Bell Book and Candle

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• 1958
• 1 hr 46 mins
• Comedy, Fantasy, Drama

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Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak) is a modern-day witch living in Greenwich Village. A publisher named Shep Henderson (James Stewart) moves into the apartment above hers and she becomes interested in him. When Gillian learns that Shep is going to marry her college nemesis, Merle Kittridge (Janice Rule), the next day, Gillian uses her cat, Pyewacket, to cast a love spell on Shep. Shep is immediately enamored with Gillian and breaks up with Merle on the morning of their wedding. With a potion given to her by her warlock brother, Nicky (Jack Lemmon), Gillian summons best-selling author Sidney Redlitch (Ernie Kovacs), in whom Shep expressed interest, to New York. Redlitch visits Shep without knowing why, but says he'd like Shep to publish his new book about witches in New York, though Shep is skeptical. Shep and Gillian take Redlitch to a club where Nicky works. Gillian tells Nicky to stop Redlitch's book, but instead Nicky reveals his powers to Redlitch and offers his help on the book in exchange for a share of the profits. Shep proposes to Gillian, but she is reluctant to accept because she will lose her powers if she falls in love. She does accept which upsets Nicky. To prevent Shep from learning she is a witch, Gillian hexes Redlitch's manuscript. But she is overcome by feelings of guilt and confesses her nature to Shep. Shep is upset and is determined to break Gillian's spell, though she does love him.