Bell, Book and Candle, like many other romance comedies, is set at
Christmas. It’s a hilarious movie with witty dialog, terrific star power, and
an enchanting story that appeals to the American audience. When I was growing
up, it circulated on television as often as any other classic movie from that
era. It has the magical power of pulling you onto the sofa—even if you didn’t
see the beginning—and to remain on that channel. Sol Saks admits that he took
inspiration from Bell, Book and Candle,
as well as a 1942 film called I Married
a Witch, when he created the highly successful television show Bewitched. And yet you will not see this movie on any Christmas
movie line-up, a shame really. I have a theory about it. When Saks created Bewitched, he focused on magic as amusement, not social commentary. Bell, Book and Candle is rather sly
about its social commentary. The story takes place in Greenwich Village, a
prime location for beatnik counter-culture. The witches of the film are
attributed as part of the colorful counter-culture. The setting of the film is
during Christmas, a pagan holiday enveloped by Christians and even more
decorated with trappings by American consumption. One of the first scenes
occurs in a gallery exhibiting African art. Over the years, I believe it is
this subtle irreverence about Christmas, along with the story ending after the
holiday, which eased Bell, Book and
Candle out of the holiday movie line-up. But it’s these same elements that
make the movie intriguing and ripe for rediscovery with today’s audience.
