this version of "the canterville ghost" does not know what it wants to be... wartime yarn or supernatural comedy. it does not succeed fully at being either. it is impossible not to enjoy this film, at least marginally, however. charles laughton certainly appears to be having a fine time, so his screen time alone won't kill the flick. then there's 8 year old margaret o'brien, acting ever so cute, leaving me wishing she were a young natalie wood, though. there's even a scene where she's dancing with robert young in a room full of soldiers that reminded me of a scene in "bright eyes" where shirley temple is doing her good ship lollypop routine. yet, again, i feel this film doesn't know where it wants to be. it's good for a few laughs, but on the funny ghost stories of the era, i'd recommend "topper" or "the ghost and mrs. muir" or "blithe spirit".
