Friday, November 16, 2012

Pyewacket

 Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak) with her cat, Pyewacket in "Bell, Book and Candle"


A couple of excellent entries in the movie rewatch.

Vertigo (1958)

Former detective John "Scottie" Ferguson (James Stewart ) is hired as a private investigator
to follow Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak ) - the wife of a friend who believes she may be possessed by the spirit of her great-grandmother.
The title refers to Scottie's medical condition - acrophobia or fear of heights - which is the
reason for his early retirement from his job as a detective.
I always find it quite uncomfortable watching the normally down to earth good guy James Stewart
playing such a mentally disturbed individual. His character's obsessive behaviour is very unnerving.
Kim Novak successfully characterizes three separate characters - Madeleine, Carlotta
Valdes and Judy Barton - largely with subtle changes to her voice.
Very clever film. I'd forgotten many of the finer details so it was like watching it for the first time.
















                                                                        ***

Bell, Book and Candle (1958)

James Stewart and Kim Novak team up again in this story about witchcraft in New York. Super stylish witch, Gillian Holroyd (Novak) casts a spell on her neighbour Shep Henderson (Stewart) to make him fall in love with her. Funny, sweet and very "hip".
Favourite things :
 Gillian's cat/familiar Pyewacket is one of the best movie cats ever. How do you train a cat to do the
things he does? I'm intrigued.
 Gillian's clothes! She wears the most amazing outfits - always black, red or leopard print. Wish I could have screencapped them all!
 






















 

1 comment:

librarygirl said...

I looooooooove those two films!