Last week we took a look at Samantha’s house on the classic 1960s sitcom Bewitched, so I thought it would be fun to feature the charming California cottage in the 2005 movie remake, too.
Nicole Kidman plays Isabel Bigelow, a real witch cast as Samantha in a remake of the series. Will Ferrell plays Jack, the movie star cast as Darrin.
Take a look!
The “Bewitched” Movie Cottage
When Isabel sees the house she wants, she simply puts a
“For Rent” sign out front (that’s a kind of magic I’d love to have!).
This house was chosen for Isabel by director Nora Ephron.
It was one she had visited often as a child.
Coincidentally, those friends were Larry Berns and his wife, Sandra Gould, who played the second, better-known Gladys Kravitz. (Alice Pearce, who played the first Gladys Kravitz, died after the second season.)
Isabel’s home was set in a tree-lined Valley suburb of
modest A-frame houses and white picket fences.
Isabel watches the pilot episode of the original “Bewitched”
after being cast as Samantha for the remake:
Nicole Kidman went to the Broadway musical “Wicked” and was so blown away by Kristin Chenoweth’s performance as Glinda that she begged Ephron to create a part for her.
She became Isabel’s next-door neighbor Maria Kelly.
Production designer Neil Spisak explains the thinking behind the design:
Our idea was that since Isabel is desperately searching for normalcy, whatever that might be, she’s moved into a charming, simple house in the Valley, finding a lovely place for her to start her life.
“Nora quite liked the exterior of the house we found and, based on that, we designed an interior.
“The concept was to maintain its simplicity but to play up a certain appealing femininity in the furnishings and details.
“So, like Isabel, her surroundings are a little naive, a place that is neutral but warm and comfortable.”
Brunch on Isabel’s Patio:
Isabel on the phone in her kitchen at night
(why does this make me think of Drew Barrymore in Scream?):
The role of Jack/Darrin was originally supposed to be played by Jim Carrey, which I think may have worked a little better.
Can’t you see him mugging the way Dick York used to?
And Will Ferrell’s Jack was funny, but he was too goofy to really take seriously as Isabel’s love interest.
I read that they tucked a photo of Elizabeth Montgomery into the mirror frame, but I never saw it:
Isabel wears a heart-shaped necklace as Samantha on the remake,
just like Samantha did on the original TV show:
Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha on the TV show wearing the heart necklace:
Isabel’s living room:
The roles of Iris (actress who plays Endora on the TV remake in the movie) and Maurice (Isabel’s warlock father) were played by Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine.
According to Bewitched fansite Harpies Bizarre:
The role of the warlock father was reportedly crafted by the Ephrons with only Michael Caine in mind.
Shirley MacLaine told the press that she “wasn’t much of a fan of the TV series,” but had taken the film role because she “wanted to play a witch.”
It is assumed that Ephron catered to MacLaine’s request and allowed her character to be a sorceress, since the April 2004 script copy had the Iris character just written as a mortal diva actress cast as the new TV Endora.
The exterior set of the “Bewitched” house for the TV show:
At the end of the movie, Isabel and Jack move into a home
that looks almost identical to the one on their show:
The address is 1164. Samantha and Darrin lived at 1164 Morning Glory Circle
(Westport, Connecticut) in the TV series.
The house is a private home in the Hancock Park neighborhood of L.A.
You can see a recent photo of it at Seeing Stars.
Visit my Houses Onscreen page to see the others I’ve featured, listed from A-Z.
While I saw the movie and was disappointed, Samantha’s house was so lovely. I appreciate you giving us the photos for a closer look! Thank you for all the time you must have to spend on putting together posts on these movie houses.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
.-= Shelia´s last blog ..Update On My Daughter =-.
I loved this post! Thanks so much. I have enlarged the photos ect. I can’t wait to see this now.
I totally agree that the best part of this movie was Samantha’s house. DH and I couldn’t even sit through Bewitched – it was SO BAD. But the house is awesome.
I saw the middle of this movie by accident a few weeks ago (not a Will Ferrell fan so skipped it when it was new), and was so taken with Isabel’s house that I added the movie to my list of rentals just so I could get a better look. Great post, Julia! Maybe now I won’t bother to watch the silly movie!
