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{{Other uses|Bell, Book & Candle (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox film
| name           = Bell, Book and Candle
| image          = Bellbookandcandleposter.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Richard Quine]]
| screenplay     = [[Daniel Taradash]]
| based_on       = {{based on|''[[Bell, Book and Candle (play)|Bell, Book and Candle]]''|[[John Van Druten]]}}
| producer       = [[Julian Blaustein]]
| starring       = {{plainlist|
* [[James Stewart]]
* [[Kim Novak]]
* [[Jack Lemmon]]
* [[Ernie Kovacs]]
* [[Hermione Gingold]]
* [[Elsa Lanchester]]
* [[Janice Rule]]
}}
| cinematography = [[James Wong Howe]]
| editing        = Charles Nelson
| music          = [[George Duning]]
| studio         = Phoenix Productions, Inc.
| distributor    = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| released       = {{film date|1958|11|11}}
| runtime        = 106 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| gross          = $2.5&nbsp;million (US and Canada rentals)<ref name=gross />
}}

'''''Bell, Book and Candle''''' is a 1958 American [[Supernatural film|supernatural]] [[romantic comedy]] film directed by [[Richard Quine]] from a screenplay by [[Daniel Taradash]], based on the [[Bell, Book and Candle (play)|1950 Broadway play]] by [[John Van Druten]] and starring [[James Stewart]], [[Kim Novak]], [[Jack Lemmon]], and [[Ernie Kovacs]]. Novak portrays a witch who casts a spell on her neighbor, played by Stewart. The supporting cast features Lemmon, Kovacs, [[Hermione Gingold]], [[Elsa Lanchester]], and [[Janice Rule]]. The film is considered Stewart's final role as a romantic lead.

It was acknowledged as part of the inspiration for the television series ''[[Bewitched]]''.

== Plot ==
[[File:Bell, Book and Candle.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Kim Novak]] as Gillian]]
Gillian Holroyd is the owner of an art store in [[Greenwich Village]] that deals in rare ethnological (magical) masks, and a secret witch. Bored with her routine life, she takes an interest in her new neighbor, publisher Shep Henderson.

On [[Christmas Eve]], Shep arrives home to discover Gillian's aunt Queenie (also a witch) inside his apartment. Offended at being ushered out, Queenie hexes Shep's telephone. He visits Gillian to use her phone, and they discuss the best-selling book ''Magic in Mexico'' and his desire to meet the author, Sidney Redlitch. As Shep leaves, Queenie invites them both to the Zodiac Club. Having perused his letters, Queenie reports to Gillian that Shep is engaged, but encourages her to use magic to pursue him anyway.

That night, Shep brings his fiancée Merle Kittridge to the Zodiac Club, where they meet-up with Gillian, aunt Queenie, and Gillian's brother Nicky, a [[bongo drum]]-playing warlock. Gillian recognizes Merle as her malicious college nemesis, who was terrified of thunderstorms (which occurred strangely often during their college feuds). Nicky torments her with heavy drumming, while the club band plays "[[Stormy Weather (song)|Stormy Weather]]", until Merle flees, followed by Shep.

The Holroyd family returns to Gillian's apartment to exchange Christmas gifts; Nicky gives Gillian an enchanted liquid, with which they attempt to summon Redlitch, but are cut short when Shep arrives. Queenie and Nicky depart, and Shep reveals that he and Merle are eloping later that day. Gillian uses her [[Siamese cat]] and [[familiar]], [[Pyewacket (familiar spirit)|Pyewacket]], to cast a [[Love magic|love spell]] on Shep, who immediately becomes enamored of her.

After spending all night out on the town with Gillian, the infatuated Shep breaks up with Merle. Redlitch arrives at Shep's office, having been magically compelled to come to New York and meet him; Redlitch explains that he is researching witches in New York City for his next book. The oblivious Shep introduces him to the Holroyds, and Nicky later demonstrates his powers to Redlitch by extinguishing a streetlight; Nicky offers him access to the witch community in exchange for half the book's profits. Revelling in her romance with Shep, Gillian is torn when he proposes to her; although witches lose their magic if they fall in love, she agrees to marry him.

