Watch I Married a Witch

I Married a Witch is a delightful and whimsical romantic comedy directed by René Clair. The movie was released in 1942 and stars Fredric March and Veronica Lake in the lead roles. It also features Robert Benchley in an important supporting role. The movie starts with a prologue set in colonial America, where a witch named Jennifer (Veronica Lake) and her father are burned at the stake by the Puritan community. But before they die, Jennifer puts a curse on Warren (Fredric March), the leader of the community, and all his male descendants, promising to make their love lives unhappy forever.

Flash forward to the present day (which is the early 1940s), and we see Warren Jr., a successful politician and businessman, about to get married to his fiancé Estelle (Susan Hayward). Just as he is about to tie the knot, Jennifer and her father are released from their curse and brought back to life by a lightning strike. They decide to seek revenge on Warren and his family by using Jennifer's magic to disrupt his marriage.

In the course of events, Jennifer falls in love with Warren and decides to give up her witchcraft for him. But things are not that simple, as both of them have to deal with the consequences of the curse, and Jennifer's father, who doesn't want his daughter to marry a mortal.

The movie is undoubtedly a classic romantic comedy, with all the elements of the genre present in abundance – the wacky plot, the screwball humor, the rapid-fire dialogue, and the charming leads. March and Lake have excellent chemistry, and their banter is delightful to watch. March plays the straight man to Lake's mischievous witch with remarkable ease, bringing a sense of gravitas to the role of a man haunted by his family's curse. Lake, on the other hand, is the heart and soul of the movie, portraying Jennifer as a free-spirited and impish witch who is more interested in having fun than wreaking havoc. Her comedic timing is perfect, and she manages to pull off both the magical and the mundane scenes with aplomb.

Benchley, as the comic relief, does not disappoint either. He plays a politician and Warren's friend who is constantly trying to win an election in his district. His one-liners and physical humor provide many laughs throughout the movie, even though his role is not central to the plot.

The movie has excellent production values, with beautiful sets, costumes, and special effects. The scenes of witchcraft are well done, and the movie manages to create a convincing world of magic that blends seamlessly with the real world.

The direction by Clair is impressive, as he manages to balance the comedy, romance, and fantasy elements of the movie in a way that keeps the audience engaged and entertained but never overwhelmed. The movie moves at a brisk pace, and there is never a dull moment.

Overall, I Married a Witch is a delightful and charming romantic comedy that stands the test of time. It is a perfect example of the screwball comedies that were popular in the 1930s and 1940s and features some of the best performances by its leads. It is a movie that can be watched and enjoyed by people of all ages and is sure to leave a smile on your face long after the credits have rolled.

I Married a Witch is a 1942 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.