The Canterville Ghost (1944)
When I saw the 1974 version of The Canterville Ghost, I lamented, “David Niven! Why are you in this terrible movie?” Just as that version was beneath his talent, the 1944 version was beneath Charles Laughton’s talent, and I gave a similar lament while watching it.
This version of Oscar Wilde’s play is updated to a wartime setting, and a group of American soldiers occupy the haunted estate. Little Margaret O’Brien, a direct descendant of the unhappy ghost, bonds with soldier Robert Young, and when she finds out he’s a stray branch on their family tree, she recruits him to help with the ghost’s unfinished business. The rule of the curse is that a relative has to do a brave deed, but why can’t Margaret be brave, or her aunt Elisabeth Risdon? It’s not really explained, but that’s the least of the movie’s problems.
The main problem is the lousy story. I’ve seen two drastically different versions, with two talented actors in the title role, and they were both terrible. Charles Laughton is a wonderful actor, but even his brand of wonderfulness wasn’t able to save the film. It’s an odd mixture of silly comedy and melodrama; but the comedy isn’t funny and the melodrama isn’t melodramatic. Since Charles Laughton is the lead, he makes the character realistic instead of untouchable, and the movie becomes incredibly sad. This version shows how he died, and it’s a terrible tragedy that could have been avoided. Seeing Charles cry and beg for his life is too tough to take. As a ghost, all he wants is to be set free so he can finally die and be at peace—imagine him explaining that to a seven-year-old! It’s too sad!
The bottom line is it’s just not worth it. Robert Young made close to 100 movies, Margaret O’Brien made over a dozen in the 1940s, and Charles Laughton made more than 50 movies. Watch those other movies, and just pretend you’ve seen this one if anyone asks you.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Charles Laughton movies here!
More Margaret O'Brien movies here!
More Robert Young movies here!
This version of Oscar Wilde’s play is updated to a wartime setting, and a group of American soldiers occupy the haunted estate. Little Margaret O’Brien, a direct descendant of the unhappy ghost, bonds with soldier Robert Young, and when she finds out he’s a stray branch on their family tree, she recruits him to help with the ghost’s unfinished business. The rule of the curse is that a relative has to do a brave deed, but why can’t Margaret be brave, or her aunt Elisabeth Risdon? It’s not really explained, but that’s the least of the movie’s problems.
The main problem is the lousy story. I’ve seen two drastically different versions, with two talented actors in the title role, and they were both terrible. Charles Laughton is a wonderful actor, but even his brand of wonderfulness wasn’t able to save the film. It’s an odd mixture of silly comedy and melodrama; but the comedy isn’t funny and the melodrama isn’t melodramatic. Since Charles Laughton is the lead, he makes the character realistic instead of untouchable, and the movie becomes incredibly sad. This version shows how he died, and it’s a terrible tragedy that could have been avoided. Seeing Charles cry and beg for his life is too tough to take. As a ghost, all he wants is to be set free so he can finally die and be at peace—imagine him explaining that to a seven-year-old! It’s too sad!
The bottom line is it’s just not worth it. Robert Young made close to 100 movies, Margaret O’Brien made over a dozen in the 1940s, and Charles Laughton made more than 50 movies. Watch those other movies, and just pretend you’ve seen this one if anyone asks you.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Charles Laughton movies here!
More Margaret O'Brien movies here!
More Robert Young movies here!