Movie Review: The Cat and the Canary (1939)
Synopsis: Joyce Norman inherits an estate left to her by a deceased millionaire relative. However, her inheritance comes with a catch, she must remain sane for 30 days or the fortune will go to a yet-to-be-named other heir. This immediately puts her in danger as a murderer known as “The Cat” begins to terrorize her with the obvious intention of either driving her insane or saving time by killing her.
Who's in it? The movie stars Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, John Beal, George Zucco and Douglass Montgomery.
Review: I had seen The Cat and the Canary before but since I couldn't find much else on television this morning, decided to watch it again. As has been the case in the past, it proved to be a great movie choice.
Since it is a Bob Hope movie, it is correct to assume it is a comedy. However, despite the comedy status, it is also a solid mystery as well.
Since Joyce (Goddard) inherits the money with a very clear (and potentially deadly) caveat, the motive for attacking her is obvious. The person behind the attacks isn't as obvious though. There are quite a few potential suspects in the house with her, and nobody knows who inherits the money if she fails to fulfill her obligations. In other words, there's no clear bad guy and no guarantee it is just one person.
This is also a film I would argue features one of Hope's best performances. He, as would be expected, manages to be funny throughout, especially with his one-liners and the way he manages to have a cowardly side, even when he's trying to be the hero. However, rather than being just the comic relief, Hope manages to keep things toned down just enough to keep him believable. It's a good combination that keeps the film light-hearted without crossing a line that makes it goofy.
The film's ending is also entertaining, providing a great deal of suspense before and after the villain is unmasked. In fact, my only real complaint would be the rushed "happy ending involving a wedding engagement," which is something that is overdone in films from this era. At least give the characters a chance to go on a date before they are ready to exchange vows.
Final Opinion: This is a great movie with a good mix of comedy and mystery. Hope is at his best and has a great supporting cast. As a result of that, this movie is well worth taking the time to watch at least once if you haven’t seen it before.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other mysteries:
Movie Review: Mad Holiday (1936)
Movie Review: Nikki and Nora: Sister Sleuths (2022)
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