The Canterville Ghost (1944)

Written by CinemaSerf on June 30, 2022

An engaging story about a 17th Century cowardly spirit (Charles Laughton) who is condemned to haunt his family's castle until he does something worthy and brave that will release him from his curse. When a group of American soldiers are billeted there during WWII it transpires that one of their number is a distant relative and that maybe he, "Cuffy" (Robert Young), can help him escape his purgatory. It's a fairly swift-paced ghost story with, aside from a rather annoying Margaret O'Brien as the young "Lady Jessica", plenty of comedic charm that raises a smile now and again. Laughton, Young and Una O'Connor are on fine form and though maybe not laugh-out-loud, it's still a fine family adventure.