Absolutely Fantastic

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Other reviewers have noted the updating of this Oscar Wilde story to the 20th century and during World War II. The inclusion of a platoon of U.S. Army Rangers worked quite well. It enabled an array of cast members to join in the fun of this comedy, fantasy. This is an MGM film that lacks some of the technical quality that the studio was capable of in the 1940s. The story is a humorous one, and the screenplay is quite good. Two things earn this film the high rating I give it. First is the acting. All of the support cast are very good; but the three leads all shine in their roles. This was one of child star Margaret O'Brien's first films – she was just seven years old when it was release. O'Brien is wonderful as the polite, genteel, lady-like British little girl, Lady Jessica de Canterville. Robert Young as Cuffy Williams was actually older than the soldier he played, at 37. By now he was an accomplished actor with six dozen films behind him, including some excellent roles. And, Charles Laughton is excellent as the Canterville ghost, Sir Simon. Laughton truly brought a marvelous talent to acting. He excelled in the dramatic, comedy, and mystery. Here is has a double role and he's perfect in both roles. One other exceptional attribute of this film is the special effects. The camera work, filming and editing of the scenes with the ghost appearing, fading in and out, and flying across the room were excellent. I am surprised that the movie didn't get an academy award nomination for its special effects. This is an enjoyable movie for the whole family. One that I think the entire cast had fun making.

This is a most accomplished movie and haunting. From the first moments of bricking in to the final absolution of the ghost it follows a poetic course and is one of the greatest of redemption movies. But it's not available as DVD in UK and I doubt it's been shown on UK TV in the last 30 years. Is there a copyright problem with it? One would have thought not. Have the producers of the later movie buried it? Surely not. Charles Laughton's role here is deeply affecting - and given knowledge of his homosexuality, the portrayal of the failed knight unable to compete in the jousts and ostracised by his community and family becomes even more affecting. His equivalent is the poor lion in the Wizard of Oz.His redemption comes of course with the arrival of the unflappable American family and especially their loving daughter who sees qualities in the poor knight that were never seen before. This is a lovely film that needs to be seen more often.

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

I don't know that I will even give a movie a 10 out of 10, but this movie has "haunted" (in a wonderful way) my life since my childhood! Not only do the great actors of those days and the screen writing teach us what real life, courtesy, care, concern and speech are like, they can still flood our minds with hope! Not to say that good movies aren't still made, because they are! And not say that everyone was rosy and good then, either. But this movie still retains a way, and tugs on our minds and hearts, to still be good people, to not give in to the epithets of the present U.S. culture of 2007. It only takes honesty, care, understanding, concern and kindred souls to realize that we all are one on this planet, and may more planets than just this one. And actors such as Charles Laughton, Margaret O'Brien, Robert Young, Rags Ragland, Una O'Connor, Reginald Owen, and so many more, continue to teach us in ways that many of our present day actors will never be able to. And I'm not sure why!?! And isn't it interesting that 2 GIs can dance together, and do it wonderfully well, and it IS art!! And yet done today, people would look at all of that and make lurid judgments!! And a 7 year old could act with the likes of a Charles Laughton and we don't jump to all kinds of disreputable conclusions, at might happen today. I am thankful for movies and stories such as this. I am thankful for people such as Oscar Wilde, Edmin Blum and Jules Dassin. Unfortunately, the telling of the realities of war, though, although not as graphic then as now, (maybe that's not a bad thing), are still as haunting today as back then. But rather than end on a sad note, I say, let us all raise a glass to the hope that is part of the movies of such as the like as Charles Laughton, and to the hope that will continue in many ways in today's movies. I know they are there. I watch too many not to understand that. It's just that times were different. But people usually still fight for good and noble causes today as ever before, and isn't that what this movie is about?!!!