Behind-The-Scenes Secrets About ‘Practical Magic’
In 1995, Alice Hoffman published her book, Practical Magic, about two witch sisters struggling with a family curse. The novel was a bestseller and received a movie adaptation in October 1998. Over 20 years later, Practical Magic is still incredibly popular.
While the movie appears seamless, the production went through several struggles, including a last-minute soundtrack change and the producer working on two movies at once. Learn the behind-the-scenes facts that add to the magic of this film.
A Prequel HBO Show Was In The Works…
Over 20 years after the movie’s release, HBO Max announced a prequel show to Practical Magic. The show, The Rules of Magic, was to be based on the book’s prequel by Alice Hoffman. Practical Magic was based on a book by the same author.
The series was set to revolve around the three Owens siblings growing up in 1960s New York City, but the project was ultimately canceled.
All The Other Previous Spin-Offs Failed, Too
Considering the movie’s rising popularity, you might be wondering why a TV spin-off hasn’t happened before. It almost did in 2003. Back then, CBS began developing a TV drama show with Sandra Bullock and Denise Di Novi as producers.
Despite the initial support, the show never advanced beyond the brainstorming stage. In 2010, ABC tried to create a similar spin-off, but that also fell through the cracks. Thankfully, a sequel with the original cast is in the works.
Sandra Bullock Joined Because Her Previous Role Bombed
Before Sandra Bullock joined Practical Magic, she starred in Speed 2: Cruise Control. Although the first movie earned $121 million, the sequel tanked and earned less than half of that.
During a press junket, Bullock said that Speed 2‘s failure inspired her to stop aiming for blockbusters and lean toward small, more interesting projects. With this new philosophy, she acted in Hope Floats and later, Practical Magic.
The Movie’s Music Was Thrown Together Last-Minute
When director Griffin Dunne started the movie, he hired the acclaimed composer Michael Nyman. Dunne admired the three-time Golden Globe nominee, claiming that he made “the best score I think I’ve ever written for a film that engaged me not at all.”
After Dunne cut his ties with Warmer Bros. Pictures, this contract fell apart. The executives ordered Dunne to dump Nyman last-minute. They recruited another well-known composer, Alan Silvestri, to quickly compose a new soundtrack.
Stevie Nick’s “Witchy” Songs
The producers of Practical Magic wanted new songs to accompany the film’s composition. They approached the former lead singer of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks. She contributed “If You Ever Did Believe,” the movie’s official theme, and “Crystal.”
There’s a humorous reason behind choosing Stevie Nicks. In the 1980s, rumors spread that the singer was a witch due to her wardrobe and ethereal lyrics. Nicks has always denied these allegations, but clearly, she has a sense of humor about them.
Barbra Streisand Wanted To Buy The Movie Set
Anyone who has seen Practical Magic knows how gorgeous the Owens mansion appears. It’s a beautiful home that anyone would want to live in, including Barbra Streisand. Yes, the singer and actress called the home’s designers to buy it.
The problem is that the mansion wasn’t real. The designers said that the mansion was only an “architectural shell.” The home’s interior was constructed in a Hollywood studio, and the studio tore the home down after filming. There was nothing left for Streisand to purchase.
The Producer Worked On Two Films At Once
Denise Di Novi is a popular producer in Hollywood. Before she worked on Practical Magic, she worked on Heathers, James and the Giant Peach, and Edward Scissorhands. So it’s no surprise that she ended up working on two movies at once.
During the first week of Practical Magic‘s production, Di Novi also worked on the drama Message in a Bottle. She flew back and forth from Los Angeles to Washington for both sets. “I napped on the planes,” she said.
It Wasn’t Easy To Build The Mansion
Practical Magic’s main film location, San Juan Island, didn’t have a beautiful mansion for the Owens to live in. The production crew had to build one on a piece of bare land. However, the plot they chose had a rich Native American history.
Local authorities would not allow the production team to dig into the soil. To use the land, the crew built the house’s shell on top of a platform. Once they were done with the land, they immediately tore it down.
“Midnight Margaritas” Night Was Slightly Real
One of the most famous scenes in Practical Magic features “midnight margaritas,” when the sisters and aunts danced around their kitchen singing along to Harry Nilsson’s “Coconut.” You might not be surprised to learn that the actresses were tipsy.
According to Dunne, “we all drank tequila and shot that scene–thank God the director of photography didn’t have any–but we shot it and they all went nuts.” If the scene appears charmingly genuine, that’s because it is.
Real Witches Approve
Film critics weren’t impressed by Practical Magic, and the movie has a 20% on Rotten Tomatoes. But apparently, the movie’s witch counsel worked because several witches have applauded the movie.
