Movie Cosmos - The Canterville Ghost

Description:

When a teenaged girl moves to England, with her brothers and parents into the ancient Canterville Hall, she's not at all happy. Especially as there's a ghost and a mysterious re-appearing bloodstain on the hearth. She campaigns to go back home, and her dad, believing the ghost's pranks are Ginny's, is ready to send her back. But then Ginny actually meets the elusive 17th-century Sir Simon de Canterville (not to mention the cute teenaged duke next door), and she sets her hand to the task of freeing Sir Simon from his curse.

Top Cast >

Patrick Stewart

As Sir Simon de Canterville

Neve Campbell

As Virginia 'Ginny' Otis

Joan Sims

As Mrs. Umney

Donald Sinden

As Mr. Umney

Cherie Lunghi

As Lucille Otis

Leslie Phillips

As George, Lord Canterville

Daniel Betts

As Francis, Duke of Cheshire

Edward Wiley

As Hiram Otis

Ciarán Fitzgerald

As Adam Otis

Raymond Pickard

As Washington Otis

Paul Brightwell

As Vicar

Top Crew >

Sydney Macartney

Director

Oscar Wilde

Short Story

Peter Mullins

Production Design

Robert Benedetti

Producer, Teleplay

Ernest Troost

Music

Howard Burden

Costume Design

David Minty

Art Direction

Richard Welsh

Executive Producer

Patrick Stewart

Co-Producer

Brent Shields

Co-Executive Producer

Malcolm J. Christopher

Line Producer, Production Manager

Dennis C. Lewiston

Director of Photography

Paul Martin Smith

Editor

Karen Mayeda Vranek

Post Production Supervisor

Jerry Daly

Second Assistant Director

Barry Langley

First Assistant Director

Lynn Kressel

Casting

Peter Butler

Key Grip

Reviews:

Wuchak (7/10)

Amusing spooky drama in the English countryside with Patrick Stewart and Neve Campbell

An American family moves into a huge manor north of London where the teenage daughter (Neve) discerns a ghostly presence (Stewart) while romancing a young duke (Daniel Betts).

A television production, "The Canterville Ghost" (1996) is based on Oscar Wilde’s humorous short story from 1887 and is one of the more faithful film adoptions (amongst many), just updating the story to modern times and omitting the eldest son, Washington, as well as making Virginia about 18 years-old, rather than 15.

It’s an entertaining family fantasy with a haunting edge in the mold of “The Watcher in the Woods” (1980/2017). You could call it G horror or PG horror and there’s nothing wrong with that, as long as the story’s good. It’s akin to a Nancy Drew mystery set at a castle-like manor in Britain.

Neve was 21 during shooting, almost 22, and does fine as the intelligent protagonist, although I could take her or leave her. Meanwhile Stewart was keeping busy before doing his second TNG movie. He makes the specter sympathetic.

The movie runs 1 hour, 32 minutes, and was shot at Knebworth House, which is located 30 miles north of London.

GRADE: B/B-

2024-04-30