Movie 26 - "Bell, Book, and Candle"

Today's movie is 1958's "Bell, Book, and Candle."  This movie, starring James Stewart and Kim Novak and costarring Elsa Lanchester and Jeck Lemmon, is a hilarious look at witchcraft in 1950's New York.  With Lemmon and Lanchester, it is hard for the movie to be anything but funny.  This is a different type of role for Kim Novac, normally in more dramatic roles.  Jimmy Stewart plays Shep, while Novak plays Gillian.  Lemmon plays Nicky and Lanchester plays Queenie, Gil and Nicky's aunt.

Shep has moved into a new apartment in New York which is in between Gillian and Queenie's apartments.  Gillian has seen Shep and likes the look of him but, as a witch, she does not see a normal future with anyone.  According to an old wives' tale, if a witch falls in love, they lose their power.  Plus, Queenie discovers Shep is engaged to be married.  One night at the local witch hangout, Gil realizes Shep is engaged to an old schoolmate of hers that she cannot stand!  Suddenly, using magic to lure Shep away does not seem like a bad idea.  With the help of Pyewacket, her cat, Gil uses magic to make Shep fall for her.  He doesn't know what hit him and calls off his engagement the very next day!  When a writer and Nicky decide to write a book, exposing the community, Gil uses magic again to stop the book from being published.  Nicky threatens to expose Gil to Shep.  Instead, Gil exposes herself.  She tries to tell Shep the truth, but finds it difficult to convince him.  Later, Shep realizes she was telling the truth and that she had put a spell on him.  He enlists Nicky's help to get the spell broken by a rival witch.  He does and moves out of the apartment, breaking things off with Gil angrily.  After he leaves, Gil realizes she actually loves Shep, when Pyewacket runs away and she is unable to perform a vengeful spell against Shep's ex-fiance.  The wives' tale is true.  She has lost all her power.  Shep has no clue until Queenie sends Pyewacket to visit him and he returns it to Gil, thinking the cat still belongs to her.  Once there, Shep realizes Gil has lost her powers and gets her to admit why.  Shep realizes he loves Gil even without the spell. 

I enjoy this movie very much.  Jimmy Stewart  is funny in this.  He begins as a bit of an uptight blah guy.  But he lightens up a bit as the movie evolves and his reactions to the magic are hilarious.  Jack Lemmon and Elsa Lanchester are some of the funniest actors.  Lemmon's physical comedy and facial expressions are one-of -a-kind.  Lanchester's voice alone serves her well as a witch.  As for Novak, I will be honest.  I have only seen two other of her movies, Picnic and Vertigo.  Both were dramatic roles, but I think I prefer her in this type of role.  And as a little sidenote, her clothes...amazing!!  Jean Louis, the costume designer, obviously knew what he was doing.