BELL, BOOK and CANDLE (1958) 106 minutes

It takes a lot to make New Yorkers flinch, and in Christmastime Greenwich Village, a circle of witches amidst the Beatniks and Bohemians raises nary an eyebrow. If anything, buttoned-down publisher James Stewart stands out, catching the eye of shop-owner witch Kim Novak, who casts an enchantment spell on him­ with the help of her bongo-playing warlock brother Jack Lemmon and ditzy aunt, Elsa Lancaster. Stewart soon finds himself bewitched, bothered, and bewildered––learning fast that a sorceress’ love is a complicated thing.

Is this a silly movie? Absolutely––as it’s a Hollywood take on ‘exotic’ non-conformism playing off against uptight fifties ‘togetherness.’

BE ADVISED–– This film is rated TV-PG, with smoking, drinking and problematic sculpture.