Gillian and Nicky quarrel about his exposing their world to Redlitch, and in turn about her preparing to renounce magic to marry Shep. Using her powers to make Shep lose all interest in publishing Nicky and Redlitch's book, Gillian confesses to Shep that she is a witch and their relationship is the result of her spell. Shep refuses to believe her, but runs into Queenie, who confirms Gillian's version of events. Believing she enchanted him purely to spite Merle, Shep leaves Gillian heartbroken. He goes to Nicky, who brings him to Bianca de&nbsp;Pass, a powerful witch, who brews a potion for him to drink that breaks Gillian's love-spell.

Shep confronts Gillian and cruelly presents her with a broom. She threatens to curse Merle, but Pyewacket runs away from her before she can do it. Shep, in turn, is unable to convince Merle that he was bewitched. Queenie finds Pyewacket, but the cat rejects Gillian, who is now able to cry – proof she has fallen in love and is no longer a witch.

Weeks later, {{nobr|Mrs. de Pass}} has become Redlitch's new collaborator, and Queenie confides to Nicky that she is worried about Gillian. Pyewacket is sent to Shep's office, and he returns the cat to Gillian at her transformed store (now filled with seashell art and flowers instead of the masks). She explains that Pyewacket is no longer her cat; Shep realizes from Gillian's tears that she truly loves him, and they reconcile with a passionate kiss. Watching through the window, Queenie is delighted and Nicky is disgusted.

As the scene finale, the streetlights all suddenly extinguish. The camera turns to reveal the culprit perched atop a street lamp: Pyewacket.

== Cast ==
<!--- [[WP:NOTDATABASE]] - main cast and order per opening tombstone stand-alone credits, roles per dialogue  --->
{{Cast listing|
* [[James Stewart]] as Shep Henderson
* [[Kim Novak]] as Gillian Holroyd
* [[Jack Lemmon]] as Nicky Holroyd
* [[Ernie Kovacs]] as Sidney Redlitch
* [[Hermione Gingold]] as Bianca de&nbsp;Pass
* [[Elsa Lanchester]] as Aunt Queenie Holroyd
* [[Janice Rule]] as Merle Kittridge
}}

== Production ==
[[File:Tri-City Drive-In Ad - 14 January 1959, Loma Linda, CA.jpg|thumb|[[Drive-in theater|Drive-in]] advertisement from 1959]]
[[David O. Selznick]] purchased the rights to Van Druten's play in 1953,{{efn|Selznick's former wife [[Irene Mayer Selznick|Irene]] produced the play on Broadway.<ref name=VanDruten1951 />}} planning to cast his wife, [[Jennifer Jones]], in the part of Gil. At the urging of Daniel Taradash and Julian Blaustein,<ref name=McGilligan1997 /><ref name=Eliot2006 /> [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]] purchased the property from Selznick in 1956.<ref name=Green2011 />

Taradash, who had adapted ''[[From Here to Eternity]]'' (1953) for Columbia with great success, augmented the story slightly by incorporating characters who are only names in the play (notably Mrs. De Pass, and Shep's fiancée Merle) and expanding the action to locations beyond Gil's apartment.<ref name=ErskineWelsh />

For the lead roles, Taradash and Blaustein hoped to get [[Rex Harrison]] and [[Lilli Palmer]], who had starred in the play, but Columbia chief Harry Cohn decided on Kim Novak for the female lead.<ref name=Dick2015 /> Novak was on loan to Paramount making ''[[Vertigo (film)|Vertigo]]'' and the scheduling conflict put Harrison out of consideration as well.<ref name=McGilligan1997 /> Taradash and Blaustein also suggested [[Cary Grant]] and [[Grace Kelly]] as the leads and [[Alexander Mackendrick]] to direct; Kelly got married and ended her career at its height, however, and there were creative differences between the studio and both Grant and Mackendrick.<ref name=McGilligan1997 /> Since the arrangement with Paramount for Novak's appearance in ''Vertigo'' included reciprocity, Cohn advanced James Stewart for the role of Shep.<ref name=Eliot2006 /> ''Bell, Book and Candle'' is generally recognized as Stewart's final romantic leading role.<ref name=Quirk1999 />

Early in 1957, producers also launched a somewhat promotional search for Siamese cats to play Pyewacket.<ref name=Mosby /> According to one release, as many as 12 cats were needed to perform the number of stunts in the film.<ref name=12cats /> The primary cat used for the role in close-ups was owned by animal trainer [[Frank Inn]], who reportedly gave the cat to Novak when he saw she'd formed a close bond with him. Pyewacket's name was derived from testimony given in a 17th-century witch trial in England, and referred to a witch's familiar.

