The Cat and the Canary (1927)

Relatives of an eccentric millionaire gather in his spooky mansion on the 20th anniversary of his death for the reading of his will.

Director:

Paul Leni

Writers:

John Willard (from the stage play by), Robert F. Hill (adaptation),

Stars:

Laura La Plante, Creighton Hale, Forrest Stanley

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Laura La Plante	...	Annabelle West
Creighton Hale	...	Paul Jones
Forrest Stanley	...	Charles Wilder
Tully Marshall	...	Roger Crosby
Gertrude Astor	...	Cecily
Flora Finch	...	Susan
Arthur Edmund Carewe	...	Harry (as Arthur Edmund Carew)
Martha Mattox	...	Mammy Pleasant
George Siegmann	...	The Guard
Lucien Littlefield	...	Ira Lazar

Storyline

Rich old Cyrus West's relatives are waiting for him to die so they can inherit. But he stipulates that his will be read 20 years after his death. On the appointed day his expectant heirs arrive at his brooding mansion. The will is read and it turns out that Annabelle West, the only heir with his name left, inherits, if she is deemed sane. If she isn't, the money and some diamonds go to someone else, whose name is in a sealed envelope. Before he can reveal the identity of her successor to Annabelle, Mr. Crosby, the lawyer, disappears. The first in a series of mysterious events, some of which point to Annabelle in fact being unstable.

---

Plot Keywords:

heir | death | mansion | lawyer | millionaire | 

---

Taglines:

New York's Smashing Stage Success that has thrilled thousands!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Mystery

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 1927 (USA)

Also Known As:

A macska és a kanári

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios Hollywood - 1000 Universal Studios Blvd, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min 80 min (DVD) (2004 restoration) 108 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Writer/director Robert F. Hill not only wrote the adaptation for this film but also served as a sort of assistant/associate director for Paul Leni. Leni, a German, didn't speak much English, and Hill spoke German, so he acted as a liaison between Leni and the cast and crew.

---

Goofs

As Tully Marshall's dead body falls to the floor, the actor can be clearly seen extending his hands to break the fall.

---

Quotes

Annabelle West: What's this all about, Paul?
Paul Jones: Don't interrupt me... I think I'm thinking!
Paul Jones: The solution of this mystery is in the envelope in Crosby's pocket.
Paul Jones: The person named in that envelope is the one who murdered Crosby.

---

Connections

Featured in Universal Horror (1998)

User Reviews

The prototype for all haunted house thrillers

This has been restored by Kevin Brownlow and Photoplay Productions. The new print is beautiful and shows why Paul Leni was considered a master. Sure, the plot is slight, but Leni is so imaginative and unrestrained in his style that you just sit there with your mouth open in amazement. Most every shot is a masterpiece. The sets and photography are wonderful. There's way too much silly humor in it -- Leni's far more effective at the scary moments. But leading lady La Plante is effective; and the more ghoulish secondary roles are handled with relish. You wonder why most haunted house movies of the 30's and 40's didn't have this much style. They should have learned from the Master. I hope this restored version makes it out on DVD soon.