Must-See Movie: I Married a Witch

I Married a Witch (1942) 
This fantasy romantic comedy is the perfect find for some classic Halloween fun!  The film opens in 1672, where two witches were burned by puritan Jonathan Wooley. We are told that before her burning, the female witch cursed all future generations of the Wooley family; she deemed that all the sons will marry the wrong woman and be miserable. A tree grows over the place where they were hanged, trapping the witches' souls.

Fast-forward to the 20th century, and a bolt of lightning frees the witches, Jennifer and her father, from the tree. Jennifer assumes corporeal form (Veronica Lake) and decides to track down campaigning politician Wallace Wooley (Fredric March). True to the curse, Wooley is unhappily engaged to a shrewish woman and is miserable.  Jennifer concocts a scheme to make Wooley fall in love with her, thereby ruining his wedding and making his life even more disastrous. Wooley is not easily swayed by her charms, so Jennifer has to resort to a love potion. Unfortunately the potion backfires, and comedy ensues.

The TV show "Bewitched" was influenced by this film and later "Bell Book and Candle."  This film also solidified the iconic Veronica Lake hairstyle, platinum blonde and long, with her right eye covered. Many women copied the style during this time, which caused problems since they were working in war plants and their hair kept getting caught in the machinery. Lake was asked to change her style until after the war. When she did, she lost her iconic look and her popularity soon faded along with her career.

"Va Va Voom" Star of the Day

Veronica Lake
From Dr. X's Free Associations Blog:

Often cast as the femme fatale, 4' 11" Veronica Lake was one of America's surest box office bets in the early 1940s. Although popular with the public and, initially, well-regarded as an actress, Lake quickly acquired a reputation for being difficult on the job and was disliked openly and immensely by her fellow actors. She was teamed with 5'5" Alan Ladd in 4 films, even though Ladd was among the actors who disliked Lake.

In 1943, scathing reviews of her performance in The Hour Before Dawn, the premature birth and death of her first child and divorce from her first of several husbands triggered a decline in Lake's career and personal life. Drinking took its toll and other actors refused to work with her. Lake, who had been making $4,500 a week, was released from her studio contract in 1948.

She continued her downward spiral ending up with IRS problems, moving between fleabag hotels and getting arrested repeatedly for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. She did an occasional film and published a well-received autobiography (now considered collectible), but by the late 1960s she had become crippled by paranoia. She died of hepatitis and renal failure in 1970 at the age of 50.

Set Your Moxies!

Halloween is drawing nearer and this weekend has some classic flicks for you to Moxi!

On Friday, October 13th, Ed Wood's infamous masterpieces Plan 9 From Outer Space and Bride of the Monster air on TCM back to back.

The following day I Married a Witch, the movie starring Veronica Lake that inspired the TV show "Bewitched," is on TCM.

Check the TCM website or your TV menu for the times in your area.