the ghost and mrs. muir

the year: 1947

the genre: drama


the cast: Gene Tierney (Lucy Muir); Rex Harrison (Capt. Daniel Gregg); George Sanders (Miles Fairley); natalie Wood (Anna Muir)


the plot: Living in a haunted house by the sea is a less frightening prospect for Lucy Muir, a young widow with a small daughter, than continuing to live with her sisters-in-law. At first Captain Gregg (the ghost) plays the same tricks on Lucy he has used to get rid of previous tenants. And while he loves solitude, he soon comes to admire her spunk and to make it possible for her to afford to stay in the house by deciding she will write a best-seller - his memoirs. When Lucy visits a London publisher, she also impresses a famous author of children's books, Miles Fairley. Can a ghost be jealous?


did you know: Bernard Herrmann considered his musical score for this film to have been his best. Herrmann also did the scores for Psycho, North by Northwest and Citizen Kane.


don't miss: Mr. Coombe - realtor.


extra bonus points: if you know what the word "muir" means in Gaelic.


listen for: "You said I should see men." "I said men, not perfumed parlour snakes!"



The trailer can be watched here.

laura

the year: 1944

the genre: mystery & suspense


the cast: Gene Tierney (Laura Hunt); Dana Andrews (Mark McPherson); Clifton Webb (Waldo Lydecker); Vincent Price (Shelby Carpenter)


the plot: When the famous advertising executive Laura Hunt is found dead in her apartment killed by a shotgun, Detective Lieutenant Mark McPherson is put in charge of the investigation. He interviews the prime suspects and friends of Laura including the snob and arrogant journalist Waldo Lydecker who promoted Laura at the beginning of her career then fell in love with her; and her fiancé, the playboy Shelby Carpenter. McPherson falls in love with the dead woman's portrait -- only to find that she wasn't murdered after all.


don’t miss: Waldo Lydecker’s description of the doorbell. (my favorite line from the movie)


check out: this site for an in-depth plot synopsis if you can’t get your hands on a copy – but know it won’t be ANYWHERE as good as watching the B&W cinematography and Dana Andrews in action on the screen. If you can stand the wait - do.


listen for: “I should be sincerely sorry to see my neighbor's children devoured by wolves.”


also listen for: the beautifully haunting "Laura Theme".