The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Screenplay by Philip Dunne
Based upon the novel by R.A. Dick
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring Gene Tierney, Rex Harrison, George Sanders, Edna Best, Natalie Wood

Features:

• Running audio commentary with effects supervisor Greg Kimble and Christopher Husted, manager of composer Edward Herrmann's estate
  
• Running audio commentary with Jeanine Bassinger, Wesleyan's Film Studies Program chairman, and Kenneth Geist, biographer of Mankiewicz
  
• Stills gallery
  
• Rex Harrison: The Man Who Would Be King special
  
• Original trailer
  

Released by: 20th Century Fox
Region: 1
Rating: G
Anamorphic: N/A; appears in its original 1.33:1 format.

My Advice: Buy it.

Evidence that G-rated movies do not deserve their reputation for being boring or solely for children, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is justifiably considered one of Hollywood’s best movies to come out of the 1940s. Lucy Muir (Tierney) has recently been widowed and is left living with her sister-in-law and mother-in-law, two somewhat controlling and generally noxious women, and her young daughter, Anna (Wood, then later Vanessa Brown). Mrs. Muir decides, over the selfish protests of her former relatives, to rent her own cottage by the sea and raise Anna by herself. What Mrs. Muir does not know is that the lovely house already has an inhabitant: the ghost of Captain Gregg (Harrison). They form a rather complex and interesting relationship, even writing a book together, but when a living suitor appears on the scene, Lucy and the good captain must decide what they are going to do about their unusual friendship.

The characterization of this film is truly interesting. The character of Lucy Muir could easily have been vapid, giggly, or unsympathetically hard, but she was none of these things. Instead, she is strong, but at times equal parts unsure, good hearted, and naive. She makes the same mistakes that we all make sometimes, but makes them look a lot more interesting. Captain Gregg is similarly complex: both an effective leading man, but by turns crotchety and tender.

The features are excellent. We have full-length commentaries with: visual effects supervisor and film historian Greg Kimble; a specialist on the music of Bernard Herrmann, Christopher Husted; the chairman of film studies at Wesleyan, Jeanine Bassinger; and Kenneth Geist, who has written a biography of the film’s director. This is an excellent way to provide quality commentary on a film, even when the principal leads and crew are no longer with us--production companies take note. In addition, we are also treated to a quality special on Rex Harrison that aired on A&E, as well as a nice little stills gallery, and the original trailer.

The video quality is high, with clear shading and tonal definition in the black and white film stock. While it’s not exactly easy to make Gene Tierney look bad, here she’s positively luminous. There is no sign of the usual crackles or dirt on the film; Fox took good care with this one. The sound is equally as good: crisp and clear, or muted and moody when it should be. No cheap special effects, sound or visual, ruin the production. Even the features look good.

Fans of fantasy movies will appreciate this one for its unusual take on ghosts, romantic comedy fans will love the fire between Tierney and Harrison, and sea yarn lovers will appreciate the many small in-jokes and sailor references. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is a wonderful tale from the days when Hollywood bought creative scripts and hired good actors to give breath to their words. Even based on a novel as this one is, it’s still one of the more creative screenplays you’ll see this year.