The screenplay by Robert Pirosh and Marc Connelly and uncredited other writers, including Dalton Trumbo, is based on the 1941 novel The Passionate Witch by Thorne Smith, who died before he could finish it; it was completed by Norman H. Matson.

In revenge, Jennifer curses Wooley and his male descendants, dooming them always to marry the wrong woman.

Initially, Jennifer and Daniel manifest as white vertical smoky "trails," occasionally hiding in empty, or sometimes not-so-empty, bottles, some of which are of alcohol.

This serves a dual purpose, as Jennifer uses the emergency to trap Wallace into rescuing her from the burning building.

His attempts at interference land him in jail, too drunk to remember the spell to turn Wallace into a frog.

Daniel warns his daughter that she must be punished for revealing her true nature to a mortal, and takes away her magical powers.

At the stroke of midnight, Wallace is left with Jennifer's lifeless body, while two plumes of smoke watch.

While Daniel gloats, Jennifer reclaims her body, explaining to Wallace, "Love is stronger than witchcraft."

She quickly puts the cork into the bottle of liquor her father is hiding in, keeping him drunk and powerless.

Sturges himself left the film before it was completed due to artistic differences with director René Clair, and did not want to receive a screen credit.

Under Rene Clair's delicately preposterous direction it unreels a story of modern witchcraft, the like of which has not been seen on any screen."

"This is wickedly funny, an absolute delight – due greatly to Lake who was never more alluring, strutting around in men’s pajamas, casting spells, chasing after March and causing devilry.

This was her only fantasy movie and it beggars belief that Paramount never tried her again in that genre – she had a vaguely ‘otherworld’ appearance (that hair, that voice) perfect for it.

[11] I Married a Witch and its composer Roy Webb was nominated for Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture at the 15th Academy Awards.