The Canterville Ghost

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The Canterville Ghost

1944

1h 36m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

When Sir Simon de Canterville (Charles Laughton) flees a joust in fear and retreats to the family castle, his father traps Simon and curses him to haunt the estate until a descendant restores the family honor with an act of bravery. Hundreds of years later, Cuffy Williams (Robert Young), an American soldier stationed at the castle, discovers from young Lady Jessica (Margaret O'Brien) that he is a relative. Cuffy hopes to free Simon from his curse by displaying courage when under duress.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

07/26/2003

4/5

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

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Jose Maria Santos

Cine-Mundial

09/17/2019

Oscar Wilde's story, upon being modernized, has become more likeable. [Full review in Spanish]

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John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

12/23/2009

6/10

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

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

11/20/2008

C

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

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Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

08/29/2005

5/5

MGM comedy-fantasy combined with WWII theme is classic.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

07/15/2005

3/5

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Steve D

01/01/2024

A weak version of the forgettable story.

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10/24/2020

I can't believe I lived my life never seeing this until now! An absolutely delightful film with a friendly ghost.I laughed, heart touched till I cried

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Frances H

08/28/2020

O've always loved this great classic flick with the sweet little O'brian, the bombastic and pities Laughton, and the charming Young, who all make this wonderful tale by Oscar Wilde a great family/SSII flick! I saw this first as a kid on TV in Pittsburgh watching the 10 o'clock morning movie during summer vacation while we ate breakfast in the living room. summer was sweet when breakfast meant the great movies of the 40s every weekday!

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Thomas M

@TMProofreader 01/27/2019

The best fantasy movie ever made!

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Scott R

@ScottR 08/10/2014

A fun wartime propaganda film. Laughton was silly and O'Brien was adorable.

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06/11/2014

I know its a classic, but it was more about the little girl then the ghost. Laughton was great in the little time he got on screen.

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Jules Dassin

Director

Norman Z. McLeod

Director

Charles Laughton

Sir Simon de Canterville

Robert Young

Cuffy Williams

Margaret O'Brien

Lady Jessica de Canterville

William Gargan

Sergeant Benson

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Synopsis

When Sir Simon de Canterville (Charles Laughton) flees a joust in fear and retreats to the family castle, his father traps Simon and curses him to haunt the estate until a descendant restores the family honor with an act of bravery. Hundreds of years later, Cuffy Williams (Robert Young), an American soldier stationed at the castle, discovers from young Lady Jessica (Margaret O'Brien) that he is a relative. Cuffy hopes to free Simon from his curse by displaying courage when under duress.

Director: Jules Dassin, Norman Z. McLeod
Producer: Arthur L. Field
Screenwriter: Edwin Blum
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 20, 1944, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 36m

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