Blu-ray Review Bell Book and Candle Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

[Will Krupp]

Originally Posted by JoHud /t/320047/bell-book-and-candle-blu-ray-review/30#post_3921111
Looks like art isn't all that can be based on personal interpretation...

I'm not sure what it is you are saying here.

 

[Mark-W]

How about getting back to the movie and take other topics to the "After Hours Lounge" forum?

I wonder if this would come up in a thread about GOJIRA/GODZILLA and the discussion included many comments about the nuclear bombing of Japan and its impact on Japanese society.
I wonder if this would come up in a thread about VERTIGO and the discussion included many comments about James Stewart's character being a conscious or subconscious proxy for Hitchcock.
I wonder if this would come up in a thread about CITIZEN KANE and the discussion included many comments about William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies, and her rosebud.
I wonder if this would come up in a thread about GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT and the discussion included many comments about Zanuck's first hand experience with Antisemitism even though he was a Gentile.
I know I would be thinking, "These comments, lengthy though they may be, are germane to the discussion of the film itself and should not be quarantined in the After Hours Lounge,"
even it it might be a good idea to have independent threads there about those topics in the After Hours Lounge.

 

[Will Krupp]

In short, it wouldn't. Coded thematic elements as they relate to the films themselves are apparently okey dokey as long as it's not something icky or uncomfortable like "the gays."

(It's kind of like the old days when THE ADVOCATE would be placed on newsstands next to the porn rather than next to NEWSWEEK or TIME.)

 

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Mark Walker /t/320047/bell-book-and-candle-blu-ray-review/30#post_3921096
I would *almost* agree, except I gave a list where many could apply to several groups, however line item four,
They can be among you and you don't even know it. is particularly true for gays and lesbians.

And for other minorities as well. Skin color is not absolute nor is the definition of MINORITY. I'm sorry, but your "items" are not exclusive to gays and lesbians as much as you seem to want to them to be, for whatever reason.

 

[Johnny Angell]

Since I missed the gay theme until it was pointed out, I think it's important to discuss it here in the context of of the film. I wouldn't have known about this without this thread.

 

[Mark-W]

And for other minorities as well. Skin color is not absolute nor is the definition of MINORITY.  I'm sorry, but your "items" are not exclusive to gays and lesbians as much as you seem to want to them to be, for whatever reason.

Funny that you mention that, as I just had to complete a non-discrimination and harassment in the workplace training module, and "color" is very much a protected non-discrimination class independently of race or nation of origin.
Also, a point of clarification, I have already stated some may apply to some groups and even many to most, but the entire list, as applied during the era the film was made in, is most analogous to the LGBT community of the time and place of the film.
No one ever had experts suggest lobotomies as a cure for someone's nation of origin or other minority status outside of the LGBT community.
No one ever thought folks could "pray away" their minority status except those in the LGBT community.

 

[Professor Echo]

It's down to semantics now, but we can agree to disagree.

Unfortunately I'm in this thread's minority as I can't afford to buy this Blu Ray even though I would love to have it. With or without subtext, I would love to be able to go back to the Greenwich Village of that time.

 

[John Hermes]

I wonder if this would come up in a thread about GOJIRA/GODZILLA and the discussion included many comments about the nuclear bombing of Japan and its impact on Japanese society.
I wonder if this would come up in a thread about VERTIGO and the discussion included many comments about James Stewart's character being a conscious or subconscious proxy for Hitchcock.
I wonder if this would come up in a thread about CITIZEN KANE and the discussion included many comments about William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies, and her rosebud.
I wonder if this would come up in a thread about GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT and the discussion included many comments about Zanuck's first hand experience with Antisemitism even though he was a Gentile.
I know I would be thinking, "These comments, lengthy though they may be, are germane to the discussion of the film itself and should not be quarantined in the After Hours Lounge,"
even it it might be a good idea to have independent threads there about those topics in the After Hours Lounge.

It would come up in any thread if I thought it was getting too off-topic. One person's interpretation of off-topic can be different from another's. It is starting to get into an almost political realm here, something better for the After Hours Lounge. That's my opinion. Whether I had posted here before this doesn't matter, Will. I have been following this thread since I own the movie.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

This thread has gotten off-topic.

Move this kind of debate into The After Hours Lounge if you must.

I also want to remind everyone to be respectful to each other.

Let's get back to general discussion of this film without trying
to analyze it to the point where it's introducing controversy.


