| Strike 1912 | For the Term of His Natural Life 1927 | Metropolis 1927 | Captain Thunderbolt 1951 + References | Film Posters | Bell, Book & Candle 1958 |
Contents
- Introduction
- Posters
- References
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1. Introduction
An interesting and entertaining Hollywood film dealing with the unlikely subjects of witches in modern-day New York is the 1958 technicolour production Bell, Book & Candle starring Kim Novak, Jimmy Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Elsa Lancaster and Stanley Kovacs. Based on the original 1950 stage play by John Van Druten, the film version is intriguing for a number of reasons. Foremost is the sultry, witchiness, understated performance of Kim Novak which lies at the core of the film. It is supplemented by the bumbling and often old-man-crankiness of Jimmy Stewart, the innocent buffoonary of Jack Lemmon and the crazed suggestiveness of Elsa Lancaster as the aunt who encourages witching excess. Despite the somewhat dour performance and personality of the Stewart character, the love story between the two works, with Novak seemingly paying the ultimate price to find the love she never though possible. The theatre origins are transferred to screen with aplomb, due to their mostly internal and small stage - room, dingy nightclub, shop, etc. - settings. Bell, Book & Candle is a quirky film which did well at the box office during its premiere season commencing on 11 November 1958, surprisingly so for its unconventional narrative, though the pairing of Stewart and Novak, after their earlier star appearance in Vertigo (premiere 9 May 1958), may have been one of the reasons.
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2. Posters & promotional material
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| French 1 panel poster, 46 x 63 inches, 1959. |
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| UK quad poster, 1958. |
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