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..Seasons Change =-.
I’ve never seen the “Bewitched” movie so this post was quite a treat! What a charming cottage. I guess I’ll have to rent the movie now!
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Spiritual Sundays =-.
OH! I LOVE that house!! Now I’m gonna have to watch that movie just to get a better look at it. 🙂 Have a great day!! Beth
.-= beth´s last blog ..It’s starting to look (and feel) like fall around here =-.
I hardly remember the movie, but I DO remember loving Isabel’s house. I also want to thank you for all of these goodies that you put together for us to feast on.
Very cute cottage. Love it.
Thought I’d throw out a request – the apartment from the movie 27 Dresses…..so beautiful (in a classic way).
Thanks, you know we love our movie homes.
.-= duchess´s last blog ..We went pickin’ =-.
Hi Julia,
Thanks so much for featuring Isabel’s cottage. I agree with Hope B. This cottage is also my dream house inside and out 😀
.-= debbie´s last blog ..hello october =-.
Squeeee! I love, love, love the sets in this movie. Thank you so much for featuring that adorable cottage–inside and out, its my dream house 🙂
I love the kitchen in the movie “Bewitched” but am absolutley gaga over the whole house in Practical Magic.
.-= Shery´s last blog ..i didn’t intend to buy a thing =-.
Beautiful! Love the outdoor patio, large “veranda” like windows and the stunning window boxes. Thanks for the post, very enjoyable reading.
Ruthie
Hi Julia love everything about this house inside and out …… Now if we could do that thing Samantha did with her nose this house would not be a dream….. thanks for this blog ….. regards from cloudy and cold Sydney…..
You are wonderful for putting all these together for us house lovers. I just love all of them!!!
yes I def remember that I loved her house in that movie, gorgeous!
.-= Annie@A View on Design´s last blog ..Hidden Exotic Living minutes from Adelaide, SA =-.
Even though Will Ferrell drives me crazy, I thought this movie was cute. Nicole Kidman saved it for me. The cottage is so cute. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Wonderful! I am always so surprised of your posts! All those houses from well-known people and all those moviehouses! It is so nice to see these houses after you have seen the movie!
Thank you for all your great posts!!!!
Greet
.-= Greet´s last blog ..Belgian Interiors and Restoration Hardware =-.
Those inside arches are to die for…what detail.
I really believe I am a cottaage girl…love the smaller homes.
Janet
.-= Janet Doherty´s last blog ..My Baby…. =-.
LOVED the cottage — but truly hated the movie! I was hoping for a more “true-to-the-original” script — and I agree that Will Farrell was very poorly cast in this one. Even Samantha’s character was poorly constructed. Isn’t it fascinating to know that the cottage belongs to “Gladys” from the original show!
Jan at Rosemary Cottage
Fun!! 🙂 I tried to watch the Bewitched movie once when it was on TV, but I was so tired I fell asleep. I really like Isabel’s cottage, and I LOVE the home she and Jack move into at the end. Some very interesting little details…esp. the part about the cute heart necklace. 🙂
.-= Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..{Fall}ing for Autumn Decor =-.
I absolutely ADORED this house when I saw the movie. I think I loved it so much that I rewound a few parts on the DVD so I could get a better look. It’s pretty much my dream home with all the windows and character! Thanks for sharing the photos!
I too adored the house, even though the movie left a lot to be desired. Great post!
.-= Chrissy´s last blog ..Movie Review Monday – Couples Retreat =-.
I loved the Bewitched house. I can not imagine living in such a pretty thing, my husband and dog would have it tore up and dirtied up in no time.
I was hoping you would do a ‘What Lies Beneath’ house post! The house was awesome! And the Practical Magic house is my favorite house in a movie, ever! If I were a millionaire I would build an exact copy of their kitchen and pantry (where they were making the pancake syrup surprise.) 🙂
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..1890 Carriage House, Port Deposit, MD =-.
What a sweet little cottage. Love all the charm and that chandelier:)
.-= Becky @ Farmgirl Paints´s last blog ..Time to be BRAVE! =-.
