The Canterville Ghost

Latest entry in local library classics A-Z.

A family curse of cowardice traps the ghost within the walls of Canterville Castle until an heir commits an act of bravery to release him. Gothic tales don’t need to be scary, and Charles Laughton as the cowardly ghost is quite humorous. Though in moments of great tension, it reminds us of the battles we cannot escape. Through the eyes of a young girl (Margaret O’Brien), we see acts of soldiers fighting a war. But her personal hero, Cuffy (Robert Young), a descendant of Canterville’s Castle, has the duty to set his ancestor free. It is only when stakes become personal and dear to his heart that he can find the bravery to face his fears. The opening sets up the story well in creating a situation where one forces responsibility onto another. That is where we curse ourselves with cowardice, when we don’t take accountability for our fate. But there is always time, as said by a character in the story, “One never leaves the theater, my Lord, till the curtain has fallen.”

Did not know Jules Dassin (Rififi, The Naked City) directed this. There’s many disturbing qualities to it and unsettling images. The haunted castle during WWII is a disturbing backdrop alone. And throwing in the innocence of a young frightful child creates all the more fear of something going wrong. But the movie balances dark fantasy with a tongue-in-cheek charm. Loosely based on Oscar Wilde’s short story, The Canterville Ghost, is a haunting delight.