Blithe Spirit (1945)
Genre: Comedy / Fantasy
Duration: 96 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom
Directed by: David Lean
Stars: Rex Harrison, Constance Cummings and Kay Hammond
IMDb score:
7,0 (9.141)
Releasedate: 5 April 1945
Blithe Spirit plot
The writer would like to gain inspiration by inviting a medium to organize a séance at his home. However, he does not expect to hear the voice of his deceased first wife himself. He breaks off the séance and moments later she makes an ectoplasmic appearance, which only he can see, much to the jealousy of his second wife.
Actors and actresses
Charles Condomine
Ruth Condomine
Elvira Condomine
Madame Arcati
Dr. George Bradman
Violet Bradman
Edith
Cook (uncredited)
R.A.C. Man Directing Traffic (uncredited)
Narrator (uncredited)
Reviews & comments
Roger Thornhill
-
- 6066 messages
- 2474 votes
According to the IMDb trivia page, after watching the film, Noel Coward asked David Lean, "How the hell did you fuck up the best thing I ever did?" That doesn't seem entirely fair to me: perhaps Coward had too much in mind for his own stage version, and perhaps he was particularly bothered by that very last joke, but what we have now is a sharp comedy with perfect performances and a fairly high pace. Dated of course, because it is set in a carefree time that is long, long gone (the characters here even seem to eat the same small "cucumber sandwiches" as in Oscar Wilde's The importance of being Earnest from 1895, a half a century before this film adaptation), but the combination of eloquent stiff upper lip civility and careless insults still works well for me. Rex Harrison as the troubled Charles Condomine and the unforgettable Margaret Rutherford as the eccentric medium Madame Arcati naturally steal the show, but I especially enjoyed the nasal boredom of Kay Hammond as the pushy Elvira. Seen in a magnificently restored version of ITV DVD, with English subtitles and minimal extras (a trailer and a photo gallery).
Translated from Dutch · View original
scorsese
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- 13227 messages
- 11122 votes
Good film in which the deceased wife of a writer makes an appearance during a séance. A witty comedy (no pun intended). A nice story with some great twists during the second half. Smooth dialogues and the cast knows how to deliver fun (especially Margaret Rutherford knows how to steal the scenes).
Translated from Dutch · View original
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