First thing I want to apologize for not posting this in July. Lately I’ve been so focused on the podcast and being on KSL Movie Show that I admit to letting my written work fall to the wayside. I guess on the plus this episode of the Blind Spot Project did very well which makes me happy. Thanks to any who listened/watched
July’s entry in the series is the supernatural rom-com from 1958 Bell, Book and Candle. What intrigued me about this film is on the Hallmark show Good Witch Cassie’s store is called the Bell, Book and Candle. It’s also interesting that its stars Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak also starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo that same year. They even both have superstitious elements but one is played for romance and laughs and one for thrills.
As far as Bell, Book and Candle it’s a cute romantic comedy. I am sure that Practical Magic was heavily influenced by it as well as other films that merge spooky aesthetics with romance. The plot centers around Novak’s character who is a witch and witches in this world lose their power when they fall in love. Thinking she has control over her feelings she puts a hex on Stewart so he falls in love with her because she hates his fiancé played by Janice Rule. This does bring in some modern questions about agency but the movie doesn’t totally ignore them either and Novak pays a cost for her wrong actions.
Still, it’s a fun light-hearted film that I enjoyed watching. Novak and Stewart have good chemistry and Jack Lemmon and Hermione Gingold as fellow witches trying to help Novak make her decision about love and witchcraft. This is also a film that looks great with a cool 1950s style to it.
If you haven’t seen Bell, Book and Candle I recommend it and it is free to watch on Tubi.