I didn’t see this movie, but now I would like to just to see this awsome design. I love all the arches, talk about your details! I wonder if it’s in the cheap movie rental section yet? Ha!
.-= Pat´s last blog .. =-.
I LOVE the house!! Thanks for the post!
.-= Vicki´s last blog ..The placement of greeting cards =-.
Julia ~ Thanks for this peek into one of my favorite movie interior sets. I loved this cottage so much in the movie, I could move right in and feel at home. The movie itself wasn’t that great, but I did love the house.
Good morning Julia 🙂
I’ve seen this movie, but all I remember was being disappointed, because I loved the tv show so much. As much as I like Will Ferrell in other roles, Jim Carrey really would have been so much better for this one. I’ll have to watch it again, because I didn’t remember the house being that cute.
rue
.-= rue´s last blog ..The Kitchen =-.
What a cute cottage! I haven’t seen the movie, but upon hearing Jim Carey in place of Will Farrell, I had an instant – WOW. Yes, that would have been a much better Darrin. Thanks for the tour.
.-= Suzann from The Olive Cottage´s last blog ..WOW. =-.
I loved this house, especially the brick fireplace, the walls of windows and the pillars and vaulted arches in the open spaces. But it made me smile that anyone could think of this place as “simple”! My whole bungalow would fit in that open plan living room!
.-= janice´s last blog ..Sea Breezes, Books and Minerals =-.
OK, after my love for the set of Down with Love, this is my second favorite set! So many people disliked the movie, but both my husband and I liked it. I really wasn’t expecting it to be like the series, and I love everything about Nicole Kidman in this movie. Especially, her outfits! Jim Carrey instead of Will Farrell, interesting. I actually liked Will better in movies like this and like Elf, versus his typical fare of Old School, Anchorman, etc. This movie was sweet and sappy – typical Nora Ephron fare, but I enjoyed it.
.-= Laurie @ My Domicile Style´s last blog ..Craft Challenged =-.
I loved everything about this movie, except Will. If anyone knows who made Nicole’s ivory petticoat skirt please let me know.
Hi- Love your site! Wanted to know if you have ever seen the movie “You, Me, and Dupree?” I love the house that Kate Hudson’s character lives in with Matt Dillion’s character. I would love to see some pictures from that house and to know if it is a real house or just a set.
Funny my boyfriend makes fun of me because I love the look of this movie. Her cottage is so sweet looking. He just hates the movie :)lol
.-= ~Tina´s last blog ..~Cooking Channel Week-End =-.
I agree with a previous commenter that this movie was AWFUL, a disgrace really to a wonderful TV show.
Fun fact: The heart necklace was worn by Elizabeth Montgomery in almost every episode and was given to her by her husband, who was the producer/director of the show. For more details: https://www.harpiesbizarre.com/heartnecklace.htm
Hi,
Love Samantha’s house; where could I get the plans for inside?
Debra–
If there are plans for it, I don’t know about them. Sorry! -Julia
Is there anyone that knows where I can get a floor plan for Isabelle’s house, or contact for the set designer?
Thank you for the wonderful stills of the ‘movie houses’ I am definitely a ‘movie house’ buff I loved Merly Streeps house in ‘It’s Complicated.’ I usually find myself pausing the dvd to catch longer glimpses of the interiors. I only watched Bewitched the movie because I was captivated by the interiors of Isabel’s cottage. I thought the posters might enjoy this beach house on Broadbeach, Malibu that I came across on a design website, it reminded me a little of the interiors of Isabella cottage with the curved wooden posts and trim.
https://www.giannettiarchitects.com/Giannetti/Broad_Beach.html
For about three years I searched for the chandelier that was in the kitchen of this set home. I kept watching the movie, pausing it when they showed this piece, all to no avail! And then !bam! there you were (its how I found your site) – a person just like me, who just likes everything- from victorian and edwardian to mid century modern to the metanarritive. You found it for me, and while it was nowhere near as good as I remembered, but at least there it was! Right now I have 3 windows open, and they are all yours- thank you for doing what you do, very very much!