Mar 12, 2008 meaning of the phrase, the bell, the book and the candle one of two things usually happens when a person hears the phrase bell, book and candle, they either think of the movie with james stewart and natalie wood or they picture a witch riding a broomstick across the full moon. Bell, book and candle a new york publisher james stewart literally falls under the spell of a witch kim novak who makes him fall in love with her after they meet one christmas eve. Bell, book and candle idioms by the free dictionary. The bell represented the public character of the act, the book the authority of the words spoken by the. Kim novak plays an art shop owner named gillian who takes a fancy to publisher shepard henderson james stewart when. Bell, book and candle religion, spiritualism, and occult this phrase comes from the roman catholic rite of major excommunication or anathema, which dates from the middle of the eighth century.
The film is based on the hit john van drutens broadway stage play. Ethical conflicts are best resolved by decisionsmaking strategies that help you see the moral implications of diverse choices, sort out competing claims, and evaluate the consequences of each option. Kim novak in bell book and candle 1958 james stewart and pyewacket in bell book and candle 1958 kim novak in bell book and. When she encounters charming publisher shepherd henderson james stewart, she decides to make him hers by casting a love spell. Bush and i became very disillusioned by the handling of the iraq war.
The plot for the movie was changed to add characters to the scenes. James stewart, kim novak, jack lemmon, ernie kovacs, hermione gingold, elsa lanchester, janice rule, philippe clay, bek nelson. Mar 11, 2015 the rite seems first to have been used in rheims in the 9 th century, but the phrase bell, book and candle is first recorded in old english in about 0. Jul, 2014 bell, book and candle 1958 james stewart, kim novak, jack lemmon, ernie kovacs, hermione gingold, elsa lanchester. With james stewart, kim novak, jack lemmon, ernie kovacs. The supporting cast features jack lemmon, ernie kovacs, hermione gingold, and elsa. Also, the movie has action in manhattan, greenwich village, shops, offices and night clubs. 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. It is the equivalent of a catholic curse, applied to someone who has transgressed the strict laws of the churchsomeone who has made shipwreck of their faith, either by flagrant. May 28, 2011 bell, book and candle a new york publisher james stewart literally falls under the spell of a witch kim novak who makes him fall in love with her after they meet one christmas eve. Thankfully, all the technical aspects of the dvd edition of this late50s romantic comedy are fine. The phrase bell, book, and candle refers to a latin christian method of excommunication by anathema, imposed on a person who had committed an exceptionally grievous sin. Find where to watch bell book and candle and many more fulllength movies from the best streaming services online. A beautiful witch puts a love spell on an unknowing publisher.
More interestingly, the rite is noted in occultism, because of its closeness to occult practices as in. It is based on a successful broadway play of the same name. 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. Her signature drawling, deep voice was a result of nodes on her vocal cords she developed in the 1920s and early 1930s. Their first project is a remake of the 1958 film bell book and candle, with keys to play the witch role originated by kim novak. Back in the 1950s, most straight audiences wouldnt have gotten the subtext but gays certainly did. 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. She played the haughty wife, eulalie mackecknie shinn, of river city mayor george shinn, played by character actor paul ford, in the music man 1962 starring robert preston and shirley jones. Bell, book and candle 1958 james stewart, kim novak, jack.
Actress kim novak discusses hollywood and her career with robert osborne. Bell, book, and candle idioms by the free dictionary. Bell book and candle is a mildly disappointing romantic comedy in which the parts add up to more than the whole. Gracing such films as bell, book and candle 1962, the music man 1962 and even munster go home 1965 with her regally ribald presence, hermione gingold was still. Jan 21, 2011 kim novak and jimmy stewart from the movie bell book and candle. After the swiftboating of john kerry, i started looking for someone i could support positively rather than vote for the lesser of two evils. Bell, book and candle by john van druten goodreads. Bell book and candle 1958 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Evidently introduced by pope zachary around the middle of the 8th century, 1 the rite was once used by the roman catholic church. Bell, book and candle article about bell, book and candle. In the excommunication ceremony officials close the book, quench the candle and toll a bell, as for someone who had died. Nov 28, 2015 bell, book and candle was originally a successful broadway play written by john van druten, a closeted gay man. The young woman is actually interested in the man, which of course, complicates matters when he learns of the rival, without believing in the magic. 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.
