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IMDbPro

Le mystère de la maison Norman

Original title: The Cat and the Canary
  • 1939
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
Paulette Goddard in Le mystère de la maison Norman (1939)
When an eccentric family meets in their uncle's remote, decaying mansion on the tenth anniversary of his death for the reading of his will, murder and madness follow.
Play trailer3:32
1 Video
99+ Photos
ComedyHorrorMysteryThriller

When an eccentric family meets in their uncle's remote, decaying mansion on the tenth anniversary of his death for the reading of his will, murder and madness follow.When an eccentric family meets in their uncle's remote, decaying mansion on the tenth anniversary of his death for the reading of his will, murder and madness follow.When an eccentric family meets in their uncle's remote, decaying mansion on the tenth anniversary of his death for the reading of his will, murder and madness follow.

  • Director
    • Elliott Nugent
  • Writers
    • Walter DeLeon
    • Lynn Starling
    • John Willard
  • Stars
    • Bob Hope
    • Paulette Goddard
    • John Beal
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    4.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Elliott Nugent
    • Writers
      • Walter DeLeon
      • Lynn Starling
      • John Willard
    • Stars
      • Bob Hope
      • Paulette Goddard
      • John Beal
    • 81User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:32
    Trailer

    Photos732

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    Top cast16

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    Bob Hope
    Bob Hope
    • Wally Campbell
    Paulette Goddard
    Paulette Goddard
    • Joyce Norman
    John Beal
    John Beal
    • Fred Blythe
    Douglass Montgomery
    Douglass Montgomery
    • Charlie Wilder
    Gale Sondergaard
    Gale Sondergaard
    • Miss Lu
    Elizabeth Patterson
    Elizabeth Patterson
    • Aunt Susan
    Nydia Westman
    Nydia Westman
    • Cicily
    George Zucco
    George Zucco
    • Lawyer Crosby
    John Wray
    John Wray
    • Hendricks
    George Regas
    George Regas
    • Indian Guide
    William Abbey
    • 'The Cat'
    • (uncredited)
    Milton Kibbee
    Milton Kibbee
    • Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Lane
    Charles Lane
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Melton
    Frank Melton
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Nick Thompson
    • Indian Guide
    • (uncredited)
    Chief Thundercloud
    Chief Thundercloud
    • Indian Guide
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Elliott Nugent
    • Writers
      • Walter DeLeon
      • Lynn Starling
      • John Willard
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews81

    7.14K
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    Featured reviews

    8dbborroughs

    Probably the best version of the story

    This tale of greedy relatives out to get a fortune had been filmed at least two times before Bob Hope took a crack at it, and the world is a better place for it.

    Though not the perfect haunted house film, this is a very funny movie. One of the reason that this isn't perfect is that the wisecracks get in the way of the mystery, or if not the mystery, the suspense. Such is the danger of comedy thrillers, either its too funny so its not scary, or too suspenseful and the comedy destroys the tension at the wrong time, here its simply too much humor before it turns serious.

    Fortunately here funny is good, so even if the suspense gets the short end of the stick, its still an enjoyable time at the movies. What more could you want, especially since it gives Bob Hope ample chance to do what he does best.

    See this movie. Its a lot of fun. 8 out of 10.
    10bigvalbowski

    A Classic

    The silents brought us a number of classic comedians who were skilled at making the audience laugh without uttering a word. With the advent of sound, some of these comedians found the transition hard and most still relied on their old silent routines for their jokes. Bob Hope was the first comedian who's mouth provided the punchline. The Cat and the Canary was his first leading part and yet it's not designed purely for his advantage, this is a great picture, both funny and exciting.

    Bob Hope is the star. He's hilarious. He's sympathetic. He's also a coward, which isn't such an asset when you're staying in a house filled with escaped lunatics, suspicious servants, and numerous trapdoors. Hope plays a radio personality who involuntarily becomes the bodyguard to a woman, Joyce, who recently inherited a lot of money. The house is filled with other guests that are upset at having lost out on the inheritance. To make matters worse, if Joyce dies within a month, the money goes to whoever was the substitute inheritor and that person's name lies in an envelope safely hidden in a safe. As guests start dying, the tension increases, as does Hope's one-liner's. "I've got goosepumps. In fact, my goosebumps have got goosebumps."

    Today, the plot seems like one from an episode of Scooby-Doo but it's still fun and surprisingly smart. The cast is small but solid and the murderer is never guessed until the end. A few red herrings are thrown in but when the guilty party is revealed, it does make sense, a necessity rarely used in Hollywood today.

    As a vehicle for Hope it works a charm. As a movie in itself it should be recognised as a classic.
    7dougandwin

    Some frights but plenty of laughs!

    This has to be classed as one of Bob Hope's better films, even though it was one of his first in a starring role. He uses the script to perfection with his one-liners while playing the role of a pretty scared coward, and he is admirably supported by Paulette Goddard as the future heiress. In a very good supporting cast there are a number of stalwarts like George Zucco, Elizabeth Patterson and Gale Sondergaard who add so much to the atmosphere of the film. Take it for what it is - a fun scary romp, and you will be spending a most pleasurable 75 minutes, Oh, and by the way it has the required sliding panels, mists, falling bodies, etc that go such a long way in providing Hope with suitable cracks. Enjoy.
    7bkoganbing

    Another Millionaire leaves a wacky will

    The late Uncle Cyrus left quite a collection of greedy relatives looking to be the number one heir at the reading of his will at his home on an island in the Louisiana bayou swamp. Among the possible legatees are Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, John Beal, Douglass Montgomery, Elizabeth Patterson, Nydia Westman and housekeeper Gale Sondergaard. Presiding over the reading of the will is lawyer George Zucco. Besides Bob Hope a lot of the names of the cast spell out sinister.

    As usual the deceased always makes out a will with wacky provisions. Winner of the prize is Goddard, but she has to spend some time at the creepy mansion, essential in these kind of films. And if she's driven to madness or killed there is a secret provision for a second heir among the crew that only Zucco knows.

    The Cat And The Canary is a nice blend of both comedy and melodrama with of course Hope in charge of the comedy. He's a successful radio star as in real life at that time and Uncle Cyrus's money while nice isn't going to be the difference in where his next meal is coming from. And he's liking what he sees in Goddard so he's protective of her in his own comedic way.

    This was the first of three films that Hope and Goddard did. Immediately afterward Paramount put them in The Ghostbreakers which certainly had some similar themes. They worked well together too bad they were not able to collaborate more.

    This was a nice film for the career of Bob Hope which was zooming into high gear right about now.
    7blanche-2

    Bob, Paulette and a Haunted House - what could be better?

    It may sound strange, but there was something so cute and appealing about Bob Hope in the '30s and '40s. I loved that guileless, spineless sweet character he played.

    Here Hope is in top form in "The Cat and the Canary," the 1939 version also starring Paulette Goddard, Gale Sondergaard, John Beal, Douglass Montgomery, George Zucco, and Elizabeth Patterson. A group of relatives have to spend the night in a haunted house after the reading of their late relatives' will.

    Hope and the beautiful, vivacious Goddard are wonderful together -- so good, in fact, that they did it again in "Ghost Breakers." No one could do one-liners like Hope.

    This movie is a lot of fun, with secret panels and things that go bump in the night. Delightful, funny, and spooky.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Elizabeth Patterson played the role of Susan in both this and the first sound version of the story, The Cat Creeps (1930).
    • Goofs
      When the heirs heading to the house in a boat point out a swimming alligator, protective tape is visibly wrapped around its mouth..
    • Quotes

      Cicily: It's awful spooky down here. Do you believe in reincarnation?

      Wally Campbell: Huh?

      Cicily: You know... that dead people come back?

      Wally Campbell: You mean like the Republicans?

    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Seul le cinéma (1994)

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 28, 1940 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Le chat et le canari
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 12m(72 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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