Tuesday 28 June 2016

Bell, Book and Candle (1958 Richard Quine)

Made right after Vertigo, written by Daniel Taradesh from John van Druten's 1950 play, which apparently used its 'other world' plot featuring alternative night clubs as an allusion to living as a gay (I think I read this somewhere).

Great cast of Kim Novak, James Stewart, Jack Lemmon, Elsa Lanchester, Ernie Kovacs, Hermione Gingold, Janice Rule and Bek Nelson (Stewart's secretary who looks quite like Grace Kelly).

Fabulous exotic 50s sets designed by Cary Odell and decorated by Louis Diage; luscious photography (James Wong Howe), gorgeous music (Charles Duning).


Lemmon is eccentric and plays part with gusto, Kovacs funny as heavy-drinking author, Novak particularly fabulous, Stewart great as ever (face when he drinks potion hilarious), Lanchester winning as naughty aunt. Loved the shot of the hat being thrown off the Flat Iron Building into the snow. Great cat too.

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