THE CANTERVILLE GHOST
US, 1985, 100 minutes, Colour.
John Gielgud, Ted Wass, Andrea Marcovicci, Alyssa Milano.
Directed by Paul Bogart.
The Canterville Ghost was first filmed in the '40s by Jules Dassin with Charles Laughton, Robert Young and Margaret O'Brien. This made for television movie of the '80s caters for an international audience, especially Americans, with the family coming from the United States.
However, the film is a tour de force for John Gielgud who was 81 when he made this film. He gives it the Shakespearian treatment with his presence and oratory. But he also seems to enjoy being a ghost and the special effects. His presence gives the film quality. It was directed by American director Paul Bogart, director of movies (Mr. Rico) and an amount of television work.
1. The story based on an Oscar Wilde fantasy? The '40s version? The quality of the remake?
2. British production, locations? John Gielgud and his presence, oratory and style?
3. A pleasant blend of reality and fantasy? A modern fable?
4. The arrival of Harry, Lucy and Jennifer? American background, impressions of England, arrival at the station, their hopes, the butler, the cart, the eccentric relatives, staying three months, disbelief at the ghost?
5. The story of Sir Simon? His history, the 17th. century, his history of haunting? His boasting of his capacities as a ghost? His absence from the portrait? The various tricks, raising the butler from the ground, tying up the wife? His trying to scare Lucy and her defiance of him? The encounter with Jennifer? Conversation, becoming friendly? The meal and his exploding the food in the face of the guests? His saving Marry with his fall? A pleasant ghost, 300 years, the ghost-buster and his raising the spectre of his wife? Sir Simon's sadness, sitting in the cemetery, not being able to die? His plan to get Lucy away from the house? Reversing the situation on Jennifer's request? Taking Jennifer to the place where he died? her love for him? His death? Appearing in the portrait? A rhetorical and stylish Sir Simon?
6. Jennifer as a pleasant young girl, moving away from America, her memory of her own mother, relationship with Lucy, with her father? The first encounter A0 the ghost? Visiting him in his room? Sharing his history and experiences? The boy at school and the attraction? His being scared at the cemetery? Helping Simon? Wanting Lucy to go, reversing her opinion, her saving Simon?
7. Harry and Lucy, an American couple, not being scared, thinking it was all special effects, the plan to sell the house, gradually believing in the ghost, the uproar of the meal, hostility? Lucy going, the clash with Harry, his wanting her to come back? Being helped by Sir Simon? Harry and his wariness, his fall from the roof, love for Jennifer, clash with Lucy, wanting her back? The happy ending?
8. The relatives and their fears, not going in the house, being scared of Sir Siption, the exploding meal?
9. The butler and his eccentricity, floating, helping, trying to find the luggage? His wife and her being tied up? With Jennifer in the chapel and the reading of the curse?
10. The boy at school, attracted to Jennifer, scared in the cemetery?
11. The ghost and his setting up the mechanics to raise the spectre? His success, fainting? His hearty appetite afterwards?
12. A pleasant ghost story, the touch of history, the ghost and his purgatory, the love and repentance of his selfishness? His being helped by Jennifer's love?
