Bewitched (film)

Infobox Film
name = Bewitched

---

caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Nora Ephron
producer = Nora Ephron
Douglas Wick
Penny Marshall
writer = Sol Saks (TV series)
Nora Ephron
Delia Ephron
starring = Nicole Kidman
Will Ferrell
Shirley MacLaine
Michael Caine
music = George Fenton
cinematography = John Lindley
editing = Tia Nolan
distributor = Columbia Pictures
released = June 24, 2005
runtime = 101 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget = $85,000,000
gross = $131,426,169
website = http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/bewitched/index.html
imdb_id = 0374536

"Bewitched" is a 2005 family comedy-fantasy produced by Columbia Pictures and inspired by the classic television series of the same name (produced by Columbia's Screen Gems television studio, now Sony Pictures Television). The film was released in the United States and Canada on June 24 2005. It was written, produced, and directed by Nora Ephron and featured as co-stars Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell. Although it is a family film, it was rated PG-13 in the US, and PG in the UK and Australia. The film began filming in 2004 and was finished by early 2005.

According to the teaser, it was originally scheduled for release in July, but instead, it opened on June 24, 2005. [ [http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/bewitched/high_teaser.html Apple - Trailers - Bewitched - Teaser - Large ] ]

Plot

The film is not an adaptation of the television series, but more of an homage. It is about a witch named Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kidman) who wants to give up magic and have a normal life, despite her magic-loving father's (Michael Caine) warnings that she cannot live without it. She meets a failing movie star named Jack Wyatt (Ferrell) who wants to find an unknown actress to play a witch — and his wife — in a TV show, a modern adaptation of the classic TV show "Bewitched", a ploy whereby the egocentric actor can eclipse his co-star and claim the spotlight entirely. Part of this is perpetrated by his agent (Jason Schwartzman), who is just as obnoxious as Jack.

When she becomes more popular than he is and unintentionally takes the spotlight away, the pompous, self-centered Jack decides to downplay her role and make the show focus on Darrin (thus garnering the audience's attention). Isabel becomes angry when she finds out (since he told her during her auditions that he "needed her") and furiously tells him that he is a jerk. The harsh words, strangely enough, appeal to Jack who never had anyone speak their mind to him before, especially his ex-wife (who he claimed preferred to just lock him out of the house). He begins to give her bigger roles and the two begin to fall in love. Isabel feels guilty for hiding her powers from Jack however, and shows him her powers. He becomes upset that she might be using magic to manipulate his emotions and make him pregnant and leaves her. Devastated, Isabel decides to return home, where Jack is told by Uncle Arthur (Steve Carell) she must stay for 100 years once she returns. Jack realizes that he loves Isabel for real after all and tries to find her before she returns home. To his surprise, he finds her at the studio, which she considers her "home". Jack proposes to her and she accepts. Before she accepts, it is revealed that she did not have to remain at her home for 100 years before she could, once again, return.

Meanwhile the "spirits" of the old "Bewitched" television show work their own magic on Isabel and Jack by ensuring that the couple ends up in a happy union of witch to mortal like on the original series. The home in which Isabel and Jack finally settle in together is numbered "1164" as a nod to the house from the original TV series (at 1164 Morning Glory Circle); their new neighbors are also a nod to their TV counterparts.

Cast

* Nicole Kidman as Isabel Bigelow / Samantha Stephens
* Will Ferrell as Jack Wyatt / Darrin Stephens
* Shirley MacLaine as Iris Smythson / Endora
* Michael Caine as Nigel Bigelow
* Jason Schwartzman as Ritchie
* Kristin Chenoweth as Maria Kelly
* Stephen Colbert as Stu Robison
* David Alan Grier as Jim Fields

Characters From The Series

* Carole Shelley as Aunt Clara
* Steve Carell as Uncle Arthur
* Amy Sedaris as Gladys Kravitz
* Richard Kind as Abner Kravitz
* Elizabeth Montgomery (uncredited) as Samantha Stephens (archive footage)
* Dick York (uncredited) as Darrin Stephens (archive footage)
* Agnes Moorehead (uncredited) as Endora (archive footage)
* Paul Lynde (uncredited) as Uncle Arthur (archive footage)

Cameo Appearances

* Ed McMahon as Himself
* Conan O'Brien as Himself
* James Lipton as Himself
* Nick Lachey as Vietnam Soldier

Trivia

* When Aunt Clara's bag drops from the chimney, a whole bunch of doorknobs fall out of it. This is in reference to the original series in which Aunt Clara collected doorknobs.
* The "Bewitched" theme that we hear about halfway through the film, complete with lyrics, sounds like Frank Sinatra, but it was actually a 1964 recording done by Steve Lawrence who was known for his uncanny impersonation of Sinatra.
* The part of Nigel Bigelow was written specifically for Michael Caine.
* Broomsticks were sent out to movie theaters as promotional items for the film.
* This movie marks the second time Nicole Kidman has played a witch. The first time was in 1998's Practical Magic.

Production

Amy Sedaris appears at the end of the film as nosy neighbor "Gladys Kravitz", the third actress to play this "Bewitched" character.

Kristin Chenoweth originated the 'Glinda the Good Witch' role in "Wicked", the 2003 smash hit Broadway musical about the early years of the witches of Oz. After seeing Chenoweth perform, Nicole Kidman recommended her for Nora Ephron's "Bewitched" film, and thereafter was cast as Isabel's best friend, Maria Kelly.

The film had a notorious post-production period. [ [http://www.harpiesbizarre.com/movie.htm Bewitched: The Movie - The Celluloid Saga - Bewitched @ Harpies Bizarre ] ] A number of reshoots took place, many of which went unused, the script was rewritten during production and the ending was changed after production had finished, resulting in more reshoots.

Reception

The movie was panned by critics, [ [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bewitched/ Bewitched Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes ] ] and by many of the original shows fanbase, yet earned a worldwide gross of $131,413,159. The total US gross was $63,313,159 with international at $68,100,000.

The pairing of Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell earned a Razzie Award for "Worst Screen Couple" in a 2005 film.

DVD

The DVD was released on October 25, 2005 by Columbia TriStar. The DVD included deleted scenes, several making-of featurettes, a trivia game, and an audio commentary by the director.

tandard Edition

* Bewitched (Special Edition)
* Release date: October 25, 2005
* Format: DVD
* Running Time: 102 Min.
* Rated: PG13
* DVD Features:
# Deleted Scenes
# Casting a Spell: Making BEWITCHED Featurette
# Star Shots Featurette
# Why I Love BEWITCHED Featurette
# Director Nora Ephron audio commentary
# Witch Vision Trivia Track
# Bewitched Trivia Game
# Previews

* DVD Details:
# Studio: Columbia
# CC: English (US)
# Sub: English (US), French (Parisian)
# Color/B&W: Color

Japan Special Limited Edition

* Release date: December 21, 2005
* Format: DVD
* Running Time: 102 Min.
* Rated: PG13
* Details: It release in Japan for many edition. Include 1, 2, and 3 discs edition, with special package.

References

External links

* [http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/bewitched/index.html Official site]
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* [http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/Bewitched1.shtml Film Locations]
* [http://www.harpiesbizarre.com/movie.htm Movie Project History from a Bewitched fan site]
* [http://www.moviehole.net/news/20050609_5758.html Nicole Kidman interview for Bewitched]