According to Vulture, a coven of women lauded the strong women in the film. Entertainment Weekly interviewed a Wiccan who said that movie captured “the real flavor of a love spell,” but added that most real witches don’t slaughter doves nowadays.
Nicole Kidman Hurt Herself For Her Role
Like all great actors, Nicole Kidman is willing to hurt herself for a convincing scene. While her character received “wounds” several times during the movie, the actress didn’t hurt herself until the exorcism scene near the end.
In an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, Griffin Dunne reflected that Kidman was willing to bang her head on the floor violently. “We weren’t sure where she was going to land,” Dunne said, “so rubber panels, rubberwood strips were laid out…she looked totally possessed.”
The Movie Got Cursed By A Real Witch
To make the movie seem more realistic, director Griffin Dunne hired a real witch as a consultant. She was paid and put up in a nice hotel. In an interview with Vulture, Dunne recounted that the witch called him and inexplicably demanded $250,000 of the film’s profit.
The producers denied her demands. In response, the witch threatened “a land of curses” on the set and attempted to sue Warner Bros. Eventually, the studio paid her to give it up.
The Director Had An Exorcism
The witch’s alleged curse freaked out director Griffin Dunne. She didn’t curse the production; she allegedly cursed him personally. To prevent any onset of a hex, Dunne decided to receive an exorcism.
Dunne paid $100 for some peace of mind. He described the exorcism as “a very simple, New Agey ceremony” with “mostly chants and smoke and [stuff] like that.” When Vulture asked him about it, Dunne said, “If you’re a person with any kind of spiritual sensibility…you’re open to beliefs in many things. But with that open-mindedness comes risk.
Some Locals Weren’t Thrilled About The Production
While some scenes in Practical Magic were shot in a studio set, most were filmed in Washington state. Many residents were thrilled to see Hollywood actors show off their town. However, others were negatively impacted by the production.
The film crew had to park near Friday Harbor, which stole parking spots from locals and delayed a project to improve storm drains. This led to a battle between the town’s council and Warner Bros. On top of that, filming closed down streets which hurt local businesses.
Aidan Quinn Gained The Role For “Radiating Goodness”
Aidan Quinn, who plays the detective Gary Hallet in Practical Magic, was chosen for a reason. The film’s producer, Denise Di Novi, told the Chicago Tribune that Quinn had the qualities of another Hollywood legend.
“We wanted a Gary Cooper kind of guy–quiet, taciturn,” Di Novi said. “He radiates goodness, but he’s manly too.” Before Practical Magic, Quinn acted in Desperately Seeking Susan, Benny & Joon, and Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein.
Aunt Frances Almost Looked Different
Plenty of movies have changed their cast over time, and Practical Magic is no exception. Most notably, Stockard Channing wasn’t the studio’s first choice for Aunt Frances. According to a 1998 publication of Variety, Academy Award winner Vanessa Redgrave was originally cast to play Frances.
While Dianne West was always scheduled to play Jet, Redgrave never officially signed on the project. Channing took the role instead. Had she not, the movie may have turned out differently.
The Movie And The Book Are Very Different
Those who have read Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman know how different it is from the movie. The film played up the aunts and downplayed Sally’s children, who are both more central in the book. Gillian’s abusive boyfriend, Jimmy, was a more developed character in the novel.
With so many core differences, it’s no surprise that Practical Magic fans argue over which version of the story is better. In the film’s defense, they did invent the “midnight margarita” scene.
The Actors Recently Reunited On The Red Carpet
Practical Magic fans received a surprise in the winter of 2018. Sandra Bullock was giving an interview for the Academy Awards’ pre-show coverage when Nicole Kidman wandered in and joined her.
The two stars joked around, and Bullock said that Kidman “always butts into my stuff.” During the reunion, they reminisced about the movie. Kidman showed Practical Magic to her children and told her children that Bullock “is a woman I love.” The two stars are set to reunite again in the upcoming sequel, Practical Magic 2.
The Movie Flopped At First
Practical Magic aged like a fine wine, growing more popular throughout the decades. There’s a misconception that it was a box office hit since it opened at #1 in October 1989. However, October is not a busy month for the cinemas.
In reality, the movie only pulled in $46.6 million domestically. That’s disappointing when you compare it to the film’s $75 million budget. The movie finally found its ideal audience when it hit home video.
The Film’s Popularity Grew With Age
Although Practical Magic flopped in 1998, the movie has gained a wider audience throughout the decades. This is something that director Griffin Dunne learned through his children.
According to Vulture, Dunne’s daughter discovered the movie in her late teens. He would often hear her quoting dialogue, and her friends “freak[ed] out when they found out that her father directed that movie.” Dunne added that the movie’s growing popularity has “been very touching and unexpected.”
