MovieChat Forums > I Married a Witch (1942) Discussion > The Inspiration for Bewitched

The Inspiration for Bewitched

posted 17 years ago by Marinas1212
14 replies | jump to latest

I remember watching this little gem of a movie on AMC and the announcer mentioned this was the movie that inspired The Bewitched sit-com with Elizabeth Montgomery.

Why wish for the moon when we can have the stars?

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Bart_Decaux 16 years ago

I don't think it's ever been confirmed that it actually inspired Bewitched- no-one ever owned up to it- though it is widely believed to be the case and it certainly seems likely.

[–] pcastine 9 years ago

Sol Saks apparently "owned up" in an article published in 1985: "The Craft of Comedy Writing" in Writer's Digest. He cited both "I Married a Witch" and "Bell, Book, and Candle" as sources of the idea for Bewitched.

Thing is, the idea of "person with supernatural powers falls-in-love with mortal" is an archetype that is far older than 1942, and even older than Thorne Smiths' The Passionate Witch. There examples going back to Greek mythology (which is rife with "god/goddess falls in love with mortal"). Probably the most well-known variation on this meme in popular culture is the Superman/Lois Lane pairing. (The twist that Lois loves Superman while ignoring Clark Kent is another ancient archetype.)

There's nothing new under the sun; just variations. But it's the variation that makes things interesting.-)

____
Not plot holes. Artistic license.

[–] mikeoak840 16 years ago

It's completely false, but that's the sort of nonsense one hears frequently on AMC. Elizabeth Montgomery denied it, her husband (the show's creator) William Asher denied it, screenwriters and various others have vehemently denied it for decades. The only thing the two have in common is a witch marrying a mortal. A far stronger case could be made for Bell, Book & Candle being the impetus for the television series.

[–] Aeneas-2 14 years ago

I would assert that two people intimately involved in creating Bewitched can't be taken at face value in their denial, either. Vanilla Ice denied "Play That Funky Music" was actually the same as "Play That Funky Music, White Boy." All we can confirm from that information is that the creators DENIED it was an inspiration. It's evidence, but it's not proof.

And I would certainly question your almost bizarre contention that they shared almost nothing in common. If nothing else, the fact that the witch's parent is a major roadblock because of disapproval of her loving a mortal is almost too obvious to require pointing out. Then there's the whole free-spirited witch with the staid, stodgy mortal.

I do agree with you that Bell, Book and Candle is likely an inspiration for Bewitched. I just believe both films "probably" acted as inspiration.

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people are so full of doubt." -- Bertrand Russell

[–] mitchxyz 11 years ago

I'm sure Elizabeth Montgomery's resemblance to Veronica Lake is totally coincidental.

[–] Bart_Decaux 16 years ago

Although I'm aware of it, I haven't seen Bell, Book and Candle so I'll bow to greater knowledge on that subject.

Actually, the general idea of witches and mortals getting it together isn't terribly uncommon in many forms of medium; I have an old comic story that is later than "I Married A Witch" but earlier than "Bewitched", which involves a witch becoming enamoured with the mortal man she was sent to destroy. It's totally different in every way to either of those two, except for the central premise.

I suppose in some ways it's a bit unfair to actually compare "Bewitched" and "I Married A Witch" since they both come from quite different eras culturally, and one was a film with limited time to tell the story whereas the other is a sitcom series with a very long time to explore many different ideas.

Personally, I like them both anyway.

[–] Ricochet84 15 years ago

It may not be official, but I bet the creators of Bewitched *had* seen this show before introducing the pilot. I mean, they are so similar, the producers of I Married A Witch could have practically gotten away with a lawsuit!

I preferred the movie, but not by much.

Keep The Change!

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Xcalat3 15 years ago

interesting

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

[–] filmbuff1974 13 years ago

Wow, that is awesome trivia! I knew the theme was familiar but couldn't place it until you made the "Bewitched" connection.

Live Full & Die Empty. Tap Your Potential and Realise Your Dreams!

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Jes' Sayin' (5947) 2 years ago

It was pretty obvious that it must have been an inspiration.