René Clair's sexy American rom-com ghost story is a delightful and deftly made 1942 trifle with Veronica Lake at her best as Jennifer, a 17th-century witch who's resurrected hundreds of years after being burned alive by the Puritans. Jennifer's released spirit (visualized as a plume of smoke) finds a comely body and decides to wreak havoc on the life of gubernatorial candidate Wallace Wooley (Fredric March)—descendent of Jonathan Wooley (also played by March), the man who sent her to the stake—on the eve of his impending marriage to the hard, cold, spiteful Estelle (Susan Hayward). When Jennifer's love potion backfires, however, she finds herself falling in love with the mortal. For all of the playful fantasy and cheekiness, there's also an unexpected gallows humor running beneath the energetic comedy and rapid-fire gags, as well as a very adult sensibility to Jennifer's flirtations. Preston Sturges had a hand in the production, but it's the light touch and continental maturity of French director Clair that stir the ingredients into such a piquant cocktail. A beloved minor classic, I Married a Witch finally debuts on DVD and Blu-ray with a strong image (despite some brief sections with print damage), and extras including an archival audio radio interview with Clair, and a booklet. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)
I Married a Witch
Criterion, 77 min., not rated, DVD: $19.95, Blu-ray: $29.95 Volume 29, Issue 1
I Married a Witch
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