Elsa lanchester handles the dotty comedy well enough we wish she had been cast with a little more creativity and hermione gingold is a wise elder member of the local coven. Elsa lanchester was born to defy heteronormativity. She appeared on 9 april 1959, on nbcs the ford show, starring tennessee ernie ford. Rounding out the supporting cast are jack lemmon, ernie. Bell, book and candle simple english wikipedia, the free. Dvd of the columbia classics movie, bell, book and candle, with. The film sometimes is a little flat, the script could have done with more work but the costumes, setting, the whole look and feel of the film are so. Elsa lanchester as queenie in bell, book and candle. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Ernie kovaks plays a very confused character, because he is commanded to appear by magic and has no idea where he is or why. Elsa lanchester as queenie in bell, book and candle spellbound. Jack lemmon and elsa lanchester in bell book and candle 1958 close.
When she encounters charming publisher shepherd henderson james stewart, she decides to make him hers by casting a love spell. Jack lemmon and elsa lanchester in bell book and candle 1958 people jack lemmon, elsa lanchester. Kim novak and elsa lanchester in bell book and candle 1958 people kim novak, elsa lanchester. James stewart, kim novak, jack lemmon, ernie kovacs, hermione gingold, elsa lanchester, janice. Bell, book and candle is a 1958 american romantic comedy movie, made in technicolor. Bell book and candle in the late 1950s, gillian holroyd kim novak is a modernday witch living in new york citys greenwich village. In the play, some minor people are only talked about, but never seen. Bell, book and candle 1950 play by john van drutenstarring. Bell, book and candle widescreenfull screen import. Kennedy, has ginger rogers insisting that her then husband, william marshall, who was not an actor, costar with her. Bell, book and candle is a 1958 american romantic comedy technicolor film directed by richard quine, based on the successful broadway play by john van druten and adapted by daniel taradash. The play opened at the ethel barrymore theater on november 14, 1950 and ran for 233 performances before. It stars kim novak as a witch who casts a spell on her neighbor, played by james stewart. The play bell, book, and candle was a favorite of mature actresses to do in summer stock and take on the road.
Bell book and candle zodiac club philippe clay the. Distributed bycolumbia pictures release date november 11, 1958 running ti. The plot for the movie was changed to add characters to the scenes. See more ideas about kim novak, book candle, favorite movies. But with kim novak the central figure, the picture lacks the. Bell, book and candle is a 1958 american in 1950s that night, shep brings his fiancee merle kittridge to the zodiac club, meeting gillian, queenie, and gillians.
Lanchester played a witch in bell, book and candle 1958, and appeared in such films as mary poppins 1964, that darn cat. Jimmy stewart stars as shep, a book publisher living in a. It stars kim novak as a witch who casts a spell on her neighbor played by james stewart. A modernday witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancee, so she enchants him to love her instead. The film sometimes is a little flat, the script could have done with more work but the costumes, setting. English or dubbed spanish dialogue, optional english or spanish subtitles. Nov 11, 2020 sixtytwo years ago today, the film bell, book and candle premiered. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Bell, book and candle was stewarts last leading romantic role in a movie. With james stewart, kim novak, jack lemmon, ernie kovacs. Find art you love and shop highquality art prints, photographs, framed artworks and posters at. Oct 14, 2019 elsa lanchester, jack lemmon and kim novak in bell, book and candle 1958.
Bell, book and candle was yet another you must watch. Bell, book and candle dvd multnomah county library. Elsa lanchester was born to defy heteronormativity popmatters. Bell book and candle 1959 just an old bugaboo turner. Bell, book and candle washoe county library system. Powerful, glamorous,and a wee bit bored, gillian knows that witches can. Her parents, james shamus sullivan and edith biddy lanchester, were socialists very active members of the social democratic federation sdf in a rather broad sense and did not believe in the institution of marriage and being tied to. Dec 20, 2014 bell, book and candle 1958 dec 20, 2014. The film stars kim novak as a witch who casts a spell on her neighbor, played by james stewart. The film follows their bumpy romance and their relationship is beautifully complemented, and complicated, by jack lemmon, playing novaks brother and elsa lanchester as her somewhat dotty aunt. Oct 31, 2018 oscarnominated for supporting actress in billy wilders witness for the prosecution 1957, elsa lanchester might also be remembered as pranking witch aunt queenie in bell, book and candle. Based on the play bell, book and candle by john van druten as produced in new york by irene mayer selznick new york, 14 nov 1950. After teaming memorably in alfred hitchcocks haunting vertigo, james stewart and kim novak are together again in the whimsical bell, book and candle 1958, a spellbinding romantic comedy directed by richard quine and based on john van drutens broadway hit.
Elsa lanchester, jack lemmon and kim novak in bell, book and. Also, the movie has action in manhattan, greenwich village, shops, offices and night clubs. Columbia pictures julian blaustein productions columbia tristar home video firm. James stewart, kim novak, jack lemmon, ernie kovacs, hermione gingold, elsa lanchester, janice rule, richard quine. Taradash, daniel 192003 blaustein, julian quine, richard 19201989 novak, kim stewart, james 19081997 lemmon, jack kovacs, ernie 19191962 gingold, hermione 18971987 lanchester, elsa 19021986 rule, janice howe, james wong nelson, charles 19011997 duning, george van druten, john 19011957 bell, book and candle. Bell book and candle 1958 elsa lanchester as queenie. In bell, book and candle, she plays one of her aunt roles. Bell, book and candle 1958 meet gillan holroyd kim novak, greenwich villages most seductive sorceress.
