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Rating:  - Not your momma's romance film.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1947)
While I was a longtime fan of the TV adaptation of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, which ran only two seasons but survived for years afterwards in syndication, I somehow never got round to seeing the film version until now. I'm not sure why. It's a Mankiewicz (Sleuth, The Quiet American) film, so it's guaranteed entertainment, and the screenplay is by Philip Dunne (The Robe). Add a cast headed up by Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison, and how can you go wrong?
Tierney plays Lucy Muir, a young widow who, after an amusing scene where she asserts herself with a realtor who thinks he knows what's best for her, rents a seaside cottage haunted by the ghost of its previous inhabitant, Captain Gregg (Harrison). Lucy, her daughter Anna (Natalie Wood), and her maid Martha (Enda Best), settle in and seem to be doing well until Lucy's mother-in-law and sister-in-law, two harridans if ever there were, drop in to inform her that her late husband's estate is gone. Lucy and Captain Gregg have to come up with a plan that will keep the house in Lucy's name, so that she can dispose of it in her will the way he would have in his, had he time to make one.
On the surface, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is nothing more than a charming, if shallow, romance with supernatural tinges. But there's surface, and then there's the film Joseph Mankiewicz made, which bears up to repeated viewings. The viewer will likely find some new subtle nuance or shade with each revisiting of the film; the symbolism runs fast and deep here, and there are all sorts of pleasurable little nuggets to be found for those willing to look. Not to say one can't enjoy it as nothing more than a charming, if shallow, romance; the beauty of Mankiewicz' movies is that no matter what you bring to the table, they're still a great experience. ****
Rating:  - The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
A light hearted soft comedy with a wonderful ending that will require a couple tissues. You must have time to watch the whole picture to get the total effect of the movie. The acting is supurb and it is one of my all time favorites.
Rating: - Wow what a great movie
Just recently started watching old movies from well before my time and I'm surprised at how much better they are than much of what gets put out now.
This could be one of if not the best movie ever (excluding the entire works of Humphrey Bogart-a class of thier own) Gene Tierney was amazing and the whole movie can't even be described it's so good-nothing at all can be said that comes close to the amazing range of feeling you get from this incredible film.
Rating: - Wonderful Old Movie
This is a great old movie. Even my 17 year old son loves this movie. I don't know what it is about it, but we just love it.
Rating: - The Ghost and Mrs Muir
Wonderful movie. It was great to see Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison together again. Enjoy it, as I did.
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