The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

In 1900, a young widow finds her seaside cottage is haunted and forms a unique relationship with the ghost.

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

Philip Dunne (screen play), R.A. Dick (from the novel by) (as R. A. Dick)

Stars:

Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, George Sanders

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gene Tierney	...	Lucy Muir
Rex Harrison	...	Capt. Daniel Gregg
George Sanders	...	Miles Fairley
Edna Best	...	Martha Huggins
Vanessa Brown	...	Anna Muir as an Adult
Anna Lee	...	Mrs. Miles Fairley
Robert Coote	...	Mr. Coombe
Natalie Wood	...	Anna Muir as a Child
Isobel Elsom	...	Angelica Muir
Victoria Horne	...	Eva Muir

Storyline

In 1900, Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney), widowed for one year, decides to move out of her controlling in-law's house in London to the English seaside with her adolescent daughter Anna (Natalie Wood) and their long devoted maid Martha (Edna Best). Despite the rental agent trying to dissuade her, Lucy decides to rent Gull Cottage at Whitecliff-by-the-Sea. She learns firsthand before she makes the decision the rental agent's hesitance is because the cottage is haunted, supposedly by its now deceased former owner, seaman Captain Daniel Gregg (Sir Rex Harrison). After she moves in, she does meet the spirit of Captain Gregg face-to-face. Because she refuses to be scared away by his presence, the two come to an understanding, including that he will not make his presence known to Anna. As time progresses, the two develop a friendship and a bond. Despite his statements to her that she needs to live her life including finding another husband, Daniel seems not to approve of any of the men that enter ...

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Plot Keywords:

ghost | based on novel | character name in title | dropping a glass | milk | 

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Taglines:

Is Lucy Muir's love really a ghost, or is it a man of flesh and blood she yearns for?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gene Tierney had a broken foot during filming, the result of running up some stairs to visit Fanny Brice's new granddaughter.

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Goofs

When Fairley takes the cab ride with Mrs. Muir, the raindrops on his hat change noticeably from shot to shot.

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Quotes

Captain Gregg: [discussing Mr. Fairley] And the way he was smirking at you, like a cat in the fishmonger's! You should have slapped his face!
Lucy Muir: Why? I found him... rather charming!
Captain Gregg: "Rather charming!" Now you're starting to talk like him!
Lucy Muir: How in blazes do you want me to talk?
Captain Gregg: That's better!

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: LONDON at the turn of the century.

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Connections

Referenced in The Empty Screen or the Metaphysics of Movies (2017)

User Reviews

Simply great, a movie that can bring a man to tears....

I saw this movie for the first time when I was sixteen, now almost thirty years have passed and I still cry every time I think about the film. . My favorite image is the deteriorating pier with her daughters name carved into it...what a beautiful and sad way to convey the passing of time.I recently watched it again and the lump in my throat has not passed as of yet.So sad, So beautiful!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 August 1947 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

Filming Locations:

Abalone Cove Shoreline Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes, California, USA

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$29,545

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1