Production began on February 3, 1958, and was completed on April 7.<ref name=AFI />

=== Music ===
The film was scored by [[George Duning]], another Columbia veteran who earned praise for his work on ''From Here to Eternity''. The main theme melds bongos and violins, evoking elements of the plot;<ref name=Hischak2015 /> heard during the opening credits, a few bars of "Jingle Bells" are incorporated to set the Christmas tone of the initial action. Each witch, including Pyewacket the cat, is identified by a musical signature. Duning used creative means such as recording sounds and replaying them at high speed to achieve an eerie background effect for the score.<ref name=Hischak2015 />

The soundtrack was released in January 1959 by [[Colpix]] (CT-506).<ref name=Billboard />{{efn|Re-issued by Citadel Records in 1976 (CT-6006) and 1978 (CT-7006).<ref name=Pitts2010 />}} Most of the recording took place in [[Munich]] with Duning conducting the [[Graunke Symphony Orchestra]]. The segments featuring the [[Pete Candoli|Brothers Candoli]], who appear in the film playing at the Zodiac Club, were recorded in Hollywood at Columbia; on these tracks, [[John Williams]] can be heard on piano.<ref name=CT7006 />

[[Philippe Clay]] makes a cameo appearance in the film performing "Le Noyé Assassiné" at the Zodiac Club, but this performance is not included on the soundtrack album. However, Harkit Records in England (harkitrecords.com) have reissued the soundtrack album as HRKCD 8099 which does include the Philippe Clay track.

==Home media==
The film was released on DVD on March 28, 2000. The DVD includes vintage advertising, talent files and the original theatrical trailer. It also includes audio and subtitle tracks for English and Spanish, bonus trailers, the open matte full-frame and anamorphic widescreen (102 min.) theatrical cut.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Bell-Book-and-Candle-DVD/11263/ |title=Bell, Book and Candle DVD |publisher=Blu-ray.com |date=2000-03-28 |access-date=2019-11-10}}</ref> It was released on blu-ray for the first time as a limited edition of 3000 copies by Twilight Time with an audio track featuring an isolated score on April 10, 2012. Bonus features include the trailer in HD as well as two SD retrospectives by Kim Novak.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Bell-Book-and-Candle-Blu-ray/39855/ |title=Bell, Book and Candle Blu-ray |publisher=Blu-ray.com |date=2012-04-10 |access-date=2022-09-06}}</ref> It was released again on blu-ray by Sony on January 28, 2020, without the isolated score audio track from the previous release. It does carry over the other features from the previous release while also adding another retrospective from Novak, all presented in HD.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Bell-Book-and-Candle-Blu-ray/259352/ |title=Bell, Book and Candle Blu-ray |publisher=Blu-ray.com |date=2020-01-28 |access-date=2022-09-06}}</ref>

== Release and reception ==
''Bell, Book and Candle'' was considered a "blockbuster" by Columbia and prior to its release it was promoted accordingly.<ref name=MPD8364 /> Novak appeared with Pyewacket on the November 24 cover of ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'', along with a write-up that highlighted a tie-in with ''Life'' photographer [[Eliot Elisofon]] who was the color consultant on the film.<ref name=Life /> There were favorable write-ups in other major magazines and a production number on ''[[The Steve Allen Show]]'' featured the theme music.<ref name=MPD84110 />{{efn|The number was a dance by [[Augie and Margo Rodriguez|Augie and Margo]]. [[Steve Allen]] also wrote lyrics for the theme.<ref name=Allen1999 />}}

On November 11, 1958, the film made its world premiere in Los Angeles at the Warner Beverly Theatre. It played an exclusive engagement there until its New York premiere on December 25.<ref name=MPDprmr />