I will be deleting any further posts that cannot abide by my request.

We are no longer discussing the controversial issues introduced into
this thread. Take it elsewhere.

 

[Will Krupp]

Not to mention that Van Druten was NOT a member of any other minority (unless one counts Oxford educated Brits as a minority but one would be hard pressed to fit that into Bell Book and Candle) and it is specifically SET in the gay enclave of postwar Greenwich Village.

Originally Posted by Professor Echo /t/320047/bell-book-and-candle-blu-ray-review/60#post_3921134


I'm sorry, but your "items" are not exclusive to gays and lesbians as much as you seem to want to them to be, for whatever reason.

This is one step away from saying that we who are discussing this are pushing a "gay agenda." The items as listed and as they relate to THIS work make the connection crystal clear. It seems to be you who, for whatever reason (though I think I could make an educated guess) wants to make it about anything BUT.

 

[Mark-W]

deleted my comments.

 

[Johnny Angell]

I just watched my DVD of this film and noticed something I'd never noticed before. When Stewart and Novak are reclining together on a couch in their bare feet, it appears that Stewart's second toes (ones next to the biggie) extend beyond his big toes. Perhaps he was bewitched.
You know, in the scene where Novak is first putting her spell on Stewart, well it made me feel quite heterosexual.

 

[Edwin-S]

I had never seen the movie. Basically, I ordered this because it was mentioned that it was an influence for "Bewitched", so I was curious to see what the film was like. As a comedy the film is basically a dud, as it is not particularly funny. The main reason for ever visiting the film again comes down to one reason: Kim Novak in her prime. She was definitely easy on the eyes and worth watching again at some point in time. Stewart, Lemmon, and Kovacs also did pretty good jobs with what they were given. I thought Kovacs was actually the most impressive because he was able to create a character with presence and yet had very little screen time in which to do it.

 

[jim_falconer]

Originally Posted by Edwin-S
I had never seen the movie. Basically, I ordered this because it was mentioned that it was an influence for "Bewitched", so I was curious to see what the film was like. As a comedy the film is basically a dud, as it is not particularly funny.

Definitely agree with this statement. I just watched BB&C for the first time the other day, and have to say it was pretty disappointing. Jimmy Stewart was too old for the role, and Kim Novack's painted-on eyebrows were a constant distraction. Guess I could see some slight parallels to Bewitched, but where that show and it's cast was funny and warm, this movie was cold, uninspired, and lacking direction. I did enjoy Jack Lemmon for the most part, but that could not save BB&C from being a complete dud.

 

[Bob Cashill]

To each his own. BBC is a star-crossed romance with comic elements; BEWITCHED, a laugh-track sitcom, charming in its way. Best not to blind buy.

 

[Robin9]

Edwin's assessment is about the same as mine. As I enjoy looking at Kim Novak, I always like this film. I don't find the movie "a complete dud" although I admit it doesn't make me laugh.

 

[Keith Cobby]

This is a favourite film of mine and I thank Twilight Time for releasing it on Blu-ray. If you are looking to upgrade from the original DVD release there is a big improvement in picture quality. However if you have the Kim Novak box set then you will not notice such an improvement. The films in the set were remastered and I expect this source was used for the Blu-ray. I really like the 'look' of the film and the great cinematography. James Stewart and Kim Novak have good chemistry. Favourite moments are when James Stewart and Janice Rule are looking for the Zodiac Club and the scene inside the club with Elsa Lanchester and Jack Lemmon.

 

[Nelson Au]

Hey guys, thought I’d chime into this thread late. I’ve recently discovered this title and the Twilight Time Blu Ray is well out of print. Thought I’d post here in case there might be anyone whose interested in selling their copy. Though I know it’s unlikely, thought I’d try. I’m currently watching a copy on eBay now and might go with that one.

 

[darkrock17]

Hey guys, thought I’d chime into this thread late. I’ve recently discovered this title and the Twilight Time Blu Ray is well out of print. Thought I’d post here in case there might be anyone whose interested in selling their copy. Though I know it’s unlikely, thought I’d try. I’m currently watching a copy on eBay now and might go with that one.

I clicked on here thinking this was a press release from possibly Criterion, they would be the best company to re-release this film that or maybe Shout as they've released some classic films quite recently as well.

Good luck to you on trying to get a copy, I wish I did back in 2012 but it was rather pricey back then.

 

[Nelson Au]

Thanks Andrew! It would be nice to see this re-released.