The Canterville Ghost (1944)

Director:

Jules Dassin

Writers:

Oscar Wilde (story)
Edwin Blum (screenplay)

Release Date:

July 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy

Plot:

In the 1600s, cowardly Sir Simon of Canterville flees a duel and seeks solace in the family castle....

Plot Keywords:

Castle | Blood | 1600s | Duel | Family Honor

Cast

Charles Laughton	...	Sir Simon de Canterville / The Ghost
Robert Young	...	Cuffy Williams
Margaret O'Brien	...	Lady Jessica de Canterville
William Gargan	...	Sergeant Benson
Reginald Owen	...	Lord Canterville
Rags Ragland	...	Big Harry (as 'Rags' Ragland)
Una O'Connor	...	Mrs. Umney
Donald Stuart	...	Sir Valentine Williams
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Mrs. Polverdine
Frank Faylen	...	Lieutenant Kane
Lumsden Hare	...	Mr. Potts
Mike Mazurki	...	Metropolus
William Moss	...	Hector
Bobby Readick	...	Eddie
Marc Cramer	...	Bugsy McDougle

Runtime:

95 min (copyright length)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #9781) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Busch Gardens - S. Grove Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

After 38 days of shooting, director Jules Dassin replaced Norman Z. McLeod. Although a news item stated it was due to a "difference of opinion," many believe it was done on the insistence of Charles Laughton. At the same time, William H. Daniels replaced Robert Planck as director of photography.

Quotes:

Sir Simon de Canterville: I have roamed these halls for three centuries and I am so tired. If only I could rest...

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Ghost Busters: The Canterville Ghost (#1.3)" (1975)

Soundtrack:

Gertie from Bizerte

An Entertaining Ghost Story

The veteran Charles Laughton and a very young Robert Young team up in this entertaining fantasy about the ghost of Simon de Canterville - condemned to haunt the halls of his family's castle until a descendant performs an act of bravery on his behalf. What's the catch? Simon was condemned by his own father for being a coward, and the Canterville line ever since has been a long line of cowards. (The greatest irony of the movie is that Simon has developed a reputation as the most fearsome ghost in all of England!) Finding a hero among this family won't be easy. Then along comes Cuffy Williams (Young), an American soldier whose platoon is billeted in the castle during the lead-up to D-Day. It turns out that Williams is a very distant descendant of the Cantervilles, and D-Day, of course, will provide the ultimate opportunity to show his bravery and to release Simon from his torment. The question is whether he'll be able to work up the courage to do it!

Laughton and Young offer excellent performances, and the very young Margaret O'Brien (who would have been about 7 when this was made) is convincing as Lady Jessica de Canterville. Some of the scenes as the American soldiers try to chase down the ghost to get a picture of him to prove that he exists to their commanding officer are also quite funny. 8/10