Based on the 1950 theater production of the same title. The movie starts on Christmas eve, set in New York, but the Christmas magic here is of an unusual sort, coming from witches.  Kim Novak plays Gillian Holroyd, the beautiful enchantress who takes an interest in her new neighbor, Shep Henderson (Jimmy Stewart) a publisher who is already engaged to someone else. Shep of course (being of James Stewart) is stoic and incorruptible by normal feminine wiles, so Gillian casts a spell on him.  This is Jimmy Stewart’s last true romantic lead because he was twice the age of his costars. Supporting actors include Hermione Gingold, Ernie Kovacs, Elsa Lanchester (Bride of Frankenstein) Jack Lemmon (Odd Couple), and Janice Rule.

This Jimmy Stewart movie was the inspiration for the TV show Bewitched, was taken in part from Bell Book and Candle. But where the TV series always saw Samantha being denied the use of her witchcraft, the film tells us that falling in love will erase a witch’s magic completely. This adds a level to the boy meets girl story, because while Gillain has an interest in Shep, at first she sees him as a play thing, a diversion, not someone she has any true romantic interest in. He, in response to discovering that she is a witch who has cast a spell on him, does what any sane man would do. He separates himself from the attractive vixen, seeking higher help to break the enchantment.  He sees her abuse of power as a callousness towards mere mortals and can ignore any lingering feelings because of this.  She on the other hand ends up falling for this man of integrity and loses her powers, changing her personality as she is no longer able to manipulate people.

Trivia and/or nostalgia

A bell, book and candle are key ingredients for an exorcism. Ring a bell, open a book and light a candle….then reverse the process when all is done. This makes me wonder if Jimmy Stewart would return to life if we played the movie backwards? Regardless, if you’re an old movie buff you might want to check out the Blondie and Dagwood movies.

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A young American couple of college grads are spending 9 weeks in the Greek isles before beginning their respective professional lives. Cathy Featherstone, an fledgling photographer and Michael Pappas, who is set to take over his father’s business, have been dating for 5 years and known each other since their teens. Their vacation allows them to enjoy nude beaches and explore their sexuality, shaking off responsibilities and parental expectations.

Micheal gets distracted one day by another woman Lina, who is an archaeologist helping to unearth the Akrotiri excavation. (According to the tourist webpage, the site is still open for visits). They end up having sex and overcome by guilt he confesses to Cathy. She, understandably gets upset and yells at him to get it out of his system. She tries to be with someone else, but can’t do it. While Micheal stays out all night at Lina’s. Cathy confronts Lina, who explains that she isn’t looking for a complicated relationship, so she won’t be taking Michael from Cathy. Cathy likes Lina in spite of herself and she begins to be included in the couple’s explorations of the island.

The relationship develops all around, until they are an inseparable threesome. Lina gets worried that if she stays with them it will hurt worse when they leave. And she disappears. The couple search high and low for her for days, finally deciding that if she doesn’t want to be found, they won’t find her. Everything around them reminds them of her and they pack to leave 3 weeks before their lease is up.
Lina meanwhile realizes that she was truly happy with them and heads back, only to find the house empty. She rushes to the airport, they see her just before boarding the plane, and overjoyed celebrate her return.

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The title prince is accompanied by his son and mother in law. The 16 year old son is eager to take on responsibilities as reigning King from his father, who is acting regent until he comes of age. The family, loosely based on Romanian royalty is from the fictional Carpathia, a country in the Balkans. The Prince is given a political attaché named Northbrook to make his visit to London enjoyable. Northbrook takes the Prince Regent to a musical, where he becomes smitten with Marilyn Monroe playing the showgirl Elsie Marina.

Invited to dinner, Elsie is at first is less than impressed by the Rengent Prince. Distracted by responsibilities, he leaves her alone for much of dinner and she, encouraged to stay by Northbrook, drinks too much. When the Prince tries to make a pass at her, she rudely rebuffs him, saying she expected romance and gypsy violins. The Prince composes himself and brings in a violinist. Then just when Elsie is starting to swoon for him, the alcohol, she’d been sipping all night, catches up with her and she passes out.

Having spent the night at the Carpathian embassy, Elsie overhears the young King plotting to overthrow his father by making alliances with the Germans. Elsie goes to Grandma (the Queen mother) for advice and is asked to remain for the coronation in place of the her lady in waiting, who has taken ill. Elsie uses her time with the family to convince the young King to write up a contract and put off his political sabotage against his father in exchange for a general election. The Prince regent is impressed, and finds himself appreciating more than Elsie’s body. But first a reconciliation with his son, to whom he has failed to show real affection.

The film ends with the pair going their separate ways, vowing that in 18 months each will be free of professional obligations.

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The movie Casablanca is not only a classic because of the great story line but it’s one because the main character was the kind of man any group of spiteful feminists and Gillette razors would have labeled as having “toxic masculinity.” He had no problems saying what was on his mind; standing his ground and when push came to shove, he threw punches. This man was the perfect anti-hero and it’s no surprise that even today he makes many women fantasize about being with him. (Including me)

Watch Casablanca

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