- Actors: Patrick Stewart, Neve Campbell, Joan Sims, Donald Sinden, Cherie Lunghi
- Directors: Sydney Macartney
- Format: PAL, Colour, Full Screen
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: U
- Studio: Boulevard Entertainment Ltd
- DVD Release Date: 30 May 2007
- Run Time: 92 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000QUEK4Q
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 27,164 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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When Professor Hiram Otis gets a research grant to study in England, his family is thrilled to learn that they will live in a real castle called Canterville Hall. The castle's most notable feature turns out to be the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville (Patrick Stewart), who died 400 years ago, visible only to Virginia Otis (Neve Cambell), 16, and her two younger brothers.
Though he goes through the motions of being terrifying, Sir Simon turns out to be a rather friendly fellow once proper introductions have been made. He gives Virginia helpful advice on her blossoming romance with Francis, a young neighbour, and even agrees to perform 'Hamlet', playing the role of the ghost, of course.
Eventually, Sir Simon confies his situation to Virginia: he is doomed to haunt the castle forever, unless a "Golden Girl" can be convinced to travel to the Other World and plead his case before the Angel of Death. Virginia, feeling that after 400 years there is no time to be wasted, immediately agres and the two disappear into the fireplace. Will the Angel of Death grant Sir Simon's wish, or will Virginia be forever trapped in the Other World?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
There have been several filmed adaptations of this classic ghost story. For me, the gentle humour of the version starring Sir John Geilgud was the best, but that has never been released on DVD. This version, however, is both different and is extrenely good. It is also faithful to the story and although the ending is slightly fudged because you never see the salvation of the ghost when he faces up to his inquistors in the realm of Death, everything else works extremely well.
The scene in the chapel in this version of the story, plus the 'Hamlet' scene in which Sir Simon appears as a ghost (!!), are both new to this filmed version of the story and, in my opinion, add a great deal. Both scenes are well conceived, brilliantly acted and make this version really different. The love story between Virginia and Francis is also well done and actually makes the story even more believable and intense.
Although the wonderful humour of Sir Simon's tricks upon the Umney's at the start of the Sir John Gielgud version is a really sad loss, this newer version of the story is well worth watching.
The scene in the chapel in this version of the story, plus the 'Hamlet' scene in which Sir Simon appears as a ghost (!!), are both new to this filmed version of the story and, in my opinion, add a great deal. Both scenes are well conceived, brilliantly acted and make this version really different. The love story between Virginia and Francis is also well done and actually makes the story even more believable and intense.
Although the wonderful humour of Sir Simon's tricks upon the Umney's at the start of the Sir John Gielgud version is a really sad loss, this newer version of the story is well worth watching.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Product came on time, was in promissed condition. I now that it is a product from England, but I would have liked to now, what subtitels was on DVD. For costumers outside England.
Format:DVD
Although Patrick Stewart is excellent - I am not sure the man is capable of turning in a bad performance! - as the eponymous Sir Simon de Canterville, the rest of the film does not live up to his standard.
Of all the film versions of Oscar Wilde's story, I felt that this was one that understood Oscar Wilde's story the least.
I felt that eschewing the humour in favour of emphasis on the petulant heroine's teen romance was a mistake. When she was stamping her foot and pouting: "You've RUINED MY LIFE!" (by causing her father to send her away from the boyfriend she has just met)to a man who really HAS ruined lives (including his own), she lost all my sympathy.
By removing the spirit of amusement over cultural differences between the 'two great nations, divided by a common language', and performing an incomplete cultural update - so that whilst apparently set in the present, it portrays an England that last existed in the 1930s - we are left with the bare attitudes of the main (living) characters, which are really not that sympathetic.
And, although the idea that the ghost should speak the English of his own time is excellent, in actual execution required that the ghost confine himself to quoting Shakespeare for most of the time (with a weak excuse for this given in plot), with occasional, implausible interpolations. The result was frequently laughable, in all the wrong senses.
So, this is not a really bad film. But it suffers by comparison with its superior predecessors.
Of all the film versions of Oscar Wilde's story, I felt that this was one that understood Oscar Wilde's story the least.
I felt that eschewing the humour in favour of emphasis on the petulant heroine's teen romance was a mistake. When she was stamping her foot and pouting: "You've RUINED MY LIFE!" (by causing her father to send her away from the boyfriend she has just met)to a man who really HAS ruined lives (including his own), she lost all my sympathy.
By removing the spirit of amusement over cultural differences between the 'two great nations, divided by a common language', and performing an incomplete cultural update - so that whilst apparently set in the present, it portrays an England that last existed in the 1930s - we are left with the bare attitudes of the main (living) characters, which are really not that sympathetic.
And, although the idea that the ghost should speak the English of his own time is excellent, in actual execution required that the ghost confine himself to quoting Shakespeare for most of the time (with a weak excuse for this given in plot), with occasional, implausible interpolations. The result was frequently laughable, in all the wrong senses.
So, this is not a really bad film. But it suffers by comparison with its superior predecessors.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Canterville ghost
this is an brilliant film about at young american girl who befriends an old ghost sir simon de canterville, the girls father is an scientist who does not believe in the paranormal,... Read more
Published 14 months ago by RayS
An okay film - but not a patch on the 1944 version
Patrick Stewart was great in this, although I still think Charles Laughton was better. I hope the 1944 version is released on DVD one day.
Published 16 months ago by S. Carey
Good if anachronistic update
Stewart is always excellent value for money whether performing cinematographically or televisually because in addition to intelligence he has that other essential quality actors... Read more
Published on 5 May 2010 by Ken Raus
The Canterville Ghost 1996
Overall a brave attempt to dramatise the Oscar Wilde short story. Patrick Stewart is very good, as always ,but Neve Campbell playing the young heroine let the piece down. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2010 by E. W. Heley
The Canterville ghost
One of the best films I have seen. Patrick Stewart fits the role as it is for real.
Published on 1 Feb 2009 by C. Karatzas
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