THE CANTERVILLE GHOST
US, 1996, 92 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Stewart, Neve Campbell, Joan Sims, Donnell Sinden, Cherie Lunghi, Edward Wiley, Leslie Phillips, Daniel Betts, Ciaran Fitzgerald, Raymond Pickard.
Directed by Syd Macartney.
This is a story by Oscar Wilde. The film version became something of a classic in the 1940s with Charles Laughton is the ghost, Margaret O’Brien? is the little girl. It is the story of a haunted house, the story of the ghost and his misdeeds centuries earlier and is being condemned to want. He can be liberated by the actions of a young girl.
Patrick Stewart enjoys himself as the ghost in this version, having the opportunity to do some Shakespearean recitations in full theatrical verve. The girl in this version is somewhat older, played by Neve Campbell, just as she was about to star in the Scream series. Cherie Lunghi plays her mother and there are cameos as the housekeepers by veteran stars Joan Sims and Donnell Sinden.
The film is designed for family appeal, young boys identifying with the two sons and their mischievous enjoyment as the
1. The popularity of the story? Written by Oscar Wilde? The variety of versions over the decades? This film made for television and family audiences?
2. England, the 1990s, the British countryside, the Castle, the vast interiors, the gardens, the burial place of the angel statue, riding in the countryside? Trains, cars, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The Americans in England, Hiram and the grant, the scientist, his research? Lucille, her support and love, the two boys and seeing it as an adventure, Jenny and her resentment, having to leave her friends, upset? In the past clashes with her father?
4. The British situation, landed gentry need of money, renting the castle? Sir Simon and his welcome, happy to get the money? Mr and Mrs On the, servants, old British style, their manner, loyalties?
5. The family settling in, Hiram and his visit to the pub, post office and police and vet et cetera all in one? The men betting that the family would move out? Previous families moving out?
6. The ghostly atmosphere? The portraits? The sounds in the night? Hiram and his disbelief in ghosts, belief in science? His accusing Jenny playing pranks, wanting to be sent home?
7. The appearance of the ghost, his manner, scaring people, seen only by the boys and Jinny, Hiram walking through him? The boys in the scares, their belief? Jinny, reading the history, learning more about him, Sir Simon and the 16th century? His sad portrait?
8. The secret door, Jinny finding Sir Simon, is appreciating her screen, the conversation, learning more about him?
9. Francis riding by, the encounter with Jinny, the attraction, coming to dinner, saying he had seen the ghost? The discussions? Jinny and the attraction? Wanting to stay? Francis and his helping Jinny, the idea of playing Hamlet, Sir Simon is the ghost?
10. Sir Simon’s story, jealous if his wife, hounding her, her killing herself, the lives lies of the friend? Sir Simon Ward up, starving to death? The legend of how he could be rose redeemed by a young girl? His stories about knowing Shakespeare, the ghost walking, the rehearsals, Patrick Stewart and his Shakespearean renditions? The performance, the audience response, Sir Simon disappearing?
11. Jenny and her talking with Simon, her being willing to sacrifice herself, midnight, going through the open war, has struggled to return, her father going to the bedroom and apologising, not being there, the family joining, holding on, drawing Jinny back into the castle?
12. The bells ringing, the apparition of the tree in the light blossoms? Sir Simon urging Jinny to Love Francis? They’re walking discovering the garden?
13. The contemporary Sir Simon, having that the happy that the ghost had gone, willing that the family stay in the Castle, Hiram’s extended research, the Ways staying on? More than happy ending!
