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."

boys' night out

year: 1962

genre: comedy



the cast: Kim Novak (Cathy); James Garner (Fred Williams); Tony Randall (George Drayton); Howard Duff (Doug Jackson); Howard Morris (Howard McIllenny)





the plot: Fred, George, Doug and Howie are the boys. Their night out is sitting in their favorite bar every Thursday, deciding whether to go bowling or not until it's time to catch the 11:35 train. George loves to talk but his wife won’t let him get a word in edgewise. Doug loves to fix things, but his wife hires repairmen to keep up appearances. Howie’s wife is on a diet, which means he is, too. And then there’s Fred. He lives with his mother – who wants grandchildren. One evening the decision is made (much to Fred's dismay) to split a “love nest” in the city and Fred is volunteered by the others to be the one responsible for finding the right place (and girl). After he signs the lease and while waiting for the boys to show up, Fred has "ti many martoonis" and mistakenly believes that Cathy has come about the ad for the "companion" and not for the apartment. Cathy agrees to the deal because she is a post-grad sociology student and wants to use the boys in her studies.



listen for: "Isn't it amazing how much post graduate work goes on in this town?"



don’t miss: Cathy giving each of the guys what they really need: a listening ear, a broken record player, a gourmet meal, and love. (Awww.)





also listen for: “Wednesday was there Wednesday, Thursday was there last Sunday, yet you remember last Sunday's Thursday better than yesterday's Wednesday. Interesting, no?”


also listen for: "If there's one thing I hate it's guys who chippen out when the chicks are down."



check out: James Garner, Little League coach.