Friday, December 11, 2009

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.


71 comments:

  1. nice verse...have never seen the fil though, will put it on the list...sounds wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. the 1st time i saw Bewitched i was a kid and thought she was so freaky.
    i must see it again.

    xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oooo those earrings are sparklers!!! I loved Bewitched, and Jimmy Stewart.
    Great suggestion Willow.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am on your wavelength with movies!

    How do you spell Piewacket?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Goddess, I had to look up Pyewacket, the name of Novak's cat in the movie. Here's an interesting tidbit:

    The name Pyewacket actually appeared in 1647 on an infamous woodcut of the General Matthew Hopkins (a witch hunter) with two accused witches caught naming their familiars. One of the familiars is named on the woodcut as Pyewacket.

    "Familiars" were usually cats, used in the casting of spells.

    ReplyDelete
  6. you seriously could do professional film reviews but i don't think you'd too enjoy having to sit through most of the ghastly modern fare.

    Love this fora thumb up: "a woolly-socks flick." So, what, pretell, is a poor film, a "soiled soggy cok?" perhaps? :)

    Love the garnett jewelry and can totally see now the comparisons to Bewitched, aside from two stunning blondes.

    Enjoy th exmas movies. Have you ever ssen, sure you have, "The Bells of St. Mary's" with good old Bing? I love that movie this time of year. Msut find it somewhere!

    Wishing you all the best, dear Willow.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sorry, I would've commented sooner but I was distracted...er...um by the film clip( yeah, that's it! )And I like the poem, here, especially the closing. Happy TT Willow :)

    And we got 6+ inches of the wet stuff, yesterday!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my gosh!! Totally red-faced and embarrassed here for my awful typo!! That would be "soiled soggy SOCK?" of course! Dear, oh dear! Must drink less tea, really must.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Heehee, Mmm, I did think you were getting rather brash! Glad it was just a typo. ;^)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I had forgotten about Bewitched until I read this post.

    I have also been introduced to Janet Frame, so thank you for that too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am STIL blushing... and laughing now too. Too too much. Oh my goodness.

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's been a long time since I've seen that movie - thanks for reminding me of it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. i really think you and i are kindred spirits when it comes to so many movies. i love this movie and i'll have to rent it so my hubby can watch it. i'm introducing him to all the good classics since he's a self-proclaimed movie fanatic, but has missed out on the older films.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love your snow poem and the garnets. Happy Thursday to you!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I loved Bell Book and Candle...I can remember watching it on one of my babysitting jobs as a kid. Thank you so much for naming it for me. I hadn't remembered the title, so was unable to find the movie. It's now in my Queue. Can't wait to see what else you have in your wonderful collection of films at the manor! Thanks for sharing Willow. I always leave here inspired.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Willow,

    Will run right out and get this. I loved Vertigo too.

    All of us are going to need our woolies, and a good flick as well.

    Kim Novak used to live in Carmel, and shop at the local Safeway. I understand all the local gents used to get all hot and bothered when she did her shopping. Lots of shopping cart collisions.

    Marjorie

    ReplyDelete
  17. I've seen this one a couple of times. Novak and Stewart have great chemistry with one another.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I absolutely loved that movie and watch it every time it comes on. I love the whole soft glow the film has to it and is there anyone more sexy than Kim Novak in that film?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for another great flick pick Willow. I, too, love those mod sets. I envy the thought of you in cozy comfort with your wooly socks and a DVD. I've got to stop wasting my time with crappy TV.

    By the way, the size of the movie clips you post is so nice - where do you get them & how do you do that?

    Also, I've been trying to put a counter on my blog with no success. I went to Easy Counter and ended up with an HTML code and then nowhere to paste it on the Blogger "Add a Gadget" thing-a-ma jig. Can you help?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hey, Hilary, send me your email address and I'll fill you in!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love when you tell us about movies such as this. I'd forgotten about this one. Am off to see if it's available on Netflix and to get my wooly socks!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I so remember this movie and I was an instant Kim Novak fan! Enjoy your warm sock and movie!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Marjorie, I can imagine the disturbance in Safeway, if Ms. Novak was pushing her cart around in one of those slinky black leotards!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Willow.
    I arrived at your blog via Italo.
    Loved your post. I enjoy old films too, in fact I love the classics. Jimmy Stewart is a favourite of mine. Bewitched was a series I looked forward to in my younger days. Loved Elizabeth Montgomery. The poem was a gentl read too. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi willow, I like this film very (particularly Stewart, Lemmon and Lanchester) and agree the look of the film is stupendous. Always thought Kim Novak just a little too cold in the lead role though.

