When I watched the 1974 version of Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost, I felt so sorry for David Niven. I wondered if he'd been in a terrible slump or was on the brink of destitution, and the only thing he could do to save his family from the poorhouse was to take the title role in this awful, stupid play. Little did I know, he probably thought it was a great career move! After all, before him, Charles Laughton, Bernard Cribbins, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Bruce Forsyth took it on. And, after this third remake, it was continued to be remade! Richard Kiley, Patrick Stewart, and John Gielgud all risked their careers to act in it!
However, I can't imagine voluntarily subjecting myself to another version of The Canterville Ghost. I'm sure Oscar Wilde thought he was hilarious and clever, but it isn't funny and it isn't clever. It's stupid, ridiculous, and it doesn't make any sense. An American family moves into a haunted English castle, and when they come face-to-face with the ghost, nobody is afraid. They just act like he's a stray dog that wandered into the kitchen. The ghost is absurd; he's had centuries of practice haunting people, yet all he can come up with is moaning and pacing the halls to frighten the new tenants-and when that repeatedly doesn't work, he can't come up with any other ideas.
I still feel sorry for David Niven for getting hooked into this terrible tv movie. But at least he's in good company.
However, I can't imagine voluntarily subjecting myself to another version of The Canterville Ghost. I'm sure Oscar Wilde thought he was hilarious and clever, but it isn't funny and it isn't clever. It's stupid, ridiculous, and it doesn't make any sense. An American family moves into a haunted English castle, and when they come face-to-face with the ghost, nobody is afraid. They just act like he's a stray dog that wandered into the kitchen. The ghost is absurd; he's had centuries of practice haunting people, yet all he can come up with is moaning and pacing the halls to frighten the new tenants-and when that repeatedly doesn't work, he can't come up with any other ideas.
I still feel sorry for David Niven for getting hooked into this terrible tv movie. But at least he's in good company.