The Canterville Ghost main backdrop
The Canterville Ghost main poster

The Canterville Ghost

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6.7/10 • 42

1944-07-201h 35m

ComedyFantasy

It puts you in the best of spirits!

The descendent of a ghost imprisoned for cowardice hopes to free the spirit by displaying courage when under duress.

Directors
Jules Dassin
Editors
Chester W. Schaeffer

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Charles Laughton

    Charles Laughton

    Sir Simon de Canterville / The Ghost

  2. Robert Young

    Robert Young

    Cuffy Williams

  3. Margaret O'Brien

    Margaret O'Brien

    Lady Jessica de Canterville

  4. William Gargan

    William Gargan

    Sergeant Benson

  5. Reginald Owen

    Reginald Owen

    Lord Canterville

  6. Una O'Connor

    Una O'Connor

    Mrs. Umney

  7. Rags Ragland

    Rags Ragland

    Big Harry Waters

  8. Donald Stuart

    Donald Stuart

    Sir Valentine Williams

  9. Elisabeth Risdon

    Elisabeth Risdon

    Mrs. Polverdine

Reviews2

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Sep 6, 2014

7/10

Safe and inoffensive fun. Sir Simon of Canterville gets roped into fighting a duel for his cousin, realising he faces certain death he flees the field awash with cowardice. His father is so enraged as to this stain on the family honour he walls Simon up in the castle without food and water until death does strike him down. He is doomed to haunt the Canterville castle until a fellow member of the family can commit an act of bravery and thus lift the cowardly stain that has besmirched the Canterville name. Doesn't sound much like a comedy does it? But it is, and a very amiable one at that. Loosely based on Oscar Wilde's story of the same name, The Canterville Ghost benefits from a couple of charming performances from Charles Laughton as Simon, and from a young Margaret O'Brien as Lady Jessica de Canterville. Laughton is clearly enjoying himself as the ghost, heavy on the "woe is me" theatrics coupled with gusto comedy, it's a very enjoyable performance from the big man. O'Brien is here enjoying being the center of attention and she positively lights up every scene she is in with youthful exuberance. The story follows a well trodden path to its rewarding ending, but it's a fun ride getting there regardless. Things really pick up a pace once a platoon of American soldiers are billeted at the castle and we are introduced to Cuffy Williams (Robert Young), a descendant Canterville of course, but he himself is showing a line in cowardice, so we are then left wondering if Cuffy can indeed show bravery and thus free Simon from his ghostly duties? 7/10

Media

  • The Canterville Ghost poster
  • The Canterville Ghost poster
  • The Canterville Ghost poster
  • The Canterville Ghost poster
  • The Canterville Ghost poster
  • The Canterville Ghost poster
  • The Canterville Ghost poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
castleliverpool, england