After watching it recently, my reaction to the film is mixed at best. On the plus side are the setting and atmosphere, the cast and acting - primarily of the three main characters Sir Simon - the Ghost, Lady Jessica and Cuffy). On the minus side - and to me it is a big minus, is the total departure from Wilde's original story. Even a film made during war era need not necessarily have soldiers and flag-waving. In the film, the only result of these departures, combined with the artificial ups and downs in Cuffy's behaviour, is to destroy the charm of the original story and convert it into an inane potboiler. However, the atmosphere and the acting do rescue it to some extent and make it possible to enjoy the film - though only after one decides to forget about Wilde.
Review of The Canterville Ghost
The Canterville Ghost
(1944)
Charming story changed to potboiler, but rescued by atmosphere and acting
16 December 2011