Thursday, October 28, 2010

Bewitching Savoir Faire

With Halloween fast approaching our minds are drawn to all things spooky, wicked and witchy. Who says that witches should be bent up old crones toiling over cauldrons and making potions with eyes of newts and the like?

We have had our young glamorous witches, such as Elisabeth Montgomery in Bewitched in the past, however who can not forget the gorgeous Kim Novak in Bell Book and Candle whom I believed the creators of Bewitched based their Samantha on.


This is one of my all time favourite movies based on the stage name of the same name by John Van Druten. Starring Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart as the romantic leads with a host of others including Jack Lemon, Hermione Gingold, Elsa Lancaster and 19 Siamese cats who all played the witch’s familiar Pyewhacket, this is Witchcraft with the ultimate in Savoir Faire.

Kim Novak plays Gillian, a rather free spirited Greenwich Village witch who runs an art gallery for Primitive African art. After an initial chance meeting with Shep (Jimmy Stewart) she learns that Shep is to marry an old nemesis, and thus begins a rather intriguing plot where Gillian takes her revenge. Casting a love spell on Shep, she begins to fall for him herself. She must eventually make a stark choice, as witches who fall in love lose their supernatural powers. Gillian's cat and familiar, Pyewacket, becomes agitated and leaves her when she decides in Shep's favor. That is all I am going to reveal as this is a wonderful movie and I do not want to spoil it all.

There are some interesting side plots involving members of Gillian’s family that add to the whole movie on a lighthearted level.



For Savoir faire this cannot be beat. Kim Novak is wonderfully costumed by Jean Louis, and looks fabulous all throughout the movie, everything a modern day witch should look like. Also the movie gives a rather candid peek into New York in the 1950’s,especially around the emerging art scene located in the area.


So while not necessarily spooky in the Halloween sense, witches have never looked better! So for some Halloween Savoir Faire see the movie and enjoy.

8 comments:

  1. I've been listening to various versions of Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered for the last few weeks. Such a great song to get you in the mood.

    The witch is a great character. Especially when stylized in the great ways of these examples you've shown. Happy Halloween!

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  2. One of my favorite movies!
    ever!
    I even named my cat Pyewackett because of it
    (may she rest in peace)

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  3. Oh I don't think I've ever seen this movie, but I absolutely adored Bewitched as a little girl. My favourite character was Endora, I loved her sense of humour and of course her outfits!

    Thanks for the heads up, I'm definetly going to watch the movie this weekend!
    Have a lovely weekend!

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  4. yes -fabulous movie that i'd recommend to anyone!! Love a happy ending :-)

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  5. Love the photos... I've never seen the movie...next on my list.

    FYI...you have 69 followers...heehee

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  6. I've never heard of this movie, I'm really looking forward to it, especially as I love old ones of the 1950s and 1960s. Have a spooky Hallowe'en!

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  7. i have to admit to being a die hard bewitched fan! i so desperately wanted to be her!! : )

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  8. doesn't get better than this one- movie or star.

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