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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. Jonathon T. Beckett
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the glossy 1979 adaptation of John Willard's much filmed play. Whilst the 1939 version was a vechile for Bob Hope's skills as a comedy actor, this is a much more straight laced version, minus the humour. On the plus side, the cast assembled here is amazing, and its a reasonable enough effort at a creepy old haunted house mystery. Its just all a bit listless and lacking in imagination. To sum up, very stylish but with little substance
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
To my knowledge, this is the third version of what was originally a very successful stage play. Each film version tries to overcome the limitations of the original setting but there is no getting away from the basic premise that the action takes place on "a dark and stormy night" in a "creepy old mansion" where "an unusual will" is about to be read. Radley Metzger, the director of this, the only colour version so far, accepts the premise and exploits it for all its worth.
The 1927 silent version by Paul Leni, with the then-fashionable Laura La Plante, found the "old dark house" format was already getting tired and cliched, the 1939 Bob Hope/Paulette Goddard version enlivened the proceedings with Hope's inimitable wisecracking, but for my money this 1979 interpretation gets right to the heart of the matter. The stellar cast don't put a single foot wrong. It would be hard to single anyone out for individual praise - it's as 'ensemble' a piece as any Theatre Rep Company would devise - but I can't resist falling in love with ingenue Carol Lynley in the La Plante/Goddard role, and Wilfred Hyde White, as the deceased benefactor, has all the best lines (spoken from a 20-year-old recording synchonised with his personalised home movie) - "Hello, leeches", he greets his potential heirs before dismissing them all as "bastards". Wonderful stuff. The thunder crashes never cease, the set interiors (with the inevitable secret panels) are sumptuous and, unlike the earlier versions, this one has some genuinely creepy moments. Inexplicably given a '15' certificate, I would argue that this is suitable for family viewing (at least for older children), but the film nevertheless sets up its own particular frissons with style.... Read more ›
The 1927 silent version by Paul Leni, with the then-fashionable Laura La Plante, found the "old dark house" format was already getting tired and cliched, the 1939 Bob Hope/Paulette Goddard version enlivened the proceedings with Hope's inimitable wisecracking, but for my money this 1979 interpretation gets right to the heart of the matter. The stellar cast don't put a single foot wrong. It would be hard to single anyone out for individual praise - it's as 'ensemble' a piece as any Theatre Rep Company would devise - but I can't resist falling in love with ingenue Carol Lynley in the La Plante/Goddard role, and Wilfred Hyde White, as the deceased benefactor, has all the best lines (spoken from a 20-year-old recording synchonised with his personalised home movie) - "Hello, leeches", he greets his potential heirs before dismissing them all as "bastards". Wonderful stuff. The thunder crashes never cease, the set interiors (with the inevitable secret panels) are sumptuous and, unlike the earlier versions, this one has some genuinely creepy moments. Inexplicably given a '15' certificate, I would argue that this is suitable for family viewing (at least for older children), but the film nevertheless sets up its own particular frissons with style.... Read more ›
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
in contrast with the previous reviewer i really like this remake. I found it creepier, and actually MORE funny than the Bob Hope version. There's a fantastically catty, vindictive performance by Honor Blackman; Olivia Hussey looks fantastic and i mean what can i say about dreamboat Peter McEnery, (except when he has his mask on that is!) Oh but I'll tell you who steals the show: Wendy Hiller (who else?). Will you permit me a wee bit of pretension?, this is one of the best films I've seen about 'film' itself. The scene around the dinner table with the dinner going on, orchestrated by the 'eccentric' Cyrus. It is a film about control, about money and greed, about 'directing', manipulating, sanity/insanity etc. etc.
Not a bad film at all, worth a view definitely.
Not a bad film at all, worth a view definitely.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Spike Owen
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
The Cat and the Canary is directed by Radley Metzger who also adapts the screenplay from the play written by John Willard. It stars Honor Blackman, Michael Callan, Edward Fox, Wendy Hiller, Olivia Hussey, Wilfred Hyde-White, Carol Lynley, Beatrix Lehmann, Daniel Massey and Peter McEnery. Music is by Steven Cagan and cinematography by Alex Thomson.
Ah the dark house murder mystery, sadly seeming now like a relic of our cinematic pasts. There are many to choose from for those of us who choose to go back in time and cosy up by a warm fire, with drink in hand, to involve ourselves in the standard plot formula of various folk getting bumped off by a scheming murderer during a short time period and under one roof. John Willard's The Cat and the Canary is a well mined source for such fun and fearful frolics, as of the time of writing, this 1979 version stands as the last attempt to transfer the play to the screen.
There is nothing unduly bad about Metzger's movie, it's just that it is rarely inspiring either. The cast is well assembled, with one or two creaky performances aside, the mystery element holds strong, and period flavours are tasteful. But the mansion it's set in is too bright and un-threatening, it's overtly talky as a good hour is used to set up characters and plot dynamics, while there's a distinct lack of acidity in the script. Still, it's never less than fun, and for the innovative reading of the will segment alone this version is worth seeking out by those who decry the demise of the old dark house set mystery thriller. 6/10
Ah the dark house murder mystery, sadly seeming now like a relic of our cinematic pasts. There are many to choose from for those of us who choose to go back in time and cosy up by a warm fire, with drink in hand, to involve ourselves in the standard plot formula of various folk getting bumped off by a scheming murderer during a short time period and under one roof. John Willard's The Cat and the Canary is a well mined source for such fun and fearful frolics, as of the time of writing, this 1979 version stands as the last attempt to transfer the play to the screen.
There is nothing unduly bad about Metzger's movie, it's just that it is rarely inspiring either. The cast is well assembled, with one or two creaky performances aside, the mystery element holds strong, and period flavours are tasteful. But the mansion it's set in is too bright and un-threatening, it's overtly talky as a good hour is used to set up characters and plot dynamics, while there's a distinct lack of acidity in the script. Still, it's never less than fun, and for the innovative reading of the will segment alone this version is worth seeking out by those who decry the demise of the old dark house set mystery thriller. 6/10
1 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've only just got my copy of this dvd so I can't really give an opinion of the film itself yet but I thought I should point out the extras.
1.English subtitles for the hard of hearing.
2.Commentary with producer Richard Gordon and interviewer Tom Weaver.
3.Stills gallery.
4.Biographies.
Widescreen,Stereo 2.0,Optional 5.1,DTS.
1.English subtitles for the hard of hearing.
2.Commentary with producer Richard Gordon and interviewer Tom Weaver.
3.Stills gallery.
4.Biographies.
Widescreen,Stereo 2.0,Optional 5.1,DTS.
0 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By kayleigh
Format:DVD
i thought this dvd was a bargain, i ordered it for my dad and it never got approved or dispatched .. fed up of waiting now... absolutely gutted :'( .x
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