8.16.2011

bell book and candle


the year: 1958

the genre: comedy


the cast: James Stewart (Shepherd "Shep" Henderson); Kim Novak (Gillian "Gil" Holroyd); Jack Lemmon (Nicky Holroyd); Ernie Kovacs (Sidney Redlitch); Hermione Gingold (Bianca de Passe); Elsa Lanchester (Queenie Holroyd)


the plot: Gillian Holroyd is an average, modern-day, witch, living in a New York apartment with her Siamese cat, 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.


don't miss: the Stormy Weather scene.



listen for: "I sit in the subway sometimes, on buses, or the movies, and I look at the people next to me and I think..."What would you say if I told you I was a witch?"



did you know: James Stewart celebrated his fiftieth birthday during filming.



extra bonus points: if you know which characters were in the original Broadway play.


also listen for: "Are you trying to say you're... *jilting* me?" "W-well, that's a very heavy word, Merle. It's a very heavy word. Let's just say that we're... uncoupling."




2 comments:

Erika said...

I guess that Auntie and Jack Lemmon were in the broadway version. Elsa Lanchester plays the kook so well!

Millie Motts said...

The Broadway cast consisted of Shepherd Henderson, Gillian Holroyd, Miss Queeny Holroyd, Sidney Redlitch and Nicky Holroyd. There were no other characters in the play.