I Married A Witch Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: I Married A Witch
Year: 1942
Director: Rene Clair
Country: US
Language: English

Blonde bombshells have graced the silver screen time and time again. In the 50's the world was introduced to the lovely Marilyn Monroe via Joseph L. Mankiewicz's Oscar Winning All About Eve. In the 40's Cinema had Veronika Lake, a fiery woman who knew what she wanted and how to get it. Though often getting on the nerves of the rest of her cast, many of whom refused to work with her again, she starred in over 30 films in the 1940's including the much loved Sullivan's Travels. In 1942 she continued to impress when she was cast in I Married A Witch.

 In 1672, two witches (Jennifer and her father Daniel) were burned by puritan Jonathan Wooley. In revenge, Jennifer (Veronika Lake) cursed all future generations of the Wooley family, that the sons will always marry the wrong woman and be miserable. In the 20th century, a bolt of lightning frees Jennifer and her father from the tree that had kept their souls imprisoned. Jennifer assumes physical form and decides to make politician Wallace Wooley unhappily in love with her.

Rene Clair's I Married A Witch had such positive response when it was first released that it became the central inspiration for Sol Saks' television show Bewitched, which would eventually go on to inspire generations of shows like Charmed. Though considered a very fun film, Lake's conduct towards her co-workers was the exact opposite. Lead actors Lake and Fredric March became bitter enemies, this resulted in her kicking him in the groin during the shooting of one scene and wearing forty pound weights under her shirt during a shoot where March had to pick her up. March would later nickname the film I Married A Bitch.

Despite the onstage antics, I Married A Witch is a charming and enchanting romantic comedy with many humorous moments. It is fun and wild, Clair's thoughtful use of special effects shows that he was quite a competent Director. Fredric March's acting is superb and Veronika Lake, like always, oozes sex appeal. However the lighting is lackluster for a 40's film and the mood is quite perplexing. This is a screwball comedy, but has a dark side which seems out of place.

In conclusion, though I Married A Witch had some enjoyable moments, overall Clair's film was lackluster and underwhelming. The plot felt flimsy and I didn't feel as entranced in it as I did with Lake, March and Clair's other films like Sullivan's Travels, Le Million and The Best Days of Our Lives. It is worth the price of admission, but I wouldn't see it again. 3/5