BELL, BOOK & CANDLEÂ (PG)
D: Richard Quine
Columbia/Phoenix (Julian Blaustein)
USA 🇺🇸 1958
103 mins
Â
Comedy/Fantasy
Â
W: Daniel Taradash [based on the play by John Van
Druten]
DP: James Wong Howe
Ed: Charles Nelson
Mus:Â George Duning
PD: Cary Odell
Â
James Stewart (Shep Henderson), Kim Novak (Gillian Holroyd),
Jack Lemmon (Nicky Holroyd), Ernie Kovacs (Sidney Redlitch), Hermione Gingold (Bianca de Pass), Elsa Lanchester (Aunt Queenie Holroyd), Janice Rule (Merle
Kittridge)
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A
book publisher slowly discovers that his new girlfriend is a witch.
The plot is very similar to 60's TV show Bewitched (which was
probably inspired by this) but lacks any real comedy. There's no slapstick or farce, therefore the final result is the sort of film Disney would release in the early 1970's with some very
questionable casting decisions, especially James Stewart, far too distinguished an actor to be in this kind of fare.
6/10