Movie Bewitched based on - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

missle · 10-21-2001, 05:30 PM

I seem to remember a black and white movie from the 50's that was a precursor for the bewitched series. It involved a witch living in the big city and the concequences of falling in love with a mortal. Does anyone remember the name of this movie?

10-21-2001, 08:19 PM

I think the film you are thinking of is "I Married A Witch". There was also another one called "Bell Book And Candle"

Mijada · 10-23-2001, 07:44 PM

Bell Book and Candle was in color. It starred Kim Novak, James Stewart and a very young Jack Lemmon. It's a really cute movie to watch, especially around the holidays.

TV Guy · 10-23-2001, 08:09 PM

"I Married a Witch" is from the 1940s.

Liza · 10-31-2001, 04:43 PM

I vaguely remember seeing "I Married a Witch" and noticing a relationship between it and Bewitched, but there were certainly a lot of differences. I don't think Bewitched was actually based off of it, but there are a few similarities in the premise.

10-31-2001, 05:46 PM

FWIW, E! recently ran a one-hour special on "Bewitched" on their "True Hollywood Stories" series and noted the lineal descent from "I Married a Witch" (which starred Veronica Lake) and "Bewitched". The special noted that Lake was the screen's first "beautiful" witch and ran the scene where Lake's character tries to convince her husband that she is a witch (a scene similar to that in "Bewitched" when Sam first tells Darrin she's a witch).

I have a TV Guide book which also notes the relationship.

I suspect that the creators of "Bewitched" were "inspired" by "I Married a Witch" (and "Bell, Book, and Candle") to come up with something similar - but not *too* similar, so they wouldn't have to pay royalties to the rightsholders of the two movies.

Arfies · 09-28-2002, 07:53 PM

I saw the E! special on Bewitched and the clip showing wasn't part of it. But Sol Saks, BW creator, did say (about the premise of beautiful blonde witch married to a mortal man):
"They've got movies- Bell, Book, and Candle; I Married A Witch - we could be sued!"
To which a producer replied, "No- Columbia Pictures owns those."
(Columbia/ Screen Gems produced BW as well).
But aside from the first episode of Samantha telling Darrin she was a witch, the similarities end there.
And- Cecil Kellaway, was played Jennifer's father in I Married A Witch, also had a guest appearance as Santa Claus (!) on Bewitched

10-21-2001, 05:30 PM	#1
missle Member First Time Poster Join Date: Oct 21, 2001 Posts: 1	Movie Bewitched based on I seem to remember a black and white movie from the 50's that was a precursor for the bewitched series. It involved a witch living in the big city and the concequences of falling in love with a mortal. Does anyone remember the name of this movie?

10-21-2001, 08:19 PM	#2
Rose Guest Posts: n/a	I think the film you are thinking of is "I Married A Witch". There was also another one called "Bell Book And Candle"
Rose Guest Posts: n/a

10-31-2001, 05:46 PM	#6
Jmodene Guest Posts: n/a	FWIW, E! recently ran a one-hour special on "Bewitched" on their "True Hollywood Stories" series and noted the lineal descent from "I Married a Witch" (which starred Veronica Lake) and "Bewitched". The special noted that Lake was the screen's first "beautiful" witch and ran the scene where Lake's character tries to convince her husband that she is a witch (a scene similar to that in "Bewitched" when Sam first tells Darrin she's a witch). I have a TV Guide book which also notes the relationship. I suspect that the creators of "Bewitched" were "inspired" by "I Married a Witch" (and "Bell, Book, and Candle") to come up with something similar - but not too similar, so they wouldn't have to pay royalties to the rightsholders of the two movies.
Jmodene Guest Posts: n/a

10-23-2001, 07:44 PM	#3
Mijada Spencers mom Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2001 Location: eastern US Posts: 4,093	Bell Book and Candle was in color. It starred Kim Novak, James Stewart and a very young Jack Lemmon. It's a really cute movie to watch, especially around the holidays.

10-23-2001, 08:09 PM	#4
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	"I Married a Witch" is from the 1940s.

10-31-2001, 04:43 PM	#5
Liza BestYearsofOurLives Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 24, 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 6,537	I vaguely remember seeing "I Married a Witch" and noticing a relationship between it and Bewitched, but there were certainly a lot of differences. I don't think Bewitched was actually based off of it, but there are a few similarities in the premise.

09-28-2002, 07:53 PM	#7
Arfies Memberific Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: There beneath the blue suburban skies, in summer, meanwhile back.... Posts: 481	I saw the E! special on Bewitched and the clip showing wasn't part of it. But Sol Saks, BW creator, did say (about the premise of beautiful blonde witch married to a mortal man): "They've got movies- Bell, Book, and Candle; I Married A Witch - we could be sued!" To which a producer replied, "No- Columbia Pictures owns those." (Columbia/ Screen Gems produced BW as well). But aside from the first episode of Samantha telling Darrin she was a witch, the similarities end there. And- Cecil Kellaway, was played Jennifer's father in I Married A Witch, also had a guest appearance as Santa Claus (!) on Bewitched