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"Bewitched" before there was such a thing. (*** of ***** Average)
Pros: Good performances, magical tone. Cons: Low budget effects, not really laugh out loud funny.
Viewed: 4 February 2006 Format: DVR recording from Turner Classic Movies
"I Married a Witch" is one of many fantasy comedies that were popular in the 1940's. With the war on, audiences most likely wanted an escape from the horrors coming though on the newswire. In "Witch" the war is AWOL, though the evil of one of main characters might be seen as a reflection of the current times.
Back in the Pilgrim days, Jonathan Wooley and his village burns the witches Jennifer and her father Daniel, despite his fascination for the woman, and plants a tree over the ashes to seal their sprits inside. In the process, Jennifer curses the Wooley family so that over the years they continually marry shrews.
Cut to the modern day (1942), when the current Wooley (Wallace) is running for Governor of an unnamed state with the support of his future father-in-law, a press baron. When a lighting strike frees the two witches, they watch him in sprit form (two puffs of smoke) with glee as fiancée soon shows herself to be no better than past Wooley wives.
Jennifer wants a body to order to further torment Wallace by making him fall in love with her on the eve of his marriage. A magical spell involving burning down a hotel provides it. (Hellfire is a running theme in this movie and it is inferred that their witchcraft powers come from the backing of the Devil) A passing Wallace runs into the burning building and 'rescues' her. She then of course proceeds to turn his life upside down in true classic film fashion.
I enjoyed Veronica Lake in this film very much, her character having a fun spoiled air of someone who is baffled when people don't do what she wants them to. Cecil Kellaway also gives a great performance as the a slightly comic man who never the less enjoys causing unpleasantness to happen to others. His small speech about the electric chair truly has a creepy air.
The film's budget lets it down some, as does it script. The effects are merely adequate, even for he time. Overall there isn't any real big laughs, but "Witch" is whimsical enough and has enough chuckles and smiles to be enjoyable.
The Bottom Line: Slightly sub-par but fun screwball comedy.
Recommend to a friend?: Yes.
++Review copyright 2006 by Jonthan D. Parshall++
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