The Cat and the Canary (1939): Who wants to steal Paulette Goddard’s inheritance?

ByFabian Bullitt

1939 • Elliott Nugent • 1.37:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓

Directed by Elliott Nugent, The Cat and the Canary is the second film adaptation of John Willard’s 1922 play of the same name. The plot follows a group of relatives who are summoned to a remote mansion for the reading of a will. The inheritance is left to Joyce Norman on the condition that she remains sane for the next 30 days. As the night progresses, mysterious events and threats suggest that someone (or something) is trying to drive Joyce mad.

Like a Scooby-Doo episode, the film takes us to an isolated mansion full of secret passages, shadowy corridors, and locked rooms, where mysterious sounds, unexpected murders, and secrets abound. The plot unfolds through a combination of investigation, deception, and staged fright for comic effect. Much of the humour comes from the characters’ reactions, particularly Bob Hope‘s, to classic horror tropes used to heighten the tension.

The Cat and the Canary is an early example of the haunted-house formula adapted for the comedy genre. It has an atmospheric setting, comic relief, quirky characters, and a murder mystery.

Technical Specs:

  • The Story: When the will of the eccentric Cyrus Norman is read at his Louisiana mansion, his potential heirs are obliged to spend the night there. However, they soon find themselves being stalked by a shadowy killer and haunted by the legend of a madman on the loose. Read my review of The Cat and the Canary.
  • Actors: Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, John Beal, Douglass Montgomery, Gale Sondergaard, George Zucco, Elizabeth Patterson.
  • Director: Elliott Nugent
  • Year: 1939
  • Cinematographer: Charles Lang
  • Origin: American Cinema
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
  • Genre: Comedy
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