THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR (1947)

Country: U.S.A.

Genre(s): Fantasy / Romance

Director: Joseph Makiewicz

Cast: Gene Tierney / Rex Harrison / George Sanders

Plot

An English widow moves into a house haunted by the ghost of a dead sea captain.  After the pair become friends, the relationship is threatened by the arrival of a suitor into the woman’s life.

What I Liked

What impressed me most about “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” was the cinematography.  It may not be blatantly spectacular, but it is subtle and dexterous.  Many of the interior shots capture the movement of characters by following them fluidly; for example, rising through the air and crossing over a balcony as the characters themselves climb a staircase.  These movements by the camera are so smooth and gliding they give the sense of a ghostlike presence that is obviously appropriate considering the title and story.  At other moments there are slow and slight zooms to follow a character or well-timed close-ups to make a scene more poignant.  The closing of the film features several moody scenes of the seaside, its cliffs, the waves, and the beach.  These are meant to show the passage of time, but they possess a dark and eerie feel that really might be the most disturbing moments of an otherwise unfrightening film.

What I Didn’t Like

I know that the movie was based on a novel, but it feels more like it should have been a Victorian play all along.  It certainly wouldn’t have been difficult to produce as a play.  Much of the film takes place within the confines of a few rooms and there’s nothing wrong with that, but unfortunately the script is badly dated.  I found the characters mostly one-dimensional and the dialogue preposterously melodramatic.  All in all, despite the relatively unusual plot, the writing is superficial and cumbersome.  I got the feeling that, had this film not been in the hands of a talented director like Joseph Mankiewicz (also responsible for classics like “All About Eve” and “Guys and Dolls”), it would not have deserved consideration as a film classic.  It’s regretful that Mankiewicz, a talented screenwriter as well, wasn’t given control of the script instead of one Philip Dunne.

Readers should be forwarned that “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” is not scary, nor is it intended to be.  I knew this going in, but I thought it might be worthwhile to avoid any confusion for others who might not get what they expect from the title.

Most Memorable Scene

*spoiler alert*

Though this is no horror movie, it is still a ghost tale of sorts.  And the final shot of Mrs. Muir, now herself a ghost, walking out of the house into the mists of eternity arm-in-arm with Captain Gregg, is really the most haunting moment of the film.  It isn’t hard to predict this ending to the plot, but when it does inevitably come it does so with a simplicity, grace, and dark beauty that brings the film to a satisfying close.

My Rating 2.5 out of 5