Elegantly photographed in rich, glowing colors by james wong howe, bell, book and candle is a fantasy world in new york set to a funky bongolaced jazz score by george duning. Bell, book and candle an erratic light comedy with a spellbinding wild streak, centered on occult rites, new york city at christmastime, and a magical cat named pyewacket. James stewart, kim novak, jack lemmon, ernie kovacs, hermione gingold, elsa lanchester, janice rule, philippe clay, bek nelson, howard mcnear, conte candoli, pete candoli shepherd henderson stewart is a successful publisher in new york city in the late 1950s. When lanchesters name appears next to a mask with a beard, the soundtrack briefly shifts from melody to a funnysounding cacophony. Elsa sullivan lanchester was born into an unconventional a family at the turn of the 20th century. Kim novak and elsa lanchester in bell book and candle 1958 close.
A book publisher named shepherd henderson jimmy stewart has just moved into the. Jul 08, 2020 bell, book and candle is a 1958 american technicolor comedydrama romance film directed by richard quine, based on the successful 1950 broadway play by john van druten adapted by daniel taradash. Sep 21, 2012 in bell, book and candle, she plays one of her aunt roles. Elsa lanchester in bell book and candle 1958 close. James stewart, kim novak, jack lemmon, ernie kovacs, hermione gingold, elsa lanchester director.
Jack lemmon, kim novak, and elsa lanchester in bell book and candle 1958. Bell, book and candle, 1958 directed by richard quine elsa lanchester, jack lemmon, kim novak, erni photo. Theres actually another scene before this that sets up the club as a place where witches hang out, but this. Manhattan publisher shep james stewart, quite unaware of his new friends proclivities, introduces his new author redlitch ernie kovacs, promoting his book on witchcraft, to gillian kim novak, nicky jack lemmon and queenie elsa lanchester holroyd, in bell book and candle, 1959.
Also appearing are jack lemmon, ernie kovacs, hermione gingold and elsa lanchester. Bell, book and candle, 1958 directed by richard quine elsa. Bell, book and candle by richard quine, james stewart, kim. Bell, book and candle comes off like a lighthearted rosemarys baby or an adult version of harry potter. The casting director was spot on the day they cast elsa lanchester, hermione gingold and jack lemmon, with his mischievious grin, as witches and warlock. Cinematographer james wong howe paints the elaborate greenwich village sets in. Presented in eye popping technicolor transfer that beautifully captures james wong howes stunning cinematography, bell, book and candle costarring jack lemmon, erniekovacs, hermione gingold and elsa lanchester is a delightful spoof on witchcraft with the cast members at their very best. Bell book and candle 1958 elsa lanchester as queenie holroyd. Learn about some of the new features in our catalog and how to make the most of them. Bell, book and candle theatrical release poster directed byrichard quine produced byjulian blaustein written bydaniel taradash based onbell, book and candle by john van druten starring james stewart kim novak jack lemmon ernie kovacs hermione gingold elsa lanchester janice rule music bygeorge duning cinematographyjames wong howe edited bycharles nelson color processtechnicolor production companies phoenix productions, inc. Erniekovacs, hermione gingold and elsa lanchester is a delightful spoof on.
Columbia gave bell, book and candle the best production values it had to offer. Thankfully, all the technical aspects of the dvd edition of this late50s romantic comedy are fine. Stewart plays a new york publisher entranced by a mysteriously bewitching young woman novak. The film is considered stewarts final role as a romantic lead. Bell, book and candle is a 1950 broadway play by john van druten. Each actor in the film has their name shown next to an african mask or sculpture. The original production was directed by john van druten with scenic and lighting design by george c. Bell, book and candle received academy award nominations in two categories.
Jul 08, 2020 the supporting cast features jack lemmon, ernie kovacs, hermione gingold, and elsa lanchester. Jenkins, costumes by anna hill johnstone with additional costumes exclusively designed for actress lilli palmer by valentina. It is based on a successful broadway play of the same name. Join us at an upcoming library pro tips event to become a power user. Bell book and candle 1959 arent you afraid of reprisals. Mar 28, 2000 presented in eye popping technicolor transfer that beautifully captures james wong howes stunning cinematography, bell, book and candle costarring jack lemmon, erniekovacs, hermione gingold and elsa lanchester is a delightful spoof on witchcraft with the cast members at their very best. Bell, book and candle is a 1958 american fantasy comedy romance film directed by richard quine, based on the successful 1950 broadway play by john van druten adapted by daniel taradash. Bell book and candle 1958 bell book and candle 1958. Bell book and candle 1959 just an old bugaboo shep james stewart has kindof dragged fiancee merle janice rule to the zodiac in manhattan to meet new friends gillian and aunt queenie kim novak, elsa lanchester, whom he does not know are witches, discovering a history, and brother danny jack lemmon in the band, in bell book and candle, 1959. Elsa lanchester as queenie, jack lemmon as nicky holroyd, kim novak as gillian holroyd, ernie kovacs as sidney redlitch, and james stewart as shepherd henderson in the 1958 film bell book and candle. She performed in two episodes of nbcs the wonderful world of disney. Mar 28, 2000 bell, book and candle gets a fair dvd reissue from columbia tristar home video that doesnt offer any additional features to fans of this nonconformists as witches movie.
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