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IMDbPro

The Cat and the Canary

  • 19391939
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, John Beal, Douglass Montgomery, Elizabeth Patterson, Gale Sondergaard, Nydia Westman, and George Zucco in The Cat and the Canary (1939)
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.
Play trailer3:32
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Horror
  • Mystery
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Elliott Nugent
  • Writers
    • Walter DeLeon(screenplay)
    • Lynn Starling(screenplay)
    • John Willard(based on the stage play by)
  • Stars
    • Bob Hope
    • Paulette Goddard
    • John Beal
Top credits
  • Director
    • Elliott Nugent
  • Writers
    • Walter DeLeon(screenplay)
    • Lynn Starling(screenplay)
    • John Willard(based on the stage play by)
  • Stars
    • Bob Hope
    • Paulette Goddard
    • John Beal
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 67User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:32
    Trailer

    Photos708

    Paulette Goddard in The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    The Cat and the Canary (1939)
    The Cat and the Canary (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bob Hope
    Bob Hope
    • Wally Campbell
    Paulette Goddard
    Paulette Goddard
    • Joyce Norman
    John Beal
    John Beal
    • Fred Blythe
    Douglass Montgomery
    Douglass Montgomery
    • Charlie Wilder
    Gale Sondergaard
    Gale Sondergaard
    • Miss Lu
    Elizabeth Patterson
    Elizabeth Patterson
    • Aunt Susan
    Nydia Westman
    Nydia Westman
    • Cicily
    George Zucco
    George Zucco
    • Lawyer Crosby
    John Wray
    John Wray
    • Hendricks
    George Regas
    George Regas
    • Indian Guide
    William Abbey
    • 'The Cat'
    • (uncredited)
    Milton Kibbee
    Milton Kibbee
    • Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Lane
    Charles Lane
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Melton
    Frank Melton
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Nick Thompson
    Nick Thompson
    • Indian Guide
    • (uncredited)
    Chief Thundercloud
    Chief Thundercloud
    • Indian Guide
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Elliott Nugent
    • Writers
      • Walter DeLeon(screenplay)
      • Lynn Starling(screenplay)
      • John Willard(based on the stage play by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Elizabeth Patterson played the role of Susan in both this and the first sound version of the story, "The Cat Creeps (1930)."
    • Goofs
      When the heirs heading to the house in a boat point out a swimming alligator, protective tape is visibly wrapped around its mouth..
    • Quotes

      Cicily: It's awful spooky down here. Do you believe in reincarnation?

      Wally Campbell: Huh?

      Cicily: You know... that dead people come back?

      Wally Campbell: You mean like the Republicans?

    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Seul le cinéma (1994)

    User reviews67

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Still holds up!
    CAT AND THE CANARY still is a great mystery/comedy film. With it's two young stars Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard, who go on to make yet another two films together, THE GHOST BREAKERS and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, there is great fun and thrills as they spend the night in a spooky old house with several guests that disappear or are found killed mysteriously. Paulette inherits the place through a will, including a jewel necklace which she promptly places under her pillow before going to bed. There is a scary scene with the damsel in distress in bed sleeping, and a hairy grotesque hand slowly starts to creep over her pillow. A wonderful performance by the supporting cast including Gale Sondergard as an evil-looking housekeeper, George Zucco, again in a thriller, and Elizabeth Patterson and Nydia Westman as the two dizzy relatives. This film put both of the leads over the top and onto major star caliber. Rarely on television, it can be seen around Halloween on American Classics.
    helpful•24
    1
    • guil12
    • Oct 24, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 10, 1939 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mačka i kanarinac
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, John Beal, Douglass Montgomery, Elizabeth Patterson, Gale Sondergaard, Nydia Westman, and George Zucco in The Cat and the Canary (1939)
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