RICHARD QUINE

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB.5

USA, 1958.  Columbia Pictures Corporation, Julian Blaustein Productions Ltd..  Screenplay by Daniel Taradash, based on the play by John Van Druten.  Cinematography by James Wong Howe.  Produced by Julian Blaustein.  Music by George Duning.  Production Design by Cary Odell.  Costume Design by Jean Louis.  Film Editing by Charles Nelson.  

As Gillian Holroyd, a modern day witch living in New York’s Greenwich Village, Kim Novak finds herself falling in love with her upstairs neighbour (James Stewart, Novak’s co-star from Vertigo the same year) and to get him to fall in love with her, she casts a magic spell on him.  The old guy should be so lucky that the most appealing woman in the world who is responsible for the spontaneous puberty of millions of youngsters would even dare to look his way. Apart from that, the film boasts beautiful photography, snazzy outfits and some genuinely amusing moments, nothing that amounts to much but an enjoyable little affair all the same. Jack Lemmon plays Novak’s wizard brother, and as usual, he’s a big Virginia ham.

Academy Award Nominations:  Best Art Direction; Best Costume Design

Golden Globe Award Nomination:  Best Picture-Comedy