Every time I watch this movie, I enjoy it less and less. I used to at least think it was cute but now I can hardly stand it. I have never found Jimmy Stewart attractive and he's much too old here to be playing the lovesick swain. He comes across as a complete fuddy-duddy. Kim Novak is a beautiful woman who gives great bitch-face, but that hair! It did her no favors whatsoever. I almost wish I could have turned the color off so it would have at least matched her eyebrows. Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak) is a card-carrying witch. When she finds out the new upstairs neighbor (James Stewart) is planning to marry her high school enemy (Janice Rule), she decides to use magic to steal him away. But she must be careful not to actually fall in love with him or she'll lose all her powers.
Which is about the stupidest thing I've ever heard. This is explained away by saying that witches aren't truly human; they can only become able to cry or blush when they fall in love with a human. Presumably, nothing would happen should they fall in love with another witch. If that's even possible, considering the witches presented here range from harmless busybodies (Elsa Lanchester) to narcissistic (Jack Lemmon) to downright malicious (Kim Novak).
The beatnik stylings are horribly dated and drab. The few good lines of dialogue are sprinkled in sparingly, leaving more room for Ernie Kovacs' drivel.
The only reason this movie even exists is because Alfred Hitchcock wanted Kim Novak for Vertigo but her studio refused unless Jimmy Stewart made a picture for them in return.
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