Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Cat and the Canary Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see performance by Bob Hope

The Cat and the Canary (1939) is an impressive spooky comedy based on the stage play written by John Willard (The Cat Creeps, Channing of the Northwest). Produced by Arthur Hornblow Jr. (The Asphalt Jungle, Gaslight), The Cat and the Canary features Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard. An entertaining, comedic, and fright-fully good time!

Cue the scares. Things get spooky when a family gathers at an abandoned old mansion alongside the Louisiana bayous to hear the results of a will reading. After the untimely passing of their eccentric multi-millionaire relative, the group soon learns that Joyce Norman (Paulette Goddard) is the sole inheritor to the millions left behind and no one else is to receive a penny (at all) from the will.

The headstrong (yet scared) Wally Campbell (Bob Hope) agrees to help protect her as she must stay the night in the mansion (with everyone else). There is also a foreboding message: she can only keep the money if she doesn't go insane over the next 30 day period. Will Joyce live long enough to become a multi-millionaire herself?

One of the key reasons to see The Cat and the Canary is the impressive performances by the two lead actors. Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard steal the show and manage to carry the entire production on their shoulders. Hope is an uproariously funny actor and his physical comedic timing is spot-on in the production. The film is all the more entertaining because of how clever Hope is (making his character so hilarious that audiences will find the experience a total breeze). Goddard is similarly impressive to watch and manages to bounce off of Hope with the kind of dynamic energy one hopes to find with a comedy. Both performers excel here and the results are all the more impressive as a result.

"Blu-ray.com says the The Cat and the Canary is a must-see gem. Imagine that!"

The production is similarly impressive to behold. The art direction by Hans Dreier (Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard) and Robert Usher (Hold Back the Dawn, No Time for Love) gives the film a truly impressive background that fits the tone of the piece. The authenticity of the sets and production aesthetics helps the film be more effective and compelling as well. Then there's the stellar costumes by Edith Head (The Sting, Roman Holiday) to provide the characters with the right aesthetic for their respective parts.

One of the most entertaining components of The Cat and the Canary was the effective music score composed by the great Ernst Toch (Ladies in Retirement, Dr. Cyclops). The music score played a key role in a lot of comedic moments and the characterizations. The score is a perfect accompaniment to the action on screen and composer Toch delivered on the musical backbone of the film with a pitch-perfect effort. Fans of Toch will be enormously pleased.

The cinematography by Charles Lang (Some Like It Hot, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir) is another element at play that enhances the experience. The stirring black and white cinematography looks lovely. Lang was one of classic Hollywood's most gifted cinematographers. The efforts here are tremendous and showcase his extraordinary talents as a cinematographer. When the film needs to be mysterious, the visuals are perfectly designed to enhance the atmosphere. When the film needs to be more comedic, these striking visuals match the humor as well.

The screenplay by Walter DeLeon (The Princess Comes Across, The Time of Their Lives) and Lynn Starling (Down to Their Last Yacht, Robin Hood of El Dorado) is enormously entertaining. This is certainly a humorous script. There are plenty of moments in the story for Bob Hope to excel as the comedic performer he is. The storyline is enjoyable and never seems to miss a beat.

Elliott Nugent (The Skipper Surprised His Wife, And So They Were Married) directed The Cat and the Canary with a style that fit the material perfectly. Working alongside editor Archie Marshek (The Most Dangerous Game, The Air Legion), Nugent crafted a hit comedy that manages to tickle the funny bone while being spot-on for the genre elements at play. The Cat and the Canary is an essential classic with a must-see performance by Bob Hope. Don't miss it.

The Cat and the Canary Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The Cat and the Canary is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the aspect ratio of 1.36:1 full frame. The presentation on this edition is downright remarkable. The print quality is simply fantastic and the scan looks rather robust given the age of the film and its source materials. There are no egregious issues to report with regards to print damage, burns, scratches, and other detrimental factors. The black and white photography looks superb. There is something remarkable about seeing a classic feature in such high-quality as can be found on this top-notch release. A remarkable scan.

The Cat and the Canary Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release is presented in DTS HD Master Audio mono. The lossless audio sound mix is quite impressive. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The track has good fidelity given the age of the source elements. The track never sounds overly harsh or overbearing. The track is free from egregious pops, clicks, hiss, and warps. The high quality lossless audio gets the job done.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

The Cat and the Canary Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by author/film historian Lee Gambin

The Cat and the Canary Theatrical Trailer (SD, 3:40)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: The Ghost Breakers (SD, 2:15), Road to Singapore (SD, 2:38), Road to Zanzibar (SD, 2:16), Road to Morocco (SD, 2:13), and Road to Utopia (SD, 2:15).

The Cat and the Canary Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

An entertaining romp of mystery and suspense, The Cat and the Canary is a campy tour de force that every fan of Bob Hope should consider a must-see entertainment. The production is impressive on many levels and is expertly directed by Elliott Nugent. The Blu-ray release is equally remarkable. Featuring a strong video-audio presentation, the Kino Lorber Blu-ray edition of The Cat and the Canary is well worth owning. Highly recommended.