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:

An intriguing, unusual story...delightfully different in its startling romantic situations...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The word "muir" means "sea" in Scots Gaelic. Many times sailors are said to have been "married" to the sea, or that the only woman they ever loved was the sea.

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Goofs

As Mrs. Muir's sister-in-law and mother-in-law come down the stairs towards the ghost of Capt. Gregg, the mother-in-law has to squeeze around Rex Harrison's body to finish descending the staircase, right before he grabs the elbows of the two ladies.

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Quotes

Capt. Daniel Gregg: I didn't lead a very wise life meself, but it was a, it was a full one and a grown-up one. You come of age very quickly through shipwreck and disaster.

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Crazy Credits

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

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Connections

Referenced in The Suite Life on Deck: The Ghost and Mr. Martin (2010)

User Reviews

Exquisite romance, like fine china

If I may say so this film is one of the most haunting and lovely romances ever on screen - ghost and all. Once you step back in time into that prim, Victorian world it is hard to turn away. That's what makes for great movies.

Gene Tierney is perfect in her role as Lucy, a young widow, very strong-willed and with a mind of her own. She decides to leave the home and relatives of her late husband to find a new life of independence for herself and her daughter. She is shown "Gull Cottage" by an agent and is determined to rent the seaside cottage although it's known to be haunted by the ghost of a sea captain.

Eventually, once settled into her new surroundings, she is confronted by the apparition of Captain Daniel on a blustery stormy night. Their acquaintance does not get off to an easy start but he decides she can stay and won't trouble her with his houndings which would have ordinary people put to flight and making a hasty retreat. Her amusing exchanges with the captain, played by Rex Harrison, are a delight. I particularly liked her expressions which were corrected by him, such as: (she describes) sheets bellying in the wind, (he, correcting her) sails billowing; (she, in a flurry for him to be gone, asks him to) decompose, (he haughtily retorts) dematerialize, madam!

When she develops an interest in a certain outsider, Miles Fairley, suitably performed by that perennial ladies' man, George Sanders, well the captain becomes very annoyed and tells her, "I said you should see men, not perfumed parlor snakes," which I thought was amusing and a very apt description.

I think the overall tone of the story tends to confirm a universal belief in an afterlife form of existence, a conviction as old as mankind itself. However, in this story the emphasis gradually shifts to supplanting the experience of a ghostly dialogue exchange with that of a dream state as being the source of reality, in effect Lucy dreamed it all, even the writing of the book, which is something I would question but that's another matter.

The exquisite music throughout the film sets the mood beautifully in expressing the many changes varying from haunting, romantic atmosphere to frolicsome (when the captain is up to his pranks), as well as the churning turbulence of the majestic waves along the shore.

I've recently acquired the DVD and appreciate having the subtitles now which brings out more details of the dialogue. This is a very special movie one doesn't easily forget, and so well done, pure artistry on film.

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