Plot & Details
John Van Druten's stage comedy Bell Book and Candle starred Rex Harrison and Lilli Palmer on Broadway. The 1958 filmed version stars James Stewart and Kim Novak, fresh from their successful teaming in Hitchcock's Vertigo. Novak plays Gillian Holroyd, a genuine, bonafide witch. Falling in love with publisher Sheperd Henderson (Stewart), Gillian casts a spell on him, obliging him to dump his fiancee and rush to her side. All of this goes against the grain of Gillian's mentor Mrs. De Pass (Hermione Gingold), who does her best to counterract the love spell. Meanwhile, Gillian's wacky warlock brother Nicky (Jack Lemmon) courts disaster by coauthoring a book on black magic with pompous, bibulous novelist Sidney Redlitch (Ernie Kovacs).
- MPAA Rating: PG-13
- Genre(s): Comedy,Fantasy
- Run Time: 106min.
- Theatrical Release Date: 12/10/1999
- DVD Release Date: 03/28/2000
- Distributor(s): No Studio
- Director(s): Richard Quine
- Starring: James Stewart , Kim Novak , Jack Lemmon , Ernie Kovacs , Hermione Gingold
- Themes: Witches
- Tone: Fanciful,Humorous,Light
- Keywords: love,love-potion,mother,pig,romance,supernatural-forces,witch,witchcraft,writer
- Language: English
Awards
Academy Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Cast & Crew | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Costume Design | Jean Louis | Nominated |
| 1958 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Art Direction | Cary O'Dell | Nominated |
| 1958 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Art Direction | Louis Diage | Nominated |
Golden Globes
| Year | Award | Category | Cast & Crew | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Best Picture - Comedy | Nominated |
Netflix - Try for Free
Instantly watch TV episodes and movies via the Internet on your computer or TV. 1 month FREE!