In the hollywood film bell, book and candle 1958 pyewacket is the name of the brown sealpoint siamese catfamiliar of a witch, gillian holroyd, played by kim novak. Bell book and candle the plot gillians neighbour is step henderson. Bell, book and candle 1999 in the late 1950s, gillian holroyd kim novak is a modernday witch living in new york citys greenwich village. Among its other members, the booming hermione gingold and the furtively funny elsa lanchester are perfectly matched oddballs. The phrase bell, book and candle is the final line of an incantation denoting excommunication from the catholic church. See more ideas about candles, book worms and love bells. Gracing such films as bell, book and candle 1962, the music man 1962 and even munster go home 1965 with her regally ribald presence, hermione gingold was still at her post in the 70s, as. In the play, some minor people are only talked about, but never seen. Includes playthru, video lesson, tabs, chords and lyrics. Keys and robinson said they will develop liveaction and animated projects at their company, big pita, little pita, with keys participating as producer and thesp and the banner. She made her stage debut in 1908, thus beginning a long, commanding presence in london playing everything from jessica in the merchant of venice to cassandra in. Meanwhile, gillians wacky warlock brother nicky jack lemmon courts disaster by. It stars kim novak as a witch who casts a spell on her neighbor, played by james stewart. The film was adapted from a 1958 broadway play that continues to be produced in community theatres, with pyewacket played by kim novaks reallife cat.
Curced in kirk an sal ai be wid candil, boke, and bell. Bell, book and candle article about bell, book and. Definition of bell, book, and candle in the idioms dictionary. A young woman, and witch, thwarts a college rivals engagement by bewitching the fiance, the man who lives on the floor above. Bell, book and candle 1958 is a sparkling, exotic and intelligent comedy based on john van drutens original play about the unlikely subject of witchcraft in manhattan. And bell, book and candle 1958, richard quines film version of john van drutens popular play, has great fun with the idea that witches could blend in quite easily with the other kooks and weirdos living in the big apple.
Bell, book, and candle, in roman catholicism, a ceremony formerly used in pronouncing the major excommunication or anathema see excommunication. I am a retired healthcare worker and a lifelong republican who supports barack obama. Rent bell, book and candle 1958 on dvd and bluray dvd. Whats the origin of the phrase bell, book and candle. Definition of bell, book and candle in the idioms dictionary. A modernday witch likes her neighbor but despises his fiancee, so she enchants him to love her instead, only to fall in love with him for real. Bell, book, and candle roman catholicism britannica. Bell, book and candle was originally a successful broadway play written by john van druten, a closeted gay man. James stewart, kim novak, jack lemmon, ernie kovacs, hermione gingold, elsa lanchester, janice rule, richard quine. The bell represented the public character of the act, the book the authority of the words spoken by the presiding bishop.
Bell, book and candle is a 1958 american romantic comedy movie, made in technicolor. By that i mean that there is much to like about this film, including an attractive cast, an amazing siamese cat, and beautiful cinematography by james wong howe, but the romance is rather tepid and the comedy is only occasionally amusing. Its origins are not clear, but it dates back certainly to the late 9th century. Kim novak and jimmy stewart from the movie bell book and candle. Rent bell, book and candle 1958 starring james stewart and kim novak on dvd and bluray. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. May 25, 2012 the film is based on the hit john van drutens broadway stage play. Another gripping inspector billy boyd novel from paul anthony. The film bell book and candle provided the inspiration, it is said, for he 1960s television series bewitched. Meaning of the phrase, the bell, the book and the candle. Action from the first page, the tension doesnt let up until the last, giving you a book that you just cant put down. George duning bell, book and candle 1958, vinyl discogs.
Bell book and candle in the late 1950s, gillian holroyd kim novak is a modernday witch living in new york citys greenwich village. One of stage, screen, radio and tvs most delightful, inimitable eccentrics, hermione ferdinanda gingold was born the daughter of an upscale austrian financier and english homemaker. Bell, book and candle by richard quine james stewart, kim. In his last romantic lead role, james stewart is publisher shep henderson, sucked into the underworld of greenwich village by the extraordinarily beautiful gillian holroyd. The supporting cast features jack lemmon, ernie kovacs, hermione gingold, and elsa lanchester. The 1958 filmed version stars james stewart and kim novak, fresh from their successful. Eddi reader bell, book and candle guitar lesson, tab. John van drutens stage comedy bell book and candle starred rex harrison and lilli palmer on broadway. Bell, book and candle simple english wikipedia, the free. Meaning of the phrase, the bell, the book and the candle one of two things usually happens when a person hears the phrase bell, book and candle, they either think of the movie with james stewart and natalie wood or they picture a witch riding a broomstick across the full moon. Jimmy stewart and hermione gingold break the love spell that kim novak cast on him on christmas eve. The rite seems first to have been used in rheims in the 9 th century, but the phrase bell, book and candle is first recorded in old english in about 0. Hermione ferdinanda gingold 9 december 1897 24 may 1987 was an english actress known for her sharptongued, eccentric persona.