Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

Diagonaldi Very well executed

UnowPriceless hyped garbage

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

MartinHafer The film begins in the 17th century. In an odd bit of casting, portly Charles Laughton (age 45) is the younger brother of Peter Lawford (age 21 at the time of the making of this film). Charles is expected to fight for the honor of his noble family but instead turns and runs. As a result of this infamy, he is cursed to remain a ghost until a relative can perform a brave deed--a tough order to fill because the next 300 years saw coward after coward pass down the family line! Now, cut to 1943 and a regiment of American soldiers in the UK is stationed in Canterville Castle--the place haunted by the sad ghost. Through some coincidences only possible in movies, American soldier Robert Young discovers he's related to the nice ghost and realizes he can break the curse by performing gallantly at war.THE CANTERVILLE GHOST is an enjoyable film--thanks mostly to a rather saccharine-like yet enjoyable performance by young Margaret O'Brien. On one hand, she's so adorable that the cynical out there might just dismiss the whole thing. But on the other, at age 6, she was already a better actress than many adult professionals and only a true curmudgeon could hate her! When I was younger, I was not a particular fan of Margaret's (hence, I was more of a curmudgeon) but over the years I have really come to appreciate her charm and talent.O'Brien is supported by Charles Laughton (as the ghost) and Robert Young. Laughton was often the scene stealer in films with his acting (and occasional over-acting) but here his blustery style was just fine for the ghost. As for Young, he had a typical "nice guy" performance. Considering how well he worked with O'Brien in this and other films, it's not surprising that he was later cast as "America's Dad" on television.So with some wonderful performances, most of the movie is lovely--typical MGM family fare with nice directing, writing and the full glossy treatment. The only problem is that towards the end, the film switched gear and became a kooky film--something that tended to cheapen the film significantly. While only a few minutes earlier Young was off bravely fighting the Nazis and the tension was great, just a bit later he was dragging a time bomb across the field in a scene that looked more at home in an Abbott and Costello film. Seeing the jeep jumping about wildly while towing a bomb through the middle of the regiment just looked dumb (and, by the way, this is NOT the best method of bomb disposal). This scene was a sad decision because the rest of the film was delightful. Still, even with this dumb finale, the film is solidly entertaining and you may just find your heart-strings tugged by sweet Margaret. And, if not, you'll still probably enjoy the movie.

sayhitowarren The current rating for this film (6.7) is too low. A more accurate figure would be between 7 and 8. This is an excellent film, a classic fantasy picture on par with Lost Horizon (1937), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), The Old Dark House (1932), Scrooge (1935), Scrooge (1938), Blithe Spirit (1945), Gaslight (1940), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), The Uninvited (1944), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), Dead of Night (1945), Death Takes a Holiday (1934), Alice in Wonderland (1933). It's not quite as good as It's a Wonderful Life, A Matter of Life and Death (Stairway to Heaven), Babes in Toyland (1934), Cat People (1944), The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941), Picture of Dorian Gray (1945), Thief of Baghdad (1940), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932).

blanche-2 Margaret O'Brien tries to help one of her long-dead ancestors in "The Canterville Ghost," a 1944 film also starring Charles Laughton, Robert Young, and Frank Faylen. Jessica de Canterville's (O'Brien) family owns a castle which is being used to house soldiers during their stay in the area. The castle has a very famous ghost named Sir Simon de Canterville (Charles Laughton) whose father had him imprisoned inside a wall for cowardice centuries earlier. Simon roams the castle, looking like the Cowardly Lion in royal costume. The only way he can rest for eternity is if a relative performs a courageous act in his name, i.e., by taking his signet ring and wearing it when he does the brave thing. Alas, the entire family for centuries has run the other way when danger appears, so Simon isn't having any luck. When six-year-old Lady Jessica de Canterville realizes that one of the soldiers is related to her, she begs him to help poor, tired Simon.This is a wonderful movie, buoyed by the presence of Margaret O'Brien, surely one of the most adorable children to ever hit the screen. She's a fine actress, too - very sincere and natural. Although Mary Astor wrote in her diary that she was terrified of O'Brian during the filming of "Meet Me in St. Louis," it's kind of hard to believe. Charles Laughton turns in another masterful performance as Simon, who scares people because he thinks that as a ghost, it's what he should do. He's a riot. As Cuffy Williams, the soldier related to Jessica and Simon, Robert Young is very good as a man who begins to doubt his own courage."The Canterville Ghost" is loads of fun for the entire family, with plenty of comedy and some nice lessons, one of which is, when you really want something, you often need patience until you achieve it.

maxvaughn Okay, I'm the first to admit this movie has almost nothing to do with Wilde's original story, but I can't help loving it. Like most versions of the story, this one is adapted for the time it was made in, so this one revolves around war and bravery. When I was eight years old I forced my entire birthday party to watch this movie and every year after they all always wanted to watch it. It's been a long time since I 've had a birthday party like that, but some of those friends have even gone out and bought the movie since then. We all had a little crush on Robert Young in this. Margaret O'Brian is fabulous sneaking around the Ghost's room and doing her bob of a curtsy. And of course Charles Laughton spitting in at the portraits of his cowardly kinsmen. The comedic timing is wonderful and there are great one liners. Best line: "I believe they call it woogie boogie".