This was James Stewart's final appearance as a romantic lead. This was because many of the leading ladies that were playing his romantic interest were becoming younger and a few were half his age. The critics in 1958 felt that Stewart was miscast as a suave New York businessman, and he apparently agreed. After this film he would concentrate more on roles that portrayed him as an everyman or as a father figure.
Kim Novak's hair color had a touch of lavender in it to make her blonde hair unique. Her color was "lavender blonde."
The film's title is a reference to exorcising a witch; 'ring the bell, close the book, quench the candle."