    Janet Frame poem a real treat, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  26. very much! Been at the panto tonight and somewhat overwrought now.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I have never seen this movie...I have never even heard of it. How did that happen? It sounds wonderful and I love Jimmy Stewart. We will have to see it! I also liked the TV show Bewitched. Samantha wore that darling diamond heart necklace in every episode.
    And your garnet earrings are beautiful! The red is perfect for Christmas and for the January ladies' whose birthdays are next month.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Another beautiful Poem...

    I never got excited about
    that film. TOOOO nutzy..


    Now the Garnets YEAH!!!
    Send me a basket full...

    ReplyDelete
  29. I think I need to reread that poem a few times. Love Janet Frame.

    Thanks for the feet up on the movie.

    ReplyDelete
  30. HO HO HO! You only have 1000 followers!? I have millions!! Merry Christmas my dear Willow! What about all of those great Christmas movies!?

    ReplyDelete
  31. I can vaguely remember seeing this film years and years ago. I must look it out again so I can watch it over Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I don't think I've ever seen it though I am familiar with the title.

    My mother had a gorgeous garnet necklace that I just loved as a little girl (and a grown up girl). My brother's middle name is Garnet and my mother always said it would go to whoever his wife was when she (my mother) died. I always knew that but I was heartbroken all the same when it went to my SIL. I like my SIL, but I don't think she cared for it nearly as much as I did. Oh well.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Santa Baby! Welcome to Willow Manor, old friend!

    ReplyDelete
  34. oh loooooovely...I love a good old film and I've never seen this one.

    It is such a magical time of year.

    much love

    ReplyDelete
  35. Willow,
    I'm with LadyCat... how did I miss this one.. sounds great... thanks for sharing... peom/beautifu
    blog layout/amazing, Willow/total creativity.
    Hugs, The Bach.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Another woolly=socks evening. Love these.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for the memories -- I saw this film when I was in high school and totally adored it. It was such a class act as compared to 'Bewitched' which was just cute -- way too cute for my taste.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Vicki, I totally agree. "Bewitched" doesn't hold a candle to BB&C. No pun intended. Heehee.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Now you've made me curious about that movie. You have such a gift for describing things. I love the picture of your tree. It's just beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Now how were those Prague earrings? Did you get them in Prague, the most haunted city in Europe? What's the story?

    ReplyDelete
  41. The top image got my attention. I've made a mental note...thanks Willow.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I enjoy older movies - they have more "art" to them than the shock and awe gimmick movies of today.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I thoroughly enjoyed your post. We saw "Bell, Book and Candle" two weeks ago as a play. It was delightful!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Oh I love that movie (the play is great too)! When I was a child (well, teenager, really) I was dreaming of being Kim Novak in that film.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I'm not familiar with that movie and so look forward to renting and watching it! And that poem, that poem, that poem. I love it.

    Thank you for posting about both.

    ReplyDelete
  46. That's a great video clip from the film. As a kid, I used to watch and enjoy the TV show Bewitched, but Kim Novak's cat humming in Bell, Book and Candle certainly casts a much more powerful spell than Elizabeth Montgomery's nose twitching!

    ReplyDelete
  47. I always wanted to have a cat and name it that, but it seemed too twee. Maybe enough years have passed?

    Love Jack Lemmon in this. Love Jack Lemmon in anything, really...

    ReplyDelete
  48. Garnet is my birthstone Willow. MOTH's been promising for years to buy me a little trinket. Your post has been a giant reminder to get him on the case again. He'll be ever so grateful of the reminder via LaWM. Loved Ms. Novak's slow sizzle in this movie. I tried to emulate it but fell somewhat short!
    Millie ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  49. Lovely poem. I haven't seen this movie but it sounds like one I would love. I did enjoy I married a witch with Veronica Lake. Enjoy your weekend, Willow. xx

    ReplyDelete
  50. Haven't thought of that movie in ages. Thanks for the heads-up. I'll look at it with Bewitched in mind now! Going on the queue.

    ReplyDelete
  51. While watching that clip I was amazed to realize how much the cat in the movie looks like my cat Joey. His picture is on the right side of my website and I just use his head in my avatar. You can see the resemblence more on the website pic.

