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Bell Book and Candle
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Bell Book and Candle

1958
Romance
Comedy
1h 46m
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. (imdb)
Directed by:
Richard Quine Richard Quine
Written by:
Daniel Taradash John Van Druten
+1 more
Starring:
Jack Lemmon Jack Lemmon Kim Novak Kim Novak Janice Rule Janice Rule Philippe Clay James Stewart James Stewart Elsa Lanchester Elsa Lanchester Hermione Gingold Hermione Gingold Ernie Kovacs Howard McNear Howard McNear Bek Nelson Bek Nelson
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Genres:
Romance, Comedy, Fantasy
AKA:
Bell, Book and Candle
Country:
USA
Languages:
English, French
imdb More information at IMDb
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Bell Book and Candle

1958
Romance
Comedy
1h 46m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 44.89% from 250 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

(250)
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stainStain
Rated 21 Nov 2007
50
33rd
Surprisingly not charming considering cast and material
Rated 21 Nov 2007
frederFreder
Rated 11 Mar 2009
50
36th
Despite a good cast, much of the play's magic is lost in this bloated and rather leaden screen version. Not without value, but lacking the required lightness of touch.
Rated 11 Mar 2009
mentaculusMentaculus
Rated 05 Oct 2016
68
48th
Yes, quite a bit here does not work - Stewart is miscast, and there are moments combining both anger and humor - so with a distinct lack of charm, it's a tone that never gives you any firm footing. Yet I just felt there was something haunting about it all - like love, it leaves you guessing. James Wong Howe's underrated color cinematography adds to the mystery.
Rated 05 Oct 2016
nobambanobamba
Rated 26 Dec 2020
60
62nd
Not enough of a comedy given Jack Lemmon's involvement. James Stewart was far too old to be a romantic interest for either woman. There are interesting points of discussing while the witches humor the muggles, but overall not much happens. The Zodiac is a cool club. Fav scene: Novak holding up the cat was memorable and had great colors.
Rated 26 Dec 2020
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 23 May 2009
76
57th
unique and interesting enough to keep the attention, jack lemmon and ernie kovacs take the spotlight, but jimmy stewart and kim novak are by no means terrible. could have been more eventful and much more funny, but as it stands it's quite luke warm.
Rated 23 May 2009
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 15 Feb 2010
72
19th
This sounds like an interesting idea, but somehow it doesn't work. Novak is too earthbound and prosaic to make a good witch, comic performers Lemmon, Gingold, Lancaster, Kovacs--marvelous in almost everything they do, don't perform well here, and Stewart looks lost and tired. The script isn't bad, so I guess I'll blame director Richard Quine.
Rated 15 Feb 2010
tonydaltonydal
Rated 30 Mar 2008
75
57th
A lot of hokey shtick-like comedic touches. The two stars seem curiously lukewarm and indifferent, as though they didn't really want to be there. Lanchester and Lemmon are fun though.
Rated 30 Mar 2008
pompousasspompousass
Rated 14 Aug 2009
100
98th
Witchcraft comedy, fittingly bewitching, from the Van Druten stage play, exploring extensively the metaphor of love as a magical power, a spell, an enchantment, a transfigurement. Meaningful use of the Bohemian ambience of Greenwich Village (regardless how artificially reproduced on the backlot); smartly cast
Rated 14 Aug 2009
cinematicespCinematicESP
Rated 09 Nov 2022
69
17th
Pyewacket.
Rated 09 Nov 2022
jessjess125Jessjess125
Rated 26 Aug 2022
87
66th
If I could be anyone I would be Pyewacket
Rated 26 Aug 2022
menialretconMenialRetcon
Rated 30 Jul 2022
69
31st
Longest tracking shot of a thrown hat in cinema history?
Rated 30 Jul 2022
hotsakehotsake
Rated 30 Nov 2020
61
56th
This didn't quite work for me as the film tended to drag through much of the middle of the film. Jimmy Stewart seemed much too old and there wasn't as much humor and fun as I was expecting.
Rated 30 Nov 2020
braddad68braddad68
Rated 29 Jan 2019
82
8th
This one didn't click for me. Glad I finally got to see it though.
Rated 29 Jan 2019
catscandalCatScandal
Rated 09 Sep 2019
27
17th
All 45 of these points are for Pyewacket.
Rated 09 Sep 2019
angrypierreangrypierre
Rated 29 Jan 2016
58
29th
Camp as all anything.
Rated 29 Jan 2016
esperhartEsperHart
Rated 20 Feb 2021
85
33rd
https://esperwatchesfilms.tumblr.com/post/643600556323176448/bell-book-and-candle-1958
Rated 20 Feb 2021
madmanMadMan
Rated 19 Oct 2020
91
73rd
Such a wonderful and gorgeous movie.
Rated 19 Oct 2020
aaaaaaarrgggaaaaaaarrggg
Rated 08 Sep 2009
71
73rd
Solid, well-cast fantasy-comedy that may have been the inspiration for TV's "Bewitched" series and almost cries out for a Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan remake.
Rated 08 Sep 2009
boomdiddlyboomdiddly
Rated 02 Mar 2024
33
12th
Dumb
Rated 02 Mar 2024
karamazovkaramazov.
Rated 13 Mar 2015
4
4th
Some clever lines and a strong cast fail to add much to this tired, insubstantial horseshit.
Rated 13 Mar 2015

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