Discover
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James Wong Howe
Director of Photography -
Richard H. Kline
Camera Operator -
John Van Druten
Theatre Play -
Jean Louis
Costume Design -
Ben Lane
Makeup Artist -
Irving J. Moore
Assistant Director -
Richard Quine
Director -
Daniel Taradash
Screenplay
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John Chard 5/16/2024 3:22:19 PM
Pyewacket Pudding. It's one of those films that we all have, the movie that features actors you simply adore, but no matter how many times you watch it in the mystical hope that it will change and get better, but it never does. Bell Book & Candle is my pet frustration. Fronted by James Stewart and Kim Novak, supported by Jack Lemmon & Elsa Lanchester, this screen version of the theatre play has a modicum of charm befitting the story of a publisher who falls under the love spell of a modern day witch, but ultimately it plays out as dull. It looks nice, both in art direction and colour photography, Jimmy and Kim are pleasant of course, and Elsa, Hermione Gingold and Pyewacket the cat are bundles of fun, yet the belly laughs are missing, a need to care about the lovelorn and the restless sadly some place else. I have a framed still of Jimmy & Kim from this movie hanging in my hallway, every time I pass it I point my finger at it and swear with sadness in my heart. I love those guys you see, the movie not so much... 5/10
Jack Lemmon
Nicky HolroydJames Stewart
Shep HendersonKim Novak
Gillian HolroydElsa Lanchester
Aunt Queenie HolroydJanice Rule
Merle KittridgeHermione Gingold
Bianca de PasseErnie Kovacs
Sidney RedlitchHoward McNear
Andy White