The Witches of Eastwick



The Witches of Eastwick is a novel by John Updike that was adapted into a film starring Jack Nicholson and later a musical. It also inspired the television series Eastwick.

It's about three suburban women who start their own little witch coven and get to meet the Devil himself...

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"Daryl: Do you think God knew what He was doing when He created woman? Huh? No shit. I really wanna know. Or do you think it was another one of His minor mistakes like tidal waves, earthquakes, floods? You think women are like that? S'matter? You don't think God makes mistakes? Of course He does. We all make mistakes. Of course, when we make mistakes they call it evil. When God makes mistakes, they call it "nature". So whaddya think? Women... a mistake, or did he do it to us on purpose?"
 * Artistic Licence Medicine: Both subverted and played straight. Subverted with Felicia since her broken leg takes a couple days to heal up in real time. Whilst everything else medical related in the movie is subverted due to much of the ailments being caused by magic; such as Felicia vomiting up cherry pits and Suki nearly dying from a curse inflicted on her.  All of which surprisingly played to realistic effect. As for Van Horne's injuries and ailments regarding the voodoo doll were played even more straight due to him not being human and not bound by the laws of human anatomy.  George Miller, being a former emergency doctor, was able to make it work.
 * Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: The eponymous witches, played by Michelle Pfeiffer (blonde), Cher (brunette) and Susan Sarandon (redhead).
 * God Is Inept: Daryl Van Horne's rant:

"Elijah fled to the Mount of God, and behold, the Lord passed by and the great and strong wind rent the mountains and breaked in pieces the rocks before the Lord."
 * Horny Devils: Daryl Van Horne. He even identifies himself as such, by name, in a Sarcastic Confession.
 * Hot Witch: The eponymous witches, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, Cher and Susan Sarandon.
 * Louis Cypher: Daryl Van Horne
 * Ominous Multiple Screens: Darryl Van Horne has a bank of TV screens, apparently just for the hell of it.
 * One-Winged Angel: Daryl Van Horne
 * Recycled: the Series: Eastwick
 * Rock Me, Asmodeus: Jack Nicholson's Devil and Susan Sarandon's repressed music teacher play a literally explosive duet for piano and cello. After this (and after a bout of wild sex), the music teacher finds herself in possession of supernatural musical talent.
 * Suspiciously Specific Sermon: As Daryl van Horn is being blown toward the church by a gale-force wind, the sermon being spoken inside is as follows:


 * Theme Tune Cameo: At one point Jack Nicholson's character is whistling the film's theme.
 * Transformation Sequence: Daryl Van Horne, near the end of the film.
 * Vomit Indiscretion Shot: Daryl Van Horne inducing vomiting via magic ("Have another cherry") and later suffering as the spell is used on him.

The novel provides examples of

 * Hollywood New England
 * Name's the Same: Two characters are called Homer and Marge. Oh, and they're married.
 * Widow Witch: In the novel, the women of the village of Eastwick only gain powers after their husbands/significant others either die or divorce them. It is mentioned that for some reason, it does not matter if the woman leaves or is left, she becomes a Malleus Maleficarum style witch (with bonus third nipple) automatically.

The musical provides examples of

 * Busby Berkeley Number: The choreography for "Dirty Laundry" deliberately invoked Berkeley's style.
 * Elegant Classical Musician: Jane Spofford
 * Henpecked Husband: Clyde
 * Motor Mouth: In the musical, Suki begins the song "Words, Words, Words" as a shy little stutterer. By the time she's halfway through the song, she's speedtalking/-singing.