The Canterville Ghost

I remember this TV movie! I thought the year might have been 1975, but I was a year off. I was 9 years old and it was 1974. I don't remember a great deal except for the title, the fact that I thought Peter Ustinov was the Ghost (I was obviously wrong) and the wonderful atmospheric quality of the production together with a very jumbled memory of a "ghostly" storyline. And that I loved it! I fought with my brother to watch it on television. "The Canterville Ghost" won out over "Cool Hand Luke." I do remember that vividly. Oh I do wish this production were released for sale! I'd snap it up in a heartbeat. David Niven must have made QUITE an impression in this production for my 4th grade memory (I'm now 40)to have retained it. I've recently heard this production's staging described as having something of the feeling of a soap opera, but remember, in the United States, where ghosts and medieval castles within which they haunt are nonexistent, this movie opened my eyes to the genre in a big way! Bravo to all involved! I hope a copy is made available to the public soon!

This is a classic story in true Oscar Wilde wit and flair. It's both haunting and funny. It's a fairy tale for all ages. In this story a young American girl helps to free the tormented spirit that haunts an old English castle. It's very well written and a beautiful tale for all ages. It's too bad this wasn't the best adaptation.

The best adaptation of The Canterville ghost, in my opinion, has to be the version with Patrick Stewart as the ghost, it was made for television in 1996. Though set in the 1990s it's very true to the book. The worst adaptation of the Canterville ghost, in my opinion, is the version set in 1944. It had been turned into blatant war propaganda and was almost unrecognizable, it's plot having nearly nothing at all to do with the original story by Oscar Wilde, which is a true classic.

My childhood was dominated by the returns to the stories by Oscar Wilde. So, not exactly familiarity with his texts but a kind of comfort defines my relation with his writings.

This version of The Canterville Ghost is new remind about this connection. The story of poor ghost and his problems in the efforts to convince the American family is , I suppose, silly to ridicoulous, unrealistic at whole for contemporary readers. This is not the best version.

But, it is David Niven, few pretty nice scenes and it is enough for see it be not a waste of time. Sure, the question if Sir David Niven was the most inspired option for the role of Simon of Canterville remains. But real matters it ?

Because it is funny, full of shadows of nostalgia and , in essence, correct try to a fair job with a text not real comfortable. And david Niven is himself, offering to the character the charme, irony and vulnerability in wise doses for seduce maybe only Oscar Wilde admirers . But they are the important ones , in final.

I thought I was going nuts! I knew David Niven was in a version of the Canterville Ghost, but no one would believe me! I loved Niven is this film and have been looking for it for many years now. My favorite line is "Machine Oil, Pillows, I've never been so insulted in all my death"! I enjoy most of the versions of this movie that are out there, but his is my favorite. David Niven is one of my all time favorite actors (along with Vincent Price) I also loved him in the Pink Panther and Death on the Nile. I collect old movies and would love to own the version of The Canterville Ghost with him in it. I don't remember too much about the film, except the line above and that I really enjoyed it. They should make more films like this. Today's movies are too gory and pointless.

One of my sci-fi/horror/fantasy reviews written 50 years ago: Directed by Walter C. Miller; Produced by Timothy Burrill and Joseph Cates for HTV/Buricia Productions; Telecast in America by NBC-TV. Screenplay by Robin Miller, based on Oscar Wilde's story; Music by Carl Davis. Starring: David Niven, James Whitmore, Lynne Frederick, Flora Robson, Audra Lindley, Maurice Evans, Christopher Morris, Nicholas Jones, Elizabeth Tyrrell and Isla Blair.

Incredibly poor, watered-down, shot on videotape TV version aimed at the most infantile of audiences. Virtually unwatchable, contains hammy, theatrical thesping by Niven. Embarrassing attempt at midwest USA accents by Frederick and Audley and not a single laugh intact under Walter C. Miller's stiff direction: