“When
the Otis family move from
The United States to England, they
find the large Gothic pile they
have rented comes complete with
a surly ghost who has chased away
all other tenants and continues to
haunt the Hall in the remake of the
fantastic Oscar Wilde comedy drama The Canterville Ghost...”
BRILLIANT AMERICAN PHYSICIST Hiram Otis (Ed Wiley) has been transferred to
an English university and is surprised to find a magnificent Gothic stately
home to rent for a pittance.
He sends for his family and his wife Lucille "Lucy" (Cherie Lunghi) arrives
by train with petulant seventeen-year-old daughter Virginia "Ginny", and younger
sons Adam (Ciaran Fitzgerald) and Washington (Raymond Pickard).
“A
superbly adapted
comedy drama about a
miserable and crotchety
ghost who cannot find
peace and an historic
tragedy that pulls at the
heartstrings...”
It
is clear something is very wrong at Canterville Hall as chauffeur Mr Umney (the
wonderful Donald Sinden) and his twitchy housekeeper wife (delightfully played
by Joan Sims) seem oblivious to the strange noises that persist — for which
huffy teenager Ginny is blamed unfairly by her father.
None of the former tenants of the Hall have lasted much beyond the first night,
so owner Lord George Canterville (Lesley Phillips, playing true to form!) is
pleased to extend the family's stay. However, Ginny is disappointed as she is
bored and homesick; but all that changes when she meets youthful aristocratic
neighbour Francis (Daniel Betts), who plays down his title of the Duke of Cheshire.
The poignant legend of the Cantervilles goes back hundreds of years to Sir Simon
de Canterville (brilliantly played by Patrick Stewart), who suffered the tragic
loss of his much-loved wife Eleanor because of a jealous rival and is condemned
to haunting the Hall, accompanied only by his faithful familiar Gabriel the
Raven.
Only the three youngsters can see the bad-tempered and cantankerous Sir Simon,
with their father refusing to believe in ghosts; and it falls to Ginny who,
with gentle understanding, tries to restore order to the Hall. But at what cost?
Will she have to sacrifice her own happiness and be unable to ever return to
her family?
This magical adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost will entertain
the whole family and features a well chosen, all-star cast. A superbly adapted
comedy drama about a miserable and crotchety ghost who cannot find peace and
an historic tragedy that tugs at the heartstrings.
The complementary music is by Ernest Troost; Cinematography by Dennis C Lewiston;
Writers are Oscar Wilde (from a short story by) and Robert Benedetti (Teleplay);
Co-Producer is Patrick Stewart; Producer is Robert Benedetti; and Director is
Syd Macartney.
*
Second
Sight Films announces the release of The Canterville Ghost on Blu-ray
and DVD in the UK on 30 October 2017. Certificate: U | Running Time: 91 Minutes
Approximately | Catalogue Number: 2NDVD3327 | RRP: £15.99. Blu-ray: Running
Time: 95 Minutes Approximately | Catalogue Number: 2NDBDR4080 | RRP: £19.99.
Special Features — New Interview With Director Syd Macartney | New Interview
With Producer Robert Benedetti.
"The Canterville Ghost… A superbly adapted comedy drama about a miserable
and crotchety ghost who cannot find peace and an historic tragedy that pulls
at the heartstrings" — Maggie Woods, MotorBar
"A fine adaptation of Oscar Wilde's fun fantasy" — Radio Times
“When
the Otis family move from