[[Bosley Crowther]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' found the premise "silly and banal" and the screenplay lacking in "any consistent witchery or bounce," but he praised the movie's camera work, set design, and use of color as "sleek and pictorially entrancing."<ref name="Crowther">{{cite news|last=Crowther|first=Bosley|title=Screen: A Witch in Love; 'Bell, Book and Candle' at Fine Arts, Odeon|date=December 27, 1958|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/12/27/archives/screen-a-witch-in-love-bell-book-and-candle-at-fine-arts-odeon.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref>

=== Awards ===
''Bell, Book and Candle'' received [[Academy Award]] nominations in two categories: [[Academy Award for Best Art Direction|Best Art Direction]] ([[Cary Odell]] and [[Louis Diage]]); and [[Academy Award for Costume Design|Best Costume Design]] ([[Jean Louis]]). It also received a [[Golden Globes]] nomination for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture – Comedy]].<ref name=NYTimes />

== Legacy and attempted adaptations ==
''[[Bewitched]]'' creator [[Sol Saks]] admitted that he drew on ''Bell'' as well as the earlier witch-themed ''[[I Married a Witch]]'' (1942).<ref name=Saks /><ref name="SolSakesSource1" /> Screenwriter [[Paul Wayne]] said: "He was pretty honest about the fact it wasn't a particularly original idea."<ref name="SolSakesSource1">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-apr-21-la-me-sol-saks-20110421-story.html|title=Sol Saks dies at 100; creator of 'Bewitched'|last=McLellan|first=Dennis|date=April 21, 2011|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 13, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709044911/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/21/local/la-me-sol-saks-20110421|archive-date=July 9, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 1976, ''Bell, Book and Candle'' was pitched as a television [[Situation comedy|sitcom]] fantasy series.<ref name="Pitts2010" /> A 30-minute pilot episode, starring [[Yvette Mimieux]] and [[Michael Murphy (actor)|Michael Murphy]], aired on [[NBC]] on September 8, 1976.<ref name="Pitts2010" /><ref name="Goldberg2015">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5BRLDAAAQBAJ|title=The Best TV Shows That Never Were: 300 Memorable Unsold Pilots|last=Goldberg|first=Lee|publisher=Lee Goldberg|year=2015|isbn=978-1-5115-9074-7}}</ref> The supporting cast included: [[Doris Roberts]] (Aunt Enid), [[John Pleshette]] (Nicky Holroyd), [[Bridget Hanley]] (Lois), [[Susan Sullivan]] (Rosemary), [[Edward Andrews]] (Bishop Fairbarn), and [[Dori Whitaker]] (Melissa). The pilot was directed by [[Hy Averback]] and written by Richard DeRoy. [[Bruce Lansbury]] was the executive producer.<ref name="Goldberg2015" /> The show was not picked up.<ref name=Pitts2010 />

In 2006, [[The Walt Disney Company]] planned a remake of the film, with [[Alicia Keys]] scheduled to play Gillian Holroyd.<ref name="AliciaKeys1">{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/alicia-keys-stars-bell-book-candle/|title=Alicia Keys Stars in Bell, Book & Candle|date=July 14, 2006|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|access-date=April 13, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415203307/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/alicia-keys-stars-bell-book-candle/|archive-date=April 15, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The deal was organized by Disney studio executives [[Dick Cook]] and [[Nina Jacobson]]. Keys was going to produce it with her manager Jeff Robinson as the first project for their company Big Pita, Little Pita; Keys would have also been the musical supervisor and organized the soundtrack. Robinson had chosen Keys for the remake after watching the original film; she agreed to the project to avoid "from falling into predictable roles". She explained: "I never wanted to play myself, not in the first role or even the second. I want to do the unexpected."<ref name="AliciaKeys2">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/mouse-locking-up-keys-1200339853/|title=Mouse locking up Keys|last=Fleming|first=Michael|date=July 13, 2006|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=April 13, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415203306/http://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/mouse-locking-up-keys-1200339853/|archive-date=April 15, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Keys said that the remake would be more "contemporary" and "really delve into the characters more".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1546335/alicia-keys-tries-to-cast-a-spell-on-hollywood-with-witchy-remake/|title=Alicia Keys Tries to Cast a Spell on Hollywood with Witch Remake|last=Vineyard|first=Jennifer|date=November 21, 2006|publisher=[[MTV News]]|access-date=April 13, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415203306/http://www.mtv.com/news/1546335/alicia-keys-tries-to-cast-a-spell-on-hollywood-with-witchy-remake/|archive-date=April 15, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to Kurt Loder of [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the remake was never made and Keys dropped out of the role.<ref name="AliciaKeys4">{{cite web|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/12-film-critics-remember-their-favorite-holiday-movies/|title=12 Film Critics Remember Their Favorite Holiday Movies|date=December 9, 2015|last=Loder|first=Kurt|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=April 13, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127181800/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/12-film-critics-remember-their-favorite-holiday-movies/|archive-date=November 27, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== See also ==

