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The Cat and the Canary (1939)

7.4
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Ratings: 7.4/10 from 861 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.

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Title: The Cat and the Canary (1939)

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

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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
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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:

Stalked by a wild, crawling thing...balked by a blind passage! Groping, desperately hoping for a way out! See more »


Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

10 November 1939 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El gato y el canario  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

In the original Broadway play and the 1927 film, the dead man was named Cyrus West. In this version the dead man is named Cyrus Norman, possibly because Mae West was still making films at this time. See more »

Quotes

Cicily: I'm psychic. I was in a trance once.
Wally Campbell: I know, I know. When are you coming out of it?
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Murder by Invitation (1941) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Shaped my childhood nightmares
13 March 2003 | by (Birmingham, England) – See all my reviews

Oh my gosh, how scary is this film? I first saw it when I was about six, and I only remember the hand coming through the wall to strangle the woman in bed, and the body falling out of a cupboard. This was enough to make me stay away from cupboards and beds for many years to come! I saw it again recently and found it more comical this time around, especially Bob Hope's performance, but I'm still scared of cupboards!


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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
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