''The Canterville Ghost'' is a 1985 American
made-for-television
A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
-
comedy film
A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...
. This is one of many treatments based on
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...
's 1887 short story, "
The Canterville Ghost
"The Canterville Ghost" is a humorous short story by Oscar Wilde. It was the first of Wilde's stories to be published, appearing in two parts in '' The Court and Society Review'', 23 February and 2 March 1887. The story is about an American fa ...
".
Plot
The
ghost
A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that is believed to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to rea ...
of Sir Simon Canterville has been roaming his castle for centuries. After demonstrating cowardice in life, he must find a brave descendant to obtain rest.
Cast
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Richard Kiley
Richard Paul Kiley (March 31, 1922 – March 5, 1999) was an American stage, film and television actor and singer. He is best known for his distinguished theatrical career in which he twice won the Tony Award for Best Actor In A Musical. Kiley ...
as Sir Simon De Canterville
*
Jenny Beck
Jennifer Beck (born August 3, 1974) is an American actress best known for playing a young Elizabeth on '' V: The Final Battle'' and '' V: The Series'' (episode 1).
The daughter of Jim and Lori Beck, she was born in Los Angeles, California, an ...
as Virginia Otis
*
Shelley Fabares as Lucy
*
Barry Van Dyke as John Otis
*
Mary Wickes as Mrs. Umney
*
Christian Jacobs as Rob
*
Brian Green as Willie
*
Don Knight as Mr. Smythe
See also
*
List of ghost films
References
External links
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1985 television films
1985 films
1980s comedy horror films
1985 fantasy films
1980s ghost films
American fantasy comedy films
American haunted house films
American television films
American ghost films
1980s English-language films
Films based on The Canterville Ghost
Films set in castles
Films directed by William F. Claxton
1980s American films
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