bewitching woolly-socks flick

When I put the tree up last weekend, I brought out my little library of holiday films. I had forgotten Bell, Book and Candle had been tucked away with the others. It's the 1958 romantic comedy based on the hit Broadway play by John Van Druten. Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak are once again paired, after their success as a duo in Hitchcock's Vertigo.

Set during the holidays, Novak plays a Greenwich Village witch, who casts a love spell on the unsuspecting Stewart. Elsa Lanchester and Jack Lemmon add lots of hilariously quirky humor to the cast. Rumor has it, that this movie was the inspiration for the TV series Bewitched. There are too many striking similarities, including Lanchester's betrayal as a bumbling witchy aunt, of the Aunt Agatha variety.

This is a stylish film with great mod sets, and Novak's fabulous clothes. Although, not quite as elegant as Edith Head's creations for Vertigo, they are still a joy to behold. There is one stunning black evening dress which is so Madame X. My favorite is a deep red velvet hooded cape, with a matching rosy red fur muff. Though out the film, she wears tons of wonderful garnet jewelry. (Which reminds me, it's the season for my favorite vintage Prague garnet earrings.)

There's lots of snowy shots of lovely old 1950's New York, including a spare aerial shot of Central Park. Plus, to top it off, Novak owns a shop dealing in African art, which is right up my alley. Yup, you guessed it. This is most definitely a woolly-socks flick, so kick 'em up and enjoy. You're going to want to add this one to your traditional holiday collection.

And, it's impossible to mention garnets, any time of year, without being reminded of this beautiful poem by Janet Frame .

In a Garnet World


In a garnet world
something troubles the rock
--a rash, an itching dazzle
that will not sleep or be soothed,
a night sky of stars without sky
or night; and stars that sting.

This rock once unseen
in its river of ice, is now sick.
A man climbing cloud-high
caught human sight of it
brought to it this blood-colored incurable
infection of light.