The Cat and the Canary (1978)

Who payed the critics

Disapointment

Absolutely Brilliant!

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

This is a preposterous film. Olivia Hussey looked stunning although this alone does not make a film. I found it rather stupid, too slow and uneventful. Basically it is a thriller set in the thirties. It is not very thrilling. It is not violent. The secret passages around the house are cool. Best avoided really.

By the film this film was made (late 70s), this type of set-up was well past its sell-by date. The original play is considered a 'classic' and has been influential but frankly it is badly dated now. A deeply contrived and unconvincing plot, an assortment of unbelievable, unappealing and frankly inbred characters and a lot of clunky, expositional dialogue make this a leaden hour and a half.To compensate for the tired plot, the makers introduce some 70s gimmicks. A pointless Lesbian couple only succeeds in making lesbianism look dull. There's also a nasty line in sadistic mutilation which unusually is inflicted only on the female guests. One woman is gruesomely tortured to death, another assumed to be so, and a third scheduled to be so. This 'kills off' any pretence the film has for being a comedy. The delight with which the camera voyeuristically pans over the instruments of torment is actually disturbing.With the exception of Wilfred Hyde-white, who does a good turn as Cyrus West, none of the actors really shines. They all appear lost in this huge house. One really yearns for a likable central character like Bob Hope in the 50s version. A few good gags and less torture would go a long way to making this watchable.

In 1934, blonde fashion designer Carol Lynley (as Annabelle West) and an assortment of greedy relatives gather at "Glencliff Manor" to hear the taped reading of wealthy Wilfrid Hyde-White's last will and testament. Relatively soon, we learn Ms. Lynley is to inherit everything, but not without stipulation. First, she must remain alive and sane after one night in the deceased's spooky old mansion. As a storm rages outside, the suspicious cast is joined by psychologist Edward Fox (as Hendricks), who informs them a homicidal killer known as "The Cat" has escaped from the local insane asylum. That's a recipe for murder and mayhem… This fairly tepid re-make of the 1927 "silent" classic was likely inspired by the success of films like "Murder by Death" (1976). Lynley and Michael Callan (as Paul Jones) could be described as the leads. As a stand-in for Buddy Rodgers (make that Ben Lyon), Peter McEnery (as Charlie Wilder) figures prominently, and Daniel Massey (as Harry Blythe) doesn't. Lawyerly Wendy Hiller (as Allison Crosby) arches her eyebrow. Elderly housekeeper Beatrix Lehmann shows how unflatteringly the film's extreme close-ups can exaggerate a face. And, Honor Blackman and Olivia Hussey somehow manage to make a lesbian subplot unexciting.***** The Cat and the Canary (11/78) Radley Metzger ~ Carol Lynley, Michael Callan, Peter McEnery, Edward Fox

Some kind of filmed play which borrows from Agatha Christie's 'the mousetrap ' (Edward Fox's character)and which has a very fine cast :Honor Blackman ,in another part of a lesbian after Pussy Galore,Olivia Hussey as her lover,Peter McEnnery,Wendy Hiller and to top them all,Wilfrid Hyde White ,who was the best judge of all "ten little Indians" versions .The great actor does not really "appear " in the story ,but he achieves the feat of talking with the others thanks to a good trick .If they remade,the guests would probably interact with a computer ,which would be far less exciting.People who like Christie's "no exit " stories should like this ;although the characters lack substance ,the story is suspenseful,mostly in its first part.SPOILER: happy end only for the straight couple!