plato-11

This is one of the most powerful movies I've ever seen. It is an early talkie, so the camera is static and the copy I have is grainy, but the performances transcend all that and make you forget the problems. Colin Clive is perfect as the brusque, alcoholic (but ultimately sympathetic) Captain Stanhope. His intensity is mesmerizing. It's sad that he didn't get a chance to make more films before he died. David Manners, who I never cared much for in his romantic lead roles, does a surprisingly good job as Raleigh. Ian Mclaren also does a good job as the older, gentle Osborne. This is one movie that is just begging for release on video. It needs to be discovered by modern viewers. I give this movie 10/10 simply because of the power of the performances.

Sir John Gielgud is completely and utterly charming and delightful in "The Canterville Ghost". The rest of the acting is fair to average, but I would recommend this to anyone just because of Gielgud. He plays his role in a wonderful tongue-in-cheek way. We watched this in my eight- grade class when we were studying the plot curve, and all of my friends and classmates, not just a movie freak like me, adored Gielgud as the ghost. The only other movie besides this I have seen Gielgud in is "The Secret Agent", but he didn't do such a good job in that one. Still, I assume this film is a good example of what the rest of his work must be like, indeed, reading reviews of his other films, he has not gotten a bad review. I think I might check out "Arthur" soon. But I'm rambling now, and the point is that "The Canterville Ghost" was a charming movie.

8/10