Bewitched

Bewitched
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Nora Ephron
Produced by	Nora Ephron Douglas Wick Penny Marshall
Written by	Sol Saks (TV series) Nora Ephron Delia Ephron
Starring	Nicole Kidman Will Ferrell Shirley MacLaine Michael Caine
Music by	George Fenton
Cinematography	John Lindley
Editing by	Tia Nolan
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)	June 24, 2005
Running time	101 min.
Country	USA
Language	English
Budget	$85,000,000
Gross revenue	$131,426,169

Bewitched is a 2005 family comedy-fantasy produced by Columbia Pictures and is a Re-imagining of 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. Filming began from September 7, 2004 until early 2005.

According to the teaser, it was originally scheduled for release in July, but instead, it opened on June 24, 2005.^[1]

Plot

The film is not an adaptation of the television series, but rather a deconstruction of it. 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 (Will 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 furious when she finds out. Her harsh words, strangely enough, appeal to Jack who rarely hears honest criticism. He begins to give her a bigger role and the two begin to fall in love and enjoy filming their TV show.

Isabel eventually becomes worried that she has hidden her true identity from Jack, and finally shows him her powers. He becomes fearful of her supernatural nature and they separate. 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 soundstage, 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
• Heather Burns as Nina
• 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
• Kate Walsh as Waitress

Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (August 2008)

• 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.
• James Lipton is shown interviewing Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell) on TV. Ferrell used to impersonate Lipton during his years on Saturday Night Live.
• The Salem "Witch House", Magistrate Jonathon Corwin's former home, appears in the movie.

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 role of 'Glinda the Good Witch' 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.

Carole Shelley who plays Aunt Clara played Madame Morrible opposite Kristin Chenoweth in "Wicked"^[2]

The film had a notorious post-production period.^[3] 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 $85-million budgeted movie was panned by critics, and by many of the original show's fanbase, yet earned a worldwide gross of $131,413,159. Rotten Tomatoes reported that 25% of the critics gave positive reviews, based upon 177 reviews. ^[4] The total US gross was $63,313,159 with international at $68,100,000.

Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell's on-screen pairing was lacked by moviegoers and earned the two a Razzie Award for "Worst Screen Couple" in the film. It was also nominated an additional four Razzies including Worst Director, Worst Actor (Will Ferrell), Worst Screenplay and Worst Remake or Sequel.

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.

Standard Edition

• Bewitched (Special Edition)
• Release date: October 25, 2005
• Format: DVD
• Running Time: 102 Min.
• Rated: PG13
• DVD Features:

1. Deleted Scenes
2. Casting a Spell: Making BEWITCHED Featurette
3. Star Shots Featurette
4. Why I Love BEWITCHED Featurette
5. Director Nora Ephron audio commentary
6. Witch Vision Trivia Track
7. Bewitched Trivia Game
8. Previews

• DVD Details:

1. Studio: Columbia
2. CC: English (US)
3. Sub: English (US), French (Parisian)
4. Color/B&W: Color

References

External links

• Official site
• Bewitched at the Internet Movie Database
• Bewitched at Box Office Mojo
• Film Locations
• Movie Project History from a Bewitched fan site
• Nicole Kidman interview for Bewitched