THE GHOST AND MRS MUIR

US, 1947, 104 minutes, Black and white.
Rex Harrison, Gene Tierney, George Sanders, Anna Lee, Robert Coote, Natalie Wood.
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

The Ghost and Mrs Muir is an elegant and entertaining comedy from the forties, written and directed and Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Mankiewicz was to have great success in the late forties with such films as A Letter to Three Wives and especially, All About Eve.

He made such interesting films in the fifties as Julius Caesar, Guys and Dolls, The Quiet American. His productions were less frequent in the sixties but the most notable was his work on Cleopatra. Mankiewicz has acted over many decades as producer, writer and director. This story is a rather delightful ghost story-comedy with Rex Harrison at his stylish best and a very attractive Gene Tierney. A later television series was made featuring Hope Lange.

1. The charm of this film, entertainment value, light classic? Basis for TV development?

2, A film of the forties, style, black and white photography, music? The stars? Re-creation of a period, realism and fantasy? Impact for its time, now?

3. How plausible was the plot? The blend of fantasy and realism? A world of dreams and wish fulfilment? An atmosphere of reverie? An atmosphere of charm about ghosts, not fear?

4. The initial presentation of Mrs Muir's plight? Gene Tierney and her personality, her confrontation with her relatives, her devotion to her daughter, to the maid? Her searching out of the house, the way that she was persuasive in taking the house? The qualities of her character? Audience interest in her?

5. The confrontation with the ghost? The scary details, the confrontation, the establishing of relations, the humour? The pleasant encounter between the ghost and Mrs Muir? Their discussions, the ghost's appearances, the plan of saving the house, writing the book, the enjoyment of the dictation? Daniel's jealousy? His decision to go away, pretending that it was a dream for Mrs Muir? The reverie and the cherishing of the encounter with the ghost? The effect on her whole life?

6. What kind of ghost was Daniel? Rex Harrison's style, character, humour, the background of the story. the heavy, masculine emphasis, the dominating attitude of the ghost? His mellowing with Mrs Muir, his practical jokes on her relatives? The explanation of his death, his desire to write the book? His enjoying the book? His jealousy of Miles? The motivation behind his desire to let Mrs Muir be? His farewell to her?

7. The contrast with Miles Fairley? Suave charm, giving his appointment to Mrs Muir, his identity as Uncle Neddy and the irony of this? The presentation of his pursuit of her, painting her, drawing her affections, abandoning her? The importance of the encounter with Mrs Fairley? The scene between the two and the effect on Mrs Muir?

8. The film's attention to detail in the house, the magical effects?

9. The presentation of Mrs Muir's old age, her explanation of it, her wistfulness about the ghost? her watching Anna grow up and their sharing the memories of the ghost?

10. The charm of the ending? The peaceful finish to Mrs Muir's life, Daniel's return, their going down the staircase and out into Eternity?

11. The nature of the film's appeal? The values and traditions that it stood for?