In the 1600s, cowardly Sir Simon of Canterville flees a duel and seeks solace in the family castle. His ashamed father seals him in the room where he is hiding and dooms him to life as a ...
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Title: The Canterville Ghost (1944)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Charles Laughton | ... | ||
| Robert Young | ... | ||
| Margaret O'Brien | ... | ||
| William Gargan | ... |
Sergeant Benson
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| Reginald Owen | ... | ||
| Rags Ragland | ... |
Big Harry
(as 'Rags' Ragland)
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| Una O'Connor | ... | ||
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Donald Stuart | ... |
Sir Valentine Williams
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| Elisabeth Risdon | ... |
Mrs. Polverdine
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| Frank Faylen | ... |
Lieutenant Kane
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| Lumsden Hare | ... |
Mr. Potts
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| Mike Mazurki | ... |
Metropolus
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William Moss | ... |
Hector
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Bobby Readick | ... |
Eddie
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| Marc Cramer | ... |
Bugsy McDougle
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
In the 1600s, cowardly Sir Simon of Canterville flees a duel and seeks solace in the family castle. His ashamed father seals him in the room where he is hiding and dooms him to life as a ghost until one of his descendants performs a brave deed. Simon believes he may be saved when he meets Cuffy Williams, an American kinsman stationed with a troop of soldiers at the castle in 1943. Will this blood relative save the family honor, or will his blood be as yellow as the rest of the Cantervilles? Written by Daniel Bubbeo <[email protected]>
Taglines:
It puts you in the best of spirits!Certificate:
See all certifications »Parents Guide:
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
August 1944 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Das Gespenst von Canterville See more »Filming Locations:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
(copyright length)Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
(uncredited)
Written by Fred Godfrey (1917)
Revised lyrics by Jimmy Hughes and Frank Lake (1940)
Additional lyrics by Al Stillman (1941)
Sung a cappella by the soldiers
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on June 18, 1945 with Charles Laughton and Margaret O'Brien reprising their film roles. See more »Goofs
While many German parachute mines with time delay dropped on England during World War II; but they weren't called blockbusters. The blockbuster was a type of bomb devised by the British. At first a blockbuster was a four thousand pound bomb; but later became an 8000 and then a 12000 pound bomb. They achieved these sizes by simply bolting two or three of the 4000 pounders together. They were called Blockbusters because it was calculated that they could destroy a city block. See more »Soundtracks
Bless 'em All(uncredited)
Written by Fred Godfrey (1917)
Revised lyrics by Jimmy Hughes and Frank Lake (1940)
Additional lyrics by Al Stillman (1941)
Sung a cappella by the soldiers
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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Charles Laughton who made a career of playing tortured and twisted men goes one better here as Sir Simon de Canterville who haunts stately Canterville Manor until another Canterville performs a heroic deed and frees him from being earthbound.
The first part of the film shows the incident where Sir Simon turns tail and runs from a duel he got involved in. Out of shame and embarrassment, his father bricked him up in a room in the manor and pronounced the aforementioned curse upon him.
Breaking that curse is easier said than done because the cowardice was passed down several generations from Stuart England to World War II.
Enter a platoon of American rangers quartered at the manor house where the current lady of the manor, Margaret O'Brien is like so many in Great Britain in those years, playing host to American GIs. One in that platoon is a distant cousin from America, Robert Young. Will he perform the deed that frees Charles Laughton? Watch the film and find out.
Robert Young and Margaret O'Brien are fine, but it is the multi-talented Mr. Laughton who carries this film. This is a difficult part and only an actor of real talent and skill could carry it off. The comic elements are nicely done, but Laughton also has to project an air of resigned sadness at the fate he's been cursed with. And Mr. Laughton bares the tortured soul of Simon de Canterville for all to see.
This is a story originally written by Oscar Wilde and nicely updated for World War II moviegoers. And it's still a fine piece of film making for today's audience.