Published October 28, 2026
Fresh off watching Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo during a James Stewart phase, I learned about another film that brought Stewart and Kim Novak together again: Bell, Book and Candle.
I needed that context to explain why, when I first watched the trailer, I was so freaked out I thought I could never watch this movie. In hindsight, I feel a little silly about that reaction, but better late than never when it comes to discovering a truly extraordinary film.
Old Hollywood has a lot to offer the Halloween canon, but I’m particularly picky about which classic Halloween movies I will enjoy. That’s what makes purchasing this movie and watching it over and over again such a big deal.
See why in my review!
The Review
Right from the get-go, audiences are greeted with an unexpected Christmas setting! Don’t let that fool you. The story begins on Christmas Eve and continues throughout the winter, much like Sleepless in Seattle. Despite its Christmas setting, the story is all about witches, warlocks, and the complications of falling in love with mortals. Therefore, Bell, Book and Candle is, in my eyes, very much a Halloween movie. However, this flexibility also makes it a perfect fit for Turner Classic Movies’ winter programming, something many audiences will appreciate.
Snowfall can sometimes make it harder to see what’s in front of us, but even through those snowy opening moments, the cinematography is truly gorgeous! Some shots throughout this film are such breathtaking works of art that they deserve a place in a museum. If nothing else, Bell, Book and Candle is pure eye candy. Yet this film has so much more than just its beautiful exterior, and phenomenal acting and chemistry.
One of the best-known facts about Bell, Book and Candle is that it inspired the original Bewitched television series. While Bell, Book and Candle doesn’t focus on marriage itself, it centers on an ordinary mortal who falls in love with a beautiful witch without initially knowing what she really is. Okay, I suppose James Stewart isn’t exactly an ordinary man, but you get the picture! Beneath these charming storytelling elements lies a film with surprising progressive depth, exploring a variety of themes from several different angles:
In Stewart and Novak’s relationship, Stewart plays the sentimental, endearing partner ready to commit, while Novak’s character is more independent, hesitant to settle down, and arguably more “masculine” by traditional standards (despite her lovely feminine appearance). This dynamic turns conventional gender roles on their heads, suggesting that if even a fantasy romance can challenge these stereotypes, so can we. In this way, this romance feels more realistic.
After watching this film for the first time, I came across an interpretation suggesting that the witches and warlocks, along with the club they frequent, represent something much larger than Halloween folklore. Through this lens, witches and warlocks are cosmopolitan, artistic, and quirky individuals living in a society that celebrates conformity and normality. The club becomes a meaningful refuge where these individuals can embrace who they are without feeling the need to hide.
Bringing Stewart’s character back into the picture makes the romance all the more meaningful. By falling in love with Novak’s character, he ultimately chooses to leave behind the expectations of a conventional life and pursue what his heart truly desires: a life filled with eccentricity, spontaneity, and adventure in love.
Do you remember in the 90s and 00s how magazines and websites included quizzes that helped readers identify which characters they were in a movie or book? It would be an interesting case study to complete a quiz like that for this film because the answers would be really revealing.
Are you James Stewart, wanting authentic love and trying to understand who he is in a chaotic world? How about Kim Novak, afraid to fall in love because it would make her surrender what she knows? Are you Novak's brother, delighted by your life and wanting to help others understand and celebrate the truth? Are you Novak's Aunt, a little extra chaotic and kooky, but loving and loyal to those who matter most? Are you the author, intrigued by different ways of life, seeking knowledge and feeling accomplished in your expertise? Or are you Stewart's previous fiancée, eager to lead a quiet, normal life, perhaps less welcoming of weird distractions? I think the beauty of this movie is that it makes all answers feel welcome, as long as we treat each other with kindness and respect.
At the end of the day, just as all these characters have to function together in this story, we need to know how to coexist without isolating each other or making one another feel lesser for being different.
Movies can teach us many things, and that is why I will always try to make time for the film audience.