The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (DVD, 2003)

My favorite movie genre is horror but I am a sucker for classic! The Ghost and Mrs Muir is such a great story, definately stands the test of time.

Set in 1900, Lucy Muir is a recent widow who moves into an old cottage which is rumored to be haunted. It is. The ghost belongs to an old sea captain who refuses to leave his home and scares away any possible tennant. But Lucy is not easy to scare, especially when her other option is to move in with her mother-and-sister-in-law. So Lucy and her daughter stay, Captain Gregg is won over by Lucy's independent character and everyone seems content with the arrangement of sharing the house. Suddenly there are financial troubles and the Captain encourages Lucy to write a book about his life. The book becomes a hit and Lucy is able to buy the house. Capt Gregg realizes that as long as he is around Lucy will not move on with her life (as they are falling for each other) so he decides to leave and make Lucy think she made him up.
Lucy meets a man who ends up breaking her heart and she lives the rest of her life in the cottage. Of course, when she dies the Captain is right there waiting for her. And they live happily ever after ... haunting the cottage together.

The acting is SUPERB! Gene Tierney is Mrs Muir, Rex Harrison is the Captain, Natalie Wood as Mrs Muir daughter and George Sanders as the slimeball, I mean Mrs Muir suitor.

Highly recommended for fans of classics, romance and just all around good movies!

Mrs. Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney) wanted a new life after the death of her husband, but she got more than she bargained for when she rented Gull House at Whitecliff by the Sea in England around 1920. The realtor did not want her to go there and ran out when a window slammed on its own. It seems that the rumors were true. The house was haunted.

The ghost was Captain Daniel Gregg (Rex Harrison), a retired sea captain who had reportedly committed suicide in the house, but he says that he didn't. He says that a gas line malfunctioned and killed him while he slept in a closed up house. But anyway Gregg and Muir get along famously, and he helps her write a biography of himself so that she can afford the rent. He falls in love with her at first, but being a ghost he can do nothing about it. In the meantime, she meets Miles Fairley (George Sanders) when she goes to get the book published. And he falls for her, and she falls for him.

This love triangle is the meat of this story, and it is a good one. Filmed in 1942, the movie was only nominated for one Academy Award: Best Cinematography, which it did not win. This was obviously because of the many shots of the Whitecliff area of England and of the temperamental sea.

Be sure to notice a young Natalie Wood as Anna Muir, Lucy's daughter. She plays a pivotal part in the movie and of its resolution. Also a little known actress named Edna Best plays Lucy Muir's maid and companion.

This is a tried and true movie that will not let you down. Save it for a rainy day, when you need a lift.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Muir (lovely Gene Tierney) moves with her daughter (Natalie Wood) and maid (Edna Best) to a small house by the sea, away from everything. Despite of her daughter and good old maid, Mrs. Muir finds herself lonely. Perhaps this is the reason, why this deceased seacaptain Gregg (Rex Harrison) comes into her life. Or perhaps he is just a ghost, who wants newcomers out of his home.

The movie is well shot. All shades of black and white in this flick are just like in some of the finest film noir classics. Also, the makeup of Gene Tierney, when her character gets older, it looks surprisingly realistic. Of course Tierney herself does a great job too. George Sanders, who has a supporting role as Mrs. Muir's new love, shows some talent too. He hadn't this kind of chances very often.

Rex Harrison is the funniest one in this movie. Too bad that he overacts in many scenes, so the film won't ever be "excellent".

I remember watching this movie when I was a little kid on a oldies channel. I thought it was one of the best b/w movie I ever saw at the time, and I still do. It's a delightful tale of how love can transcend different planes. If you want to see great lighting effects, and wonderful acting this is the movie to buy. Rating A++++++++

(According to the box cover)
Recent widow Lucy Muir (Tierney) rents a house by the ocean, which turns out to be haunted by a cantankerous sea captain (Harrison). Althought difficult at first, their friendship blossoms and the captain even "ghostwrites" an autobiographical book to bring in money for her. Eventually, the unlikely pair fall in love, only to be challenged when a flesh-and-blood suitor (Sanders) appears on the scene.

I had never seen this film in its entirety. It have a great Bernard Hermann score and a wonder storeyline. I thought that it needed more of begining rather than dropping you in the middle end of a relationship with Mrs. Muir and her sisters in law. Natalie Wood in one of her first roles is wonderful. The DVD also has a A & E Biography of Rex Harrison and after "Anna & the King of Siam," this was his second film. Buy this DVD and enjoy.