Bell, Book and Candle (1958)

Bell, Book and Candle
Directed by Richard Quine
Written by Daniel Taradash from a play by John Van Druten
1958/US
Columbia Pictures Corporation
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel

Shepherd ‘Shep’ Henderson: What have you been up to? Have you been engaging in un-American activities or something?
Gillian ‘Gil’ Holroyd: No, I’d say very American. Early American.

James Stewart and Kim Novak’s second pairing in 1958 is a cute romantic fantasy.

Witches are active in New York City. They look like anybody else (well, maybe not Kim Novak). Gillian Holroyd (Novak) arranges a meeting with book publisher Shepherd Henderson (Stewart) who lives in her building. She finds out he is set to marry Merle, an old college classmate. Gillian hates Merle and decides to derail the marriage by making Shepherd fall in love with her. And fall he does.

In the meantime, Gillian’s brother Nicky (Jack Lemon), a warlock, threatens to divulge Gillian’s secret. Witches can neither fall in love, cry or blush. When Shepherd finds out he was bewitched, he is very angry. And Gillian will do almost anything to get him back. With Ernie Kovacs as an expert on witchcraft and Elsa Lanchester and Hermione Gingold as fellow witches.

This is a pleasant rom com for some easy viewing. The cast is top drawer. The film was nominated for Oscars in the categories of Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.