MOVIEmeter
SEE RANK
Down 13,862 this week

The Cat and the Canary (1939)

7.4
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 7.4/10 from 871 users  
Reviews: 40 user | 11 critic

When an eccentric family meets in their uncle's remote, decaying mansion on the tenth anniversary of his death for the reading of his will, murder and madness follow.

Director:

0Check in
0Share...

User Lists

Related lists from IMDb users

a list of 615 titles created 08 Jul 2011
 
a list of 3111 titles created 16 May 2011
 
a list of 103 titles created 5 months ago
 
a list of 2067 titles created 15 Aug 2011
 
a list of 1651 titles created 9 months ago
 

Connect with IMDb


Share this Rating

Title: The Cat and the Canary (1939)

The Cat and the Canary (1939) on IMDb 7.4/10

Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.

Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of The Cat and the Canary.
Edit

Cast

Cast overview:
...
Wally Campbell
...
Joyce Norman
John Beal ...
Fred Blythe
Douglass Montgomery ...
Charles Wilder
...
Miss Lu
Elizabeth Patterson ...
Aunt Susan
George Zucco ...
Mr. Crosby, lawyer
Nydia Westman ...
Cicily
John Wray ...
Hendricks, guard
George Regas ...
Indian guide
Edit

Storyline

Ten years have passed since the death of millionaire, Cyrus Norman. Cosby, Cyrus' attorney, has gathered Cyrus' 6 remaining relatives to his New Orleans' mansion for Cyrus' "reading of the will". To the others disappointment, Joyce is the sole heir, but, due to a streak of insanity running in the family, a second will has been made in case Joyce falls victim to it. This puts Joyce in danger. Suddenly, Miss Lu, Cyrus' maid, appears and warns them that the spirits have told her that one of them will die that night. Following this, Hendrick, a prison guard, warns them that, "The Cat", a homicidal maniac has escaped. This sets up Cyrus' relatives with a night filled with murders, mysteries and intrigue. Written by Kelly

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

night | murder | mansion | cat | eccentric | See more »

Taglines:

Through it all...Bob Hope at his wise-cracking best, laughing his way through hilarious heroics...hoping a gag's as good as a gun to get ghosts on the go! See more »


Parents Guide:

 »
Edit

Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

10 November 1939 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El gato y el canario  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of over 700 Paramount productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, that were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since. Because of legal complications, this particular title was not included in the original television package and was not televised until several years later. See more »

Quotes

Wally Campbell: Wait. My mother brought me up never to be caught twice in the same lady's bedroom.
See more »

Connections

Version of La voluntad del muerto (1930) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

Hope at His Wittiest!

Most of Bob Hope's films rely heavily on the humour of the times, with references to political and cultural events figuring in significantly. Sometimes this detracts from his films, because the humour is not always self-evident. Not is the case with his performance in the remake of Paul Leni's The Cat and the Canary. Hope has one great one-liner after another in this old dark house mystery-comedy. The story is pretty familiar: a group a relations must stay a night in a house, listen to a will, and then remain there for the evening to see if the inheritor remains sane throughout the evening. Of course, we the audience are treated to secret panels, an occasional murder, hooded culprits, and a great mystery. The Cat and the Canary works so well for a number of reasons. First, it is a very atmospheric film taking place in the swamplands of Louisiana. The film is by no means big budget but does do the most with what it has. The surrounding swampland have an authentic feeling to them and the house itself is magnificently eerie. The cast is quite good with Bob Hope saving the film from tiresome formula with his special brand of humour and his excellent timing. Despite his great performance, he is almost upstaged by Gale Sondergaard as a dark, brooding servant. George Zucco also has a nice supporting role. All in all a nice way to spend an evening.


11 of 12 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
FINALLY ON DVD!!!! wagnerfan
Will there ever be a decent dvd copy of this film? ktvalve
Cat and the Canary, The simon-cairns1
Movie 'Cliche' or classic plot point? eschetic
It's not Cosby gracieshalo
Why didn't the housekeeper...[Spoile rs] mel2000
Discuss The Cat and the Canary (1939) on the IMDb message boards »

Contribute to This Page

Create a character page for:
?