Quine’s sensitive adaptation of John van Druten’s popular Broadway comedy offers a touching statement on the transformative power of love and its ability to bridge different worlds. A curious and often overlooked sequel of sorts to Vertigo, Bell, Book and Candle reunites Hitchcock’s stars, with James Stewart as a Manhattanite mortal who falls in love and under the spell of a witch played by the beguiling Kim Novak. The rich character comedy involving the supporting cast frames the true heart of the film—the dilemmas faced by Novak’s witch, who must keep her magic powers a secret and above all, not fall in love under the risk of losing her powers. Behind the occasional silliness lies the age-old notion of love as a necessary—but not necessarily easy—sacrifice. Quine’s talent for fusing charm and melancholy makes this message believable, with the help of Novak’s poignant performance.