    Joey is what they call a "Ragdoll" cat because when you pick them up they go limp like a ragdoll. I wonder if the cat in the movie is a "Ragdoll", it sure looks like it. Ragdolls are beautiful cats and very friendly. If you get a chance to hold a ragdoll cat you will be surprised at how different they feel than a regular cat. It is like they are somehow double jointed in their spine. That is about the only way I can describe the feeling.

    It's been so long since I have watched that movie and I oh so enjoyed the clip. Thank you for sharing.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  52. I've never seen this before, but I love the way she cats the spell, with the purr getting louder and louder.

    And Jimmy Stewart makes me swoon. Time to dust off It's a Wonderful Life!

    ReplyDelete
  53. a night sky of stars without sky
    ......yes!

    ReplyDelete
  54. I've never even heard of this film...and I thought I'd seen all of Jimmy Stewart's work....

    Hmmm....must find it !

    ReplyDelete
  55. Yes, Donna, WT bought them in Prague, Old Town before The Wall came down, in a little nook of a jewelry store that's no longer there. I've always felt a lot of special energy from them.

    ReplyDelete
  56. hi willow, well kim novak has those essential features that make it hard for her to do anything wrong in my eyes!!! mmmmmmmmm!!! steven

    ReplyDelete
  57. I love BB&C ! I also love watching the old Christmas flicks every year! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  58. LOVED this movie! What a joy it is to see the magnificent clothes designed by Head, always elegant and romantic.

    Oh, and congrats on the Oh My Goddess award for this great post!

    ReplyDelete
  59. My birthday is in January, so I have several pairs of garnet earrings and a few rings. I love the way each of them is a subtly different shade of red.

    ReplyDelete
  60. I do remember Bell, Book and Candle! My holiday watching is confined to two goofy movies, both traditions of Christmas for me.
    National Lampoon's Griswold Family Christmas and The Grinch that Stole Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Hello Willow,

    I've not seen this film. Even the clip had a disturbing quality, particularly her silence. Guess I'm just a 'White Christmas' kinda guy!

    ReplyDelete
  62. I've never heard of this film, but the cast, the ambiance, okay the amazing fashion and Old New York, make it seem a real treasure.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Love the earrings! Can you believe the size of the bell they put on that poor kitty-cat? Thanks for such a delightful diversion in my day.

    ReplyDelete
  64. I've always liked Novak - if only because she loved animals. Last I heard (if my memory serves me), she was married to a veterinarian and living in Oregon.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Well, I was partially correct. I found this on the internet:

    However, unlike many of her Hollywood peers, Kim has maintained stability in her personal life. Since 1976, she has been married to Dr. Robert Malloy, who coincidentally went to medical school with the husband of Kim's friend Tippi Hedren. She now lives on a ranch in Oregon and is an accomplished artist who expresses herself in oil paintings and sculptures. Kim and her husband now raise lamas and horses, and frequently ski and go canoeing.

    (Her husband, apparently, is a physician and not a veterinarian). I just can't keep up. :)

    ReplyDelete
  66. This is one of our favorite holiday movies! Ms Novak is very glamorous, not to mention gorgeous, & Jimmy Stewart is just perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  67. I love garnets, willow and I love that film too - I wonder why snow always makes us feel Christmassy?

    ReplyDelete
  68. i saw that last year on tv and kind of dug it...it was certainly original, and a bit odd to boot.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Hi! Willow,
    I read your post "bewitching woolly-socks flick" on Friday,
    but I decided to revisit your post again today.

    Funny, I have watch Hitch's Vertigo over one-hundred times, but I have never watched Bell, Book and Candle.

    I most definitely, will check Bell, Book and Candle out...nice synopsis.

    DeeDee ;-D

    ReplyDelete
  70. I am cracking up that you have a section titled "Edith Head"... my husband and I always watch the credits of every old movie to see who does the gowns, and then we scream "GOWNS BY EDITH HEAD!!!" simultaneously when her name appears. I love Edith Head.

    Okay, now on to the movie. It's one of my favorites, because

    a) Jimmy Stewart is God
    b) The movie is tres pagan, a rarity among old movies
    c) Kim Novak rocks
    d) How could you NOT love a movie with a cat named Piewacket?
    e) The witchy aunt is so fantastic!
    f) Ernie Kovacs is great

    Great post!!!

    ReplyDelete
  71. Hey, Marcheline, I thought we were the only ones who called out "Edith HEAD" when her name came up in the credits!

    ReplyDelete

Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)