The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

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Joseph Mankiewicz's moody classic is less ghost story than romantic fantasy, a handsome 1947 drama of impossible love set on the picturesque turn-of-the-century New England coast. Independent young widow Lucy Muir (the luminous Gene Tierney), desperate to escape her uptight in-laws, falls in love with a grand seaside house and moves in, only to discover the cantankerous ghost of the hot-tempered Captain Gregg (a histrionically flamboyant performance by Rex Harrison). Lucy refuses to let the bombastic captain frighten her away, earning his respect, his friendship, and later his love. They team up to turn the captain's salty memoirs into a bestseller, but as his affection grows he fades away, leaving Lucy free to undertake a more worldly suitor, notably a charismatic children's author (George Sanders at his smarmy smoothest) with his own guarded secret. Charles Lang's melancholy black-and-white photography and Bernard Herrmann's haunting score set the tone for this sublime adult drama, and Tierney delivers one of her most understated performances as the resolute Mrs. Muir. Mankiewicz turns this ghost story into a refreshingly mature and down-to-earth romance. --Sean Axmaker

Description

A romance between a young widow and a sea captain's ghost weaves a magical tale of immortal love. Determined to live her life the way she wants, newly widowed Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney) declines her straitlaced in-laws demand that she live with them and moves with her daughter (a young Natalie Wood) to the seaside into a cottage haunted by the handsome, blustering Captain Gregg (Rex Harrison). A deal is struck between the two in the wee hours of the morning allowing Lucy to stay in the house and the captain to materalize only in the master bedroom. As they gradually get to know each other better, Lucy's spunk and stubborness gains first the captain's grudging respect, then his heart. But when another man woos Lucy, both must face that her future lies with the living, not in the spirit world.

Customer Reviews:

Delightful romantic fantasy about an impossible romance..........2007-09-08

Gene Tierney is an impoverished widow who manages to find a suitable seaside cottage for herself, her maid and her daughter (Natalie Wood), only to discover that its former occupant is a strong-willed, salty sea captain (Rex Harrison) who is opposed to anyone else living at Gull Cottage. How their relationship grows and changes is the basis for the rest of the fantasy.

Tierney has her best role since 'Laura' as the lovely widow, engaging in many witty dialogs with Harrison's ghost with their relationship ultimately leading to a wistful ending. The mood of the period fantasy is enhanced by Bernard Herrmann's exquisitely sensitive score, capturing the atmosphere of the seaside cottage at the edge of a cliff. George Sanders has an amusing role as a man who almost convinces the widow that he's not a married man. Touches of humor abound in early scenes of Tierney with her relatives who are opposed to her independent decision to find her own lodgings.

Later remade as a TV series in the '60s which never captured the charm of the original story filmed with such tender care by director Joseph L. Mankiewicz from a screenplay by Philip Dunne. A delightful movie that will remain fresh and young forever.

Ghost and Mrs. Muir.......2007-08-24

A classic. Quality is very good. Glad to have some 'oldies' available on DVD.

Oh bliss!.......2007-08-14

Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison make this move a wonderful, and memorable film. With quality scripting, cinematography and soundtrack, it allows one to forget that other version of this wonderful movie. Why remake such a wonderful version, with such quality actors? The extras were great, and I never new Rex Harrison was such a complex character (and not nearly so succesful as we think now). If you love good stories, and wonderful cinema, this is a movie for you.

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.......2007-08-13

This film's stars, Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison, share a wonderful onscreen chemistry, and the "ghost story" is simply enchanting.

DVD REVIEW.......2007-08-07

DvD in perfect condition. Sound was good. Very good family oriented ghost movie.

Average customer rating:

Delightful romantic fantasy about an impossible romance...
Ghost and Mrs. Muir
Oh bliss!
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
DVD REVIEW

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir [Region 2]
Starring: Gene Tierney , Rex Harrison , George Sanders , Edna Best , and Vanessa Brown
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00008OP5N