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[1958 in film]]
* [[List of American films of 1958]]
* [[List of Christmas films]]
* [[List of Columbia Pictures films]]
* [[List of fantasy films of the 1950s]]
* [[List of films based on stage plays or musicals]]
* [[List of films set in New York City]]
* [[List of romantic comedy films]]
{{div col end}}
{{clear}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
<references>
<ref name=gross>"1959: Probable Domestic Take". ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. January 6, 1960. p. 34.</ref>
<ref name=AFI>{{cite web |title=Bell, Book and Candle |work=Catalog of Feature Films |publisher=American Film Institute |url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=52477 |access-date=2015-09-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925035157/http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=52477 |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name=Dick2015>{{cite book |last=Dick |first=Bernard F. |title=The Merchant Prince of Poverty Row: Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tp4eBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA141 |year=2015 |publisher=University Press of Kentucky |isbn=978-0-8131-4753-6 |page=141}}</ref>
<ref name=Eliot2006>{{cite book |last=Eliot |first=Marc |title=Jimmy Stewart: A Biography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MvBklYckFBkC&pg=PT301 |year=2006 |publisher=Crown/Archetype |isbn=978-0-307-35268-2 |page=301}}</ref>
<ref name=ErskineWelsh>{{cite book |editor-last1=Erskine |editor-first1=Thomas L. |editor-last2=Welsh |editor-first2=James M. |title=Video Versions: Film Adaptations of Plays on Video |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uw-CgSA7a_oC&pg=PA26 |year=2000 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-03203-5 |pages=26–27}}</ref>
<ref name=Green2011>{{cite book|last=Green|first=Paul|title=Jennifer Jones: The Life and Films|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VvdJdlLAXJIC&pg=PA224|year=2011|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-8583-3|pages=224–225}}</ref>
<ref name=Hischak2015>{{cite book |last=Hischak |first=Thomas S. |title=The Encyclopedia of Film Composers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xz99CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA197 |year=2015 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4422-4550-1 |page=197}}</ref>
<ref name=McGilligan1997>{{cite book |last=McGilligan |first=Patrick |author-link=Patrick McGilligan (biographer) |title=Backstory 2: Interviews with Screenwriters of the 1940s and 1950s |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-PpVI9KeEvsC&pg=PA324 |year=1997 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-20908-4 |page=324}}</ref>
<ref name=Quirk1999>{{cite book |last=Quirk |first=Lawrence J. |author-link=Lawrence J. Quirk |title=James Stewart: Behind the Scenes of a Wonderful Life |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3BMMfHkHZs4C&pg=PA246 |year=1999 |publisher=Applause |isbn=978-1-55783-416-4 |page=246}}</ref>
<ref name=Saks>{{cite book |last=Saks |first=Sol |author-link=Sol Saks |title=Funny Business: The Craft of Comedy Writing |year=1991 |publisher=Lone Eagle Publishing Company |isbn=978-0-943728-45-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/funnybusinesscra00saks }}</ref>
<ref name=VanDruten1951>{{cite book |last=Van Druten |first=John |title=Bell, Book and Candle: Comedy in Three Acts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tv4iy_WeE9oC&pg=PA3 |year=1951 |publisher=Dramatists Play Service |isbn=978-0-8222-0104-5 |page=3}}</ref>
<ref name=NYTimes>{{cite web |title=Bell, Book and Candle |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/4752/Bell-Book-and-Candle/details |access-date=2008-12-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511105621/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/4752/Bell-Book-and-Candle/details |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
<ref name=Billboard>{{cite magazine |title=Reviews and Ratings of New Popular Albums |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xR4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20 |date=January 5, 1959 |volume=71 |issue=1 |pages=20–21 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
<ref name=CT7006>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Bell, Book and Candle LP |others=George Duning |year=1978 |chapter=Back cover |chapter-url=http://www.georgeduning.com/soundtracks/Bell,Book_and_Candle/Bell,Book_and_Candle-LP-back.jpg |access-date=2015-09-14 |first=Tony |last=Thomas |publisher=Citadel Records }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
