SimonJack Other reviewers have noted the updating of this Oscar Wilde story to the 20th century and during World War II. The inclusion of a platoon of U.S. Army Rangers worked quite well. It enabled an array of cast members to join in the fun of this comedy, fantasy. This is an MGM film that lacks some of the technical quality that the studio was capable of in the 1940s. The story is a humorous one, and the screenplay is quite good. Two things earn this film the high rating I give it. First is the acting. All of the support cast are very good; but the three leads all shine in their roles. This was one of child star Margaret O'Brien's first films – she was just seven years old when it was release. O'Brien is wonderful as the polite, genteel, lady-like British little girl, Lady Jessica de Canterville. Robert Young as Cuffy Williams was actually older than the soldier he played, at 37. By now he was an accomplished actor with six dozen films behind him, including some excellent roles. And, Charles Laughton is excellent as the Canterville ghost, Sir Simon. Laughton truly brought a marvelous talent to acting. He excelled in the dramatic, comedy, and mystery. Here is has a double role and he's perfect in both roles. One other exceptional attribute of this film is the special effects. The camera work, filming and editing of the scenes with the ghost appearing, fading in and out, and flying across the room were excellent. I am surprised that the movie didn't get an academy award nomination for its special effects. This is an enjoyable movie for the whole family. One that I think the entire cast had fun making.

kill-the-boxtrolls I don't know what rating to rate my movie for 9.5 or 10.0 it was a just too great of a fantasy movie for me to rate such a low rating. Margaret O'Brien was charming, adorable, and a nice little treat to watch even though she is not in the movie all the time, but still, she was nice with the crying and the acting that I'll will just wait a ten for. She was great in Meet me in St. Louis and she was great in this one. I would really desire for this movie to be released on DVD in Amazon or something because 3-4 weeks ago, I have just finished this movie on VHS tape and I thought it was a really good movie to recommend to old movie fans. I would have to say Margaret O'Brien is probably great in all her movies although I haven't seen all of them yet, but I am looking forward to checking all of her child stars movies out before checking her when she was older like The secret garden-older. Margaret O'Brien has just been great acting like every time she cried, I started tearing up and started sobbing a little like MMISL she was really great playing "Tootie" and her little cry at the end. Margaret O'Brien is just a great character to adore as much as little Bailee Madison or Judith Barsi. They were really close to tearing up the audience near Margaret O'Brien but if Judith Barsi was still here, I would be very happy about that that she will be great as an Adult and teenanger.

sddavis63 The veteran Charles Laughton and a very young Robert Young team up in this entertaining fantasy about the ghost of Simon de Canterville - condemned to haunt the halls of his family's castle until a descendant performs an act of bravery on his behalf. What's the catch? Simon was condemned by his own father for being a coward, and the Canterville line ever since has been a long line of cowards. (The greatest irony of the movie is that Simon has developed a reputation as the most fearsome ghost in all of England!) Finding a hero among this family won't be easy. Then along comes Cuffy Williams (Young), an American soldier whose platoon is billeted in the castle during the lead-up to D-Day. It turns out that Williams is a very distant descendant of the Cantervilles, and D-Day, of course, will provide the ultimate opportunity to show his bravery and to release Simon from his torment. The question is whether he'll be able to work up the courage to do it!Laughton and Young offer excellent performances, and the very young Margaret O'Brien (who would have been about 7 when this was made) is convincing as Lady Jessica de Canterville. Some of the scenes as the American soldiers try to chase down the ghost to get a picture of him to prove that he exists to their commanding officer are also quite funny. 8/10

tomcnewman While there are few movies that I wholeheartedly endorse, this is definitely one of them. It has been a favorite since I was a child and it still is. It was a patriotic film in World War II to get our minds off of the horrors in Europe. Charles Laughton gives a superb performance as a 300+ year old ghost. It is very out of character for such a great dramatic actor, but slides into his comedic role effortlessly and flawlessly. The comedy duo of Charles Laughton and Robert Young in this film will never rank as high as Abbott and Costello or Laurel and Hardy or even Hope and Crosby, but I see it as a brilliant discovery of comedy "chemistry". Had Hollywood developed this comedy team, I think we would see some Oscars from their efforts. This movie has a great plot, good character development, and fresh, clean comedy. This is a must for Margaret O'Brian fans. This is clearly her second best film (her best was "Meet Me in St. Louis"). If you are looking for space ships and aliens, you won't find any here. It's just great family entertainment.