Blithe Spirit

Undoubtedly Dame Margaret Rutherford's greatest Movie - looking surprisingly young, slim and energetic, and with a waistline of someone half her age! Here she plays the somewhat 'cranky' and eccentric Madame Arcati in Noel Coward's hilarious comedy.Also stars a plummy-voiced... Full review

Rex Harrison is Charles Condimine, a prominent novelist whose first wife Elvira (Kay Hammond) died of flu-type illness). His second wife, Ruth (Constance Cummings) is planning to assist his research into the occult for a new novel. This includes a... Full review

As a cinematic archive, "Blithe Spirit" preserves a certain style and era of the British stage, and Noel Coward's writing, that otherwise would be lost. I've personally never quite understood the popular "rage" Noel Coward's plays are said to have been.... Full review

I taped this from UK Channel 4 on 20th Dec '90 - it has a better soundtrack than the admittedly budget DVD from Carlton. The Technicolor is still sumptuous, clever and thought-provoking however and overall it doesn't need remastering -... Full review

I really enjoyed this film! My middle daughter is a big Margaret Rutherford fan and she really excelled in this. Constance Cummings was also brilliant in her part and I think it is sad that she did not excel in... Full review

I must say, this was a bloody good film. Unlike the other older films that I have watched this one actually had originality, spunk, and a whole lot of fun. Blithe Spirit is the story of a couple that is... Full review

Noel Coward wrote Blithe Spirit in 5 days during Britain's darkest days of the Second World War. The play completed 3 decades as Britain's longest run in West End for a comedic play. The film which was adapted from the... Full review

Has David Lean made a bad film? Not to my knowledge, no! This one is quite fun, I revisited the picture recently and even though I don't like it as much as the masterpiece Oliver Twist, Blithe Spirit is excellent... Full review

Noel Coward wrote this play whilst holidaying in Wales with Joyce Carey. Originally produced in 1941 at London's Piccadilly Theatre this screenplay follows closely the original dialogue and both Margaret Rutherford and Kay Hammond reprise their West-End roles. N.B. Rex... Full review

I saw this movie after I read a recommendation in the TV guide and had never heard of it, but when I heard it was directed by David Lean, I was there. Wasn't I pleasantly surprised at what I saw!... Full review

Blithe Spirit was later transformed into the Broadway musical High Spirits, with the original script bent out of shape to turn the character of Madame Arcati (played by Beatrice Lillie) into the leading role. Rex Harrison plays a novelist, newly married to straight-laced Constance Cummings. ... Full Review

Verdict Stagey but with moments of movie brilliance. David Lean's third feature served Noel Coward's witty supernatural comedy fairly well though, despite the Oscar-winning special effects by Tom Howard, it remains somewhat theatrical. ... Full Review

Broadway audiences have been known to interrupt a production to applaud a famous actor's entrance. On occasion, they clap after a fancy exit. But I can't recall a time when an audience has burst into applause, over and over, just... ... Full Article

In necromancy, a revival traditionally requires a strong case to be made for the resurrection in question, not to mention a powerful will on the part of the resurrector. ... Full Article

A Nazi air raid during World War II may not seem like the perfect creative moment for a writer. But English playwright Noel Coward took advantage of it to pen Blithe Spirit , hailed as one of his most enduring... ... Full Article

Connect to Facebook/Twitter, recommend via email and much more. The first time I saw "Ryan's Daughter" was in 1970, the year of its release, and I remember looking forward to it with great anticipation because I was such a fan... ... Full Article

Ghosts don't have to be scary, right? Real life is too frightening right now, what with killer hurricanes and hideous Supreme Court nominees and the terrifying pit that ER has fallen into -- I don't think I could deal with... ... Full Article

Thirty years after his death, the plays of No'l Coward continue to be performed with great frequency, an indication both of public popularity and of roles that make desirable vehicles for actors to do star turns. ... Full Article