I must admit that I absolutely adore these old videotaped TV specials, stagy and prehistoric, unfocused in clarity, and depending more on the dialog and story and cast than movement. You're getting less movement than even a stage play because the TV camera is right on the actors and the backgrounds are murky and fuzzy.
Cult movie fans will adore this cast regardless whether or not they're appropriate for their roles. Dirk Bogarde as Charles Condomine isn't the perfect choice as the twice married man confronted by the ghost of his first wife Elvira (Rosemary Harris of "Spider Man" fame) while second wife Ruth becomes aghast. It's all the fault of Madam Arcati (Ruth Gordon) for unintentionally allowing Elvira's ectoplasm to return from the grave.
For those who have seen this on stage (in my case the 2009 revival starring Rupert Everett and Angela Lansbury), this isn't the perfect version, especially when compared to the 1945 film, but definitely watchable. Gordon plays, well, Ruth Gordon, and that's exactly what the audience expects. Unfortunately, you're not seeing the character of Madam Arcati, but she's very funny anyway.
The young Rosemary Harris is a perfectly ghostly Elvira, while Rachel Roberts is properly acerbic both in earthly and spiritual forms. Mildred Trares steals every moment as Edith, the maid. Far too much important material had to be cut from to shorten the running time, so periodically, certain jumps are jarring. I never get the instinct that Bogarde had any tears over the loss of either wife, and that's the major flaw in this version.
Cult movie fans will adore this cast regardless whether or not they're appropriate for their roles. Dirk Bogarde as Charles Condomine isn't the perfect choice as the twice married man confronted by the ghost of his first wife Elvira (Rosemary Harris of "Spider Man" fame) while second wife Ruth becomes aghast. It's all the fault of Madam Arcati (Ruth Gordon) for unintentionally allowing Elvira's ectoplasm to return from the grave.
For those who have seen this on stage (in my case the 2009 revival starring Rupert Everett and Angela Lansbury), this isn't the perfect version, especially when compared to the 1945 film, but definitely watchable. Gordon plays, well, Ruth Gordon, and that's exactly what the audience expects. Unfortunately, you're not seeing the character of Madam Arcati, but she's very funny anyway.
The young Rosemary Harris is a perfectly ghostly Elvira, while Rachel Roberts is properly acerbic both in earthly and spiritual forms. Mildred Trares steals every moment as Edith, the maid. Far too much important material had to be cut from to shorten the running time, so periodically, certain jumps are jarring. I never get the instinct that Bogarde had any tears over the loss of either wife, and that's the major flaw in this version.