book and Candle" Kim Novak 1958 Columbia
    James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Janice Rule at an event for Bell Book and Candle (1958)
    James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Pyewacket in Bell Book and Candle (1958)
    James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Pyewacket in Bell Book and Candle (1958)
    James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Pyewacket in Bell Book and Candle (1958)
    James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Pyewacket in Bell Book and Candle (1958)
    James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Pyewacket in Bell Book and Candle (1958)
    Jack Lemmon and Elsa Lanchester in Bell Book and Candle (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Stewart
    James Stewart
    • Shepherd Henderson
    Kim Novak
    Kim Novak
    • Gillian Holroyd
    Jack Lemmon
    Jack Lemmon
    • Nicky Holroyd
    Ernie Kovacs
    Ernie Kovacs
    • Sidney Redlitch
    Hermione Gingold
    Hermione Gingold
    • Bianca de Passe
    Elsa Lanchester
    Elsa Lanchester
    • Queenie Holroyd
    Janice Rule
    Janice Rule
    • Merle Kittridge
    Philippe Clay
    Philippe Clay
    • French Singer at the Zodiac Club
    Bek Nelson
    Bek Nelson
    • Tina - Shep's Secretary
    Howard McNear
    Howard McNear
    • Andy White - Shep's Co-Publisher
    The Brothers Candoli
    • Musicians at the Zodiac Club
    Fred Aldrich
    Fred Aldrich
    • Mover
    • (uncredited)
    Leon Alton
    Leon Alton
    • Club Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Monty Ash
    • Herb Store Owner
    • (uncredited)
    Joe Barry
    • Exterminator
    • (uncredited)
    Wolfe Barzell
    Wolfe Barzell
    • Zodiac Club Proprietor
    • (uncredited)
    Willie Bloom
    • Undetermined Role
    • (uncredited)
    Gail Bonney
    Gail Bonney
    • Betty - Merle's Maid
    • (uncredited)
      • Richard Quine
      • Daniel Taradash(screenplay)
      • John Van Druten(play "Bell, Book and Candle")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Picnic
    7.0
    Picnic
    I Married a Witch
    7.1
    I Married a Witch
    Pillow Talk
    7.4
    Pillow Talk
    Desk Set
    7.2
    Desk Set
    The Notorious Landlady
    6.7
    The Notorious Landlady
    Call Northside 777
    7.3
    Call Northside 777
    The Glass Key
    7.0
    The Glass Key
    The Shop Around the Corner
    8.0
    The Shop Around the Corner
    6.0
    Bell, Book and Candle
    Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
    7.2
    Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
    The House on Telegraph Hill
    6.9
    The House on Telegraph Hill
    The Bishop's Wife
    7.6
    The Bishop's Wife

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Cary Grant actively sought the lead role.
    • Goofs
      There are only ten signs of the zodiac decorating the doorway into the Zodiac Club.
    • Quotes

      Shepherd 'Shep' Henderson: That girl you know, Gillian Holroyd, she's one.

      Merle Kittridge: A witch?

      Shepherd 'Shep' Henderson: Yes!

      Merle Kittridge: Shep, you just never learned to spell.

    • Alternate versions
      The 1999 U.S. DVD release includes both the original theatrical version (as seen in theaters and on VHS) and an extended version (which is obviously not labeled as such). The theatrical version runs for 102 minutes, while the extended version is approximately 4 minutes longer at a runtime of 106 minutes. The theatrical version is presented in 4:3 full screen, while the extended version is presented in 16:9 widescreen.
    • Connections
      Edited into Bride of Monster Mania (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Jingle Bells
      (1857) (uncredited)

      Written by James Pierpont

      In the score during the opening credits

    User reviews126

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Kim Novak bewitches Jimmy Stewart, and the viewer as well...
    The John Van Druten Broadway hit is brought to the screen with a maximum of star power in this romantic fantasy about a modern-day witch who beguiles a successful Manhattan publisher. James Stewart may get top billing, but it is Kim Novak who steals the show as one of the most alluring witches ever to cast a spell on the movie screen. The lead pairing is, in fact, one of the movie's few weaknesses: the gray-haired Stewart seems a bit old for the role, and while it is easy to see why he falls hard for Novak, it's a little harder to understand what she finds attractive about him, as they seem mismatched in temperment and outlook. (It is one of the story's amusing conceits that witches and warlocks are portrayed as Greenwich Village beatniks and bohemians.) Curiously, the Stewart-Novak pairing would generate a lot more heat in "Vertigo", released the same year as this film, but then "Vertigo" had a compelling suspense story, and the benefit of Alfred Hitchcock's direction.

    The film's comic moments are mostly provided by the stellar supporting cast, including a young Jack Lemmon (as Kim's warlock brother), Elsa Lanchester (their ditzy aunt), and Ernie Kovacs (!) as a befuddled writer. Hermione Gingold even shows up in a hilarious cameo as a sort of Grand Witch. There's lots to like in this movie--wit, romance, and a great cast--that is, if you can possibly take your eyes off the enchanting Miss Novak. I have seen the movie a half a dozen times, and I never can.
    helpful•23
    10
    • ragsthetiger
    • Jun 1, 2000

    FAQ12

    • What is 'Bell Book and Candle' about?
    • Is "Bell Book and Candle" based on a book?
    • What does the title mean?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 19, 1958 (Finland)
      • United States
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Flatiron Building - 175 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures Corporation
      • Phoenix Productions (III)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 46 minutes
      • Color

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Kim Novak, Elsa Lanchester, Hermione Gingold, Ernie Kovacs, and Janice Rule in Bell Book and Candle (1958)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Bell Book and Candle (1958) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.