MGM Theater of the Air - "The Canterville Ghost"

·55 min·5 clips

Lady Jessica reveals the Canterville Ghost's history and a bloodstain that cleaning fluid cannot remove.

["The episode opens with host Howard Dietz introducing the MGM Theater of the Air presentation of 'The Canterville Ghost,' starring Charles Lawton.", "The story is adapted from Oscar Wilde's humorous ghost story, updated to 1943 with American rangers as the protagonists.", "The Second Platoon, Company A, First Ranger Battalion arrives at Canterville Castle, their new billet in England.", "They meet the castle's butler Potts, housekeeper Mrs. Umney, and the young owner Lady Jessica Decanterville.", "Lady Jessica reveals the castle is haunted by Sir Simon de Canterville, a ghost cursed by his father for cowardice centuries ago.", "She shows the rangers a bloodstain that cannot be cleaned, belonging to Lady Barbara Modish who died seeing the ghost.", "At midnight, Sir Simon appears with rattling chains, threatening the rangers, who initially scare him off with a gas mask prank.", "Cuffy Williams develops a relationship with Lady Jessica and learns about the ghost's curse.", "Sir Simon explains he can only find peace if a Canterville kinsman performs a brave deed in his name.", "Cuffy discovers he has the same birthmark as Sir Simon, suggesting he might be a descendant through Marmaduke Canterville.", "Sir Simon shows Cuffy the portrait gallery of cowardly Canterville ancestors, creating doubt about Cuffy's ability to help.", "Cuffy participates in a raid across the channel but freezes during combat, seemingly confirming the family cowardice.", "He is transferred out of his unit and prepares to leave, despairing about his heritage.", "Sir Simon then reveals Cuffy might not actually be a Canterville after checking family records, though he secretly tore out the relevant page.", "When a German parachute mine lands near where the rangers are training, Cuffy takes action to save his platoon.", "He hitches the mine to a jeep to haul it away, with Sir Simon's ghost accompanying him.", "Cuffy successfully dumps the mine into a ravine, performing the brave deed while wearing Sir Simon's signet ring.", "Sir Simon's curse is broken, and he finally finds peace in the 'garden of death' after 300 years.", "The episode concludes with Cuffy and Lady Jessica visiting Sir Simon's new grave marker.", "Host Howard Dietz returns to interview star Charles Lawton about his film career and the radio adaptation."]

As heard by us

A weary ghost and an unimpressed household turn classic radio gloom into dry, warm comic fantasy.

Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost comes to MGM Theater of the Air as a brisk comic haunting, built around the gap between Sir Simon's battered grandeur and a household that will not give him the terror he expects.

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Why you'd press play

You get an old ghost, a 300-year sleep deficit, and a family argument that keeps the haunting brisk and theatrical.

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