A supernatural screwball comedy where love proves more powerful than ancient witchcraft
In short: In this 1942 classic, a vengeful witch is accidentally freed from a tree to torment the descendant of the man who condemned her. What begins as a supernatural curse evolves into a chaotic romantic comedy, proving that even the most potent spells are no match for human affection.
The film is based on The Passionate Witch, an unfinished novel by Thorne Smith who died in 1934. His friend Norman Matson completed the book, which became a best seller upon its 1941 publication. Paramount Pictures bought the rights that October, envisioning the project as a vehicle for Veronica Lake. Director René Clair was brought on board, and despite a revolving door of screenwriters—including Dalton Trumbo and Robert Pirosh—the production moved forward with a script that was often rewritten on the fly.
Behind the scenes, the production was marked by intense friction. Fredric March, who played the lead, Wallace Wooley, famously clashed with Lake, calling her a brainless sexpot. Lake retaliated with practical jokes, such as hiding a 40-pound weight under her dress during a scene where March had to carry her. These tensions were compounded by the departure of associate producer Preston Sturges, who left due to artistic differences with Clair. Joel McCrea, originally cast as the lead, withdrew in February 1942, reportedly refusing to work with Lake again.
Despite the chaotic production and mixed contemporary reviews—Variety dismissed it as draggy, while The Chicago Tribune called it bizarre but beguiling—the film earned an Academy Award nomination for Roy Webb’s musical score. Modern reappraisals have been kinder, with Diabolique Magazine praising Lake’s performance as an absolute delight. The film remains a unique entry in Lake’s career, standing as her only foray into the fantasy genre, where her ethereal screen presence perfectly suited the role of a witch navigating the mortal world.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: I Married a Witch
- Also: I Married a Witch
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