Do you want to see ‘The Canterville Ghost’?

The Canterville Ghost (1944)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 6
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 1

No consensus yet.

No Reviews Yet...

Release Date: Jul 1, 1944 Wide

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 476

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

The whimsical Oscar Wilde fantasy yarn The Canterville Ghost is updated to WW2 in this economical but attractively produced MGM filmization. Charles Laughton plays Sir Simon de Canterville, a feckless 17th century British aristocrat who, after proving himself a coward on the field of honor, is walled up alive in his own castle by his unforgiving father (Reginald Owen). Sir Simon's ghost is doomed to haunt the corridors of Canterville Hall until one of his descendants performs a conspicuous act

Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.

Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

Directed By: Jules Dassin

In Theaters: Jul 1, 1944 Wide

On DVD: Aug 21, 1991

Cast

Charles Laughton
Sir Simon de Cantervill...
Robert Young
Cuffy Williams
Margaret O'Brien
Lady Jessica de Canterv...
William Gargan
Sgt. Benson
Peter Lawford
Anthony de Canterville
Reginald Owen
Lord Canterville
Una O'Connor
Mrs. Umney
Mike Mazurki
Metropolus
Rags Ragland
Big Harry
Donald Stuart
Sir Valentine Williams
Elizabeth Risdon
Mrs. Polverdine
Frank Faylen
Lieutenant Kane
Lumsden Hare
Mr. Potts
William Moss
Hector
Marc Cramer
Bugsy McDougle
William Tannen
Jordan
Frank Reicher

Critic Reviews for The Canterville Ghost

All Critics (9) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (1) | DVD (2)

...the movie is so lightweight, it might be airier than the ghost.

December 23, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...a pleasant little fantasy, as well as a lighthearted bit of World War II propaganda.

December 23, 2009 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis

| Comment

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Its purpose was to foster good will between the UK and the USA.

November 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

MGM comedy-fantasy combined with WWII theme is classic.

August 29, 2005 Comment

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Delicious fantasy with splendid performances by O'Brien, Young, and Laughton.

July 26, 2003 Comment

Nell Minow

Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

Sweet wartime comedy

August 22, 2002 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Canterville Ghost

View All

Centuries ago an English king, embarassed by the cowardice of his son, has that son walled up in his castle. (The son was supposed to fight Tor Johnson of Plan 9 and A&C in the Foreign Legion fame.) Because of a curse placed on him, the son is doomed to haunt the castle for eternity. Flash-forward to WWII-era Britain.

September 16, 2009

D M

Enjoyed this flick pretty well, Laughton is flawless like usual he is great with delivery. Also Robert Young was solid as well Margaret O'Brien who at 7 years old gave a wonderful performance, one of the better child actors I have seen in that era for sure. The effects were also well done, very understated and simple but worked well.

December 18, 2009