Bell, Book and Candle
Dir: Richard Quine
1958
***
I'm afraid after watching James Stewart and Kim Novak sizzle together in the classic Hithcock film Vertigo, released the same year, Bell, Book and Candle does quite satisfy. Obviously it's a totally different film to Vertigo (and a certain influence on the TV series BeWitched) but made so close together it was bound to raise comparisons. Vertigo shows an idea working well and Bell, Book and Candle shows an idea working less well. I'm even more disappointing as it has one of my all time favorites, Jack Lemmon is in it but has far too little screen time. There are of course lots of things to enjoy about the film, Stewart is Stewart but Novak is particularly delectable. It's a light comedy and as good as a light comedy can be.