A modern-day witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancée, so she enchants him to love her instead, only to fall in love with him for real.
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Title: Bell Book and Candle (1958)
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Edit
Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| James Stewart | ... | Shepherd Henderson | |
| Kim Novak | ... | Gillian Holroyd | |
| Jack Lemmon | ... | Nicky Holroyd | |
| Ernie Kovacs | ... | Sidney Redlitch | |
| Hermione Gingold | ... | Bianca de Passe | |
| Elsa Lanchester | ... | 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 |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (73) »
Storyline
Gillian Holroyd is just your average, modern-day, witch, living in a New York apartment with her Siamese familiar, Pyewacket. But one day a handsome publisher, Shep Henderson walks into her building and Gillian decides she wants him--especially as it turns out he's marrying Merle Kittridge, an old poison penpal from Gillian's college days. So, Gillian casts a spell over Shep. But her powers are in danger of being exorcised by something stronger than the bell-book-and-candle routine: Love. Written by Kathy Li
Plot Keywords:
witch | enchantment | may december romance | romantic rivalry | witchcraft |Taglines:
Getting here is half the fun... See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
19 December 1958 (Finland) See more »Also Known As:
Bell, Book and Candle See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: Oh, Pye, Pye, Pyewacket. What's the matter with me? Why do I feel this way? It's such a rut. The same old thing day after day. Same old people. I know I'm feeling sorry for myself but it's true. Why don't you give me something for Christmas, Pye?
The Cat: Meow.
Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: What would I like?
The Cat: Meow.
Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: I'd like to do something different. I'd like to meet something different.
See more »
(uncredited)
Traditional Welsh melody, lyrics by Thomas Oliphant (uncredited)
[Lyrics incorrectly credited as Traditional]
Performed by James Stewart by whistling
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Pyewacket was really Kim Novak's pet cat with the same name. See more »Goofs
When the Cat meows, it never moves its mouth. Especially noticeable when the Cat is supposed to be agitated. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: Oh, Pye, Pye, Pyewacket. What's the matter with me? Why do I feel this way? It's such a rut. The same old thing day after day. Same old people. I know I'm feeling sorry for myself but it's true. Why don't you give me something for Christmas, Pye?
The Cat: Meow.
Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: What would I like?
The Cat: Meow.
Gillian 'Gil' Holroyd: I'd like to do something different. I'd like to meet something different.
See more »
Soundtracks
Deck the Halls(uncredited)
Traditional Welsh melody, lyrics by Thomas Oliphant (uncredited)
[Lyrics incorrectly credited as Traditional]
Performed by James Stewart by whistling
See more »
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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.