ComedyFantasy

The Canterville Ghost

- It puts you in the best of spirits!

The descendent of a ghost imprisoned for cowardice hopes to free the spirit by displaying courage when under duress.

Release Date : 1944-07-20

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Sir Simon de Canterville / The Ghost

Original Name : Charles Laughton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cuffy Williams

Original Name : Robert Young

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lady Jessica de Canterville

Original Name : Margaret O'Brien

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sergeant Benson

Original Name : William Gargan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lord Canterville

Original Name : Reginald Owen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Umney

Original Name : Una O'Connor

Gender : Female

Character Name : Big Harry Waters

Original Name : Rags Ragland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sir Valentine Williams

Original Name : Donald Stuart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Polverdine

Original Name : Elisabeth Risdon

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lieutenant John Kane

Original Name : Frank Faylen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Potts

Original Name : Lumsden Hare

Gender : Male

Character Name : Metropolus

Original Name : Mike Mazurki

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hector

Original Name : William Moss

Gender : Male

Character Name : Eddie

Original Name : Bobby Readick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bugsy McDougle

Original Name : Marc Cramer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jordan

Original Name : William Tannen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anthony de Canterville

Original Name : Peter Lawford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trigger

Original Name : Jack Lambert

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Safe and inoffensive fun. Sir Simon of Canterville gets roped into fighting a duel for his cousin, realising he faces certain death he flees the field awash with cowardice. His father is so enraged as to this stain on the family honour he walls Simon up in the castle without food and water until death does strike him down. He is doomed to haunt the Canterville castle until a fellow member of the family can commit an act of bravery and thus lift the cowardly stain that has besmirched the Canterville name. Doesn't sound much like a comedy does it? But it is, and a very amiable one at that. Loosely based on Oscar Wilde's story of the same name, The Canterville Ghost benefits from a couple of charming performances from Charles Laughton as Simon, and from a young Margaret O'Brien as Lady Jessica de Canterville. Laughton is clearly enjoying himself as the ghost, heavy on the "woe is me" theatrics coupled with gusto comedy, it's a very enjoyable performance from the big man. O'Brien is here enjoying being the center of attention and she positively lights up every scene she is in with youthful exuberance. The story follows a well trodden path to its rewarding ending, but it's a fun ride getting there regardless. Things really pick up a pace once a platoon of American soldiers are billeted at the castle and we are introduced to Cuffy Williams (Robert Young), a descendant Canterville of course, but he himself is showing a line in cowardice, so we are then left wondering if Cuffy can indeed show bravery and thus free Simon from his ghostly duties? 7/10

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-30

An engaging story about a 17th Century cowardly spirit (Charles Laughton) who is condemned to haunt his family's castle until he does something worthy and brave that will release him from his curse. When a group of American soldiers are billeted there during WWII it transpires that one of their number is a distant relative and that maybe he, "Cuffy" (Robert Young), can help him escape his purgatory. It's a fairly swift-paced ghost story with, aside from a rather annoying Margaret O'Brien as the young "Lady Jessica", plenty of comedic charm that raises a smile now and again. Laughton, Young and Una O'Connor are on fine form and though maybe not laugh-out-loud, it's still a fine family adventure.