<ref name=Pitts2010>{{cite book |last=Pitts |first=Michael R. |title=Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928–1982 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PKxN1as8XOMC&pg=PA14 |year=2010 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-5766-3 |pages=12–14}}</ref>
<ref name=MPD8364>{{cite magazine |title=Col. to Push 7 Top Films |magazine=[[Motion Picture Daily]] |date=April 2, 1958 |volume=83 |issue=64 |page=1 |url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpicturedai83unse_0#page/n14/mode/1up |access-date=2015-09-14 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
<ref name=Life>{{cite magazine |title=Bewitching Tale About Witches |magazine=[[Life (magazine)|Life]] |date=November 24, 1958 |volume=45 |issue=21 |pages=cover; 66–69 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aD8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA67 |access-date=2015-09-14}}</ref>
<ref name=MPD84110>{{cite magazine |title=Values in Pre-Selling Touted by Rosenfield |magazine=Motion Picture Daily |date=December 9, 1958 |volume=84 |issue=110 |pages=1, 6 |url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpicturedai84unse_0#page/n324/mode/1up |access-date=2015-09-14 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
<ref name=Allen1999>{{cite book |last=Allen |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Allen |title=Steve Allen's Songs: 100 Lyrics with Commentary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rkbHVJOoAN4C&pg=PA35 |year=1999 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-0736-1 |page=35}}</ref>
<ref name=MPDprmr>For the Los Angeles premiere see {{cite magazine |title='Book' Opens Big |magazine=Motion Picture Daily |date=November 13, 1958 |volume=84 |issue=93 |page=3 |url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpicturedai84unse_0#page/n208/mode/1up |access-date=2015-09-14 |via=Internet Archive}} For the New York premiere see {{cite magazine |title='Candle' Here Dec. 25 |magazine=Motion Picture Daily |date=December 11, 1958 |volume=84 |issue=112 |page=3 |url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpicturedai84unse_0#page/n338/mode/1up |access-date=2015-09-14 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
<ref name=Mosby>{{cite news |last=Mosby |first=Aline |title=Film Producers Launch Search for Cat With Ava's Personality |newspaper=The Deseret News |page=A13 |date=January 7, 1957 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19570107&id=lKkuAAAAIBAJ&pg=7065,1097391|access-date=2015-09-14}}</ref>
<ref name=12cats>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Erskine |author-link=Erskine Johnson|title=Hollywood Today |newspaper=The Spencer Daily Reporter |page=3 |date=March 4, 1958 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1907&dat=19580304&id=JG0rAAAAIBAJ&pg=797,3344687|access-date=2015-09-14}}</ref>
</references>

== External links ==
* [https://mediahistoryproject.org/reader.php?id=pressbook-col-bell-book-and-candle ''Bell, Book and Candle'' (Columbia Pictures Press Book)], via [[Media History Digital Library]]
* {{IMDb title}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190504154741/https://www.allmovie.com/movie/bell-book-and-candle-v4752 ''Bell, Book and Candle''] at [[AllMovie]]
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
* {{AFI film}}
* {{TCMDb title}}

{{Richard Quine}}


[[Category:1958 films]]
[[Category:1958 romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:1958 American films]]
[[Category:1958 English-language films]]
[[Category:1950s fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:1950s romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:1950s supernatural films]]
[[Category:American fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:American films based on plays]]
[[Category:American romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:American romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:American supernatural comedy films]]
[[Category:American supernatural romance films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures films]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language romantic comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language romantic fantasy films]]
[[Category:Films about cats]]
[[Category:Films about witchcraft]]
[[Category:Films directed by Richard Quine]]
[[Category:Films scored by George Duning]]
[[Category:Films set in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Supernatural fantasy films]]
[[Category:1958 fantasy films]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Bell, Book and Candle|access_date=2026-02-26}}