is interesting that David Lean the "master of the epic" made a film like this in his prime. It just goes to show that his films aren't long, boring melodramas. They can be imaginative, funny and entertaining. I enjoyed "Lawrence of Arabia", but "Blithe Spirit" really surprised me!10/10 !

because of the quick and clever dialogue between the characters and the scene stealing performances of Margaret Rutherford's Madame Arcarti. You end laughing at and sometimes with the characters as one would do a Shakespeare comedy. Never has a film about death been so funny

Rutherford is the real star here putting in a performance which was completely overlooked at the 'Oscars' which in those days American actors were normally the nominees. The role of Madame Arcati made her a star and 'Blithe Spirit' is now engraved on her tombstone. A fitting tribute to one of Britain's greatest comediennes.

and puts it on. Charles shows disquiet at this the first time that happens , but despite protests the record is put in. And as a result, when Madame Arcati puts the record on she manages to contact Elvira, who shows up much to Charles increasing panic . "Always", you see, was her favorite tune.So begins Noel Coward's and David Lean's film version of BLITHE SPIRIT. It is, technically, the best of the three films based on Coward's classic comedies the other two are PRIVATE LIVES and DESIGN FOR LIVING . Note, for example, the way Elvira is colored green in the film-stock. But in it's way it is flawed just as they are. Enough remains, however, for an above average comedy.To it's credit it revealed Margaret Rutherford as the delightful, eccentric comic actress who would help push British comedies in the 1950s and 1960s until she became the first popular Mrs. Marple, and an Oscar winner for THE V.I.P.S . Look at her trances, as her voice assumes that of the little girl with a runny nose who is her contact with the other side.Rex Harrison gave one of his best comic performances as a realistic man caught in a occult nightmare when Arcati says the spirit she contacts wants to speak to Charles, it is suggested that it is the recently deceased "old Mrs. Plunkett" who wants to speak to him - a surprised and annoyed Harrison asks, "Why should old Mrs. Plunkett want to speak to me?" It's a typical response. As the two warring wives, Hammond and Cummings are quite good, the former all frivolous and fun loving, the latter more down-to-earth and serious. But both love Charles, although not blind to his real flaws. Nor, as it turns out, is he blind to theirs.The film is better than Lubitsch's DESIGN FOR LIVING. That one had some nice touches in it I mentioned Edward Everett Horton's "Honeymoon" kick in my review of that film , but it was censored in revealing the bi-sexuality of the characters played by Cooper and March. Here the flaw is that the end is tampered with for a final joke, but while cute and ironic it hurts the way Coward ended his play.I saw Richard Chamberlain and Geraldine Page in her last role as Madame Arcati in a stage production in the late 1980s. The play ends with Charles free to leave and continue with his life indeed, Madame Arcati urges him to go . But he first tells off his two wives, and leaves them trapped together. Coward favored that particular ending - it was more in line with his theme in the play that even the happiest marriages flounder in part because of personality clashes, and attempts by wives to control husbands that just lie under the surface. It is not dismissed in the film - on the contrary the theme is broadly shown - but the film suggests that it is impossible to escape this. It is not going to ruin watching the film, but it does weaken Coward's vision of things.

Things get colourful to say the least...Written by a maestro and directed by someone so gifted, Blithe Spirit is a fantastical comedy that gladdens and lifts the spirits no pun intended to the point that this viewer always wears a grin 12 hours after watching it. Noel Coward's witty approach is given perfect treatment from David Lean and a cast clearly having fun with the material to hand. Rex Harrison is all fresh faced and youthful, whilst some of his mannerisms of incredulity and cheek are a joy to behold, while Constance Cummings & Kay Hammond bounce off each other with electrical mirth. However, it is Margaret Rutherford's show all the way, her portrayal of the batty, almost maniacal, medium Madame Arcati is a lesson in visual and well delivered oral comedy, it is something that on its own is worth watching the film for.Ghostly goings on with a cracking turn of events at the hour mark, mark this out as a truly delightful movie, thankfully we get an ending that is perfect and in tune as regards the fun that has gone before it. Essential viewing for the classic comedy fan. 9/10

and a riveting experience.Basically Rex Harrison's dead 1st wife is summoned back in a séance to the "real world" much to his and his 2nd wife's consternation. A marvellous cast mainly depicting erudite and splendidly eccentric English so-called "middle-class" - because they had to work for a living hence they were all highly paid working class - an amusing concept Coward would have violently and amusingly disagreed with. Margaret Rutherford takes the prize for the most eccentric performance as ever flailing never failing Madame Arcati the lively spiritualist. The dialogue is urbane, brisk and witty throughout, so a thorough knowledge of English language and English customs up to 1945 is essential to getting the most from this.That can also mean that although it helps you don't have to be English and live in England to enjoy it. A previous non-blithe commenter with apparently no sense of humour from the UK displayed a complete non-understanding, non-interest and non-acceptance of anything British and must desire complete separation from anything to do with Britain - probably apart from the passport. What would the ghosts of 1945 say if they could come back today and realise that a classic such as this can be dismissed so negatively?

fantasy/comedy/romantic story. I haven't seen this in years. I would give it an 8.0 of a scale of 10.

have a séance with some friends, VERY unexpected things result. It seems that Charles' old dead wife has now somehow returned and no one other than Charles seems to think she's there. In fact, Ruth thinks he's crazy! But, when Elvira is able to throw things about the house, Ruth is finally convinced. At first, it's just an odd annoyance. However, when Elvira decides to kill Charles so that he can join her in the afterlife, things get VERY strange and unexpected consequences result. I'd say more, but it might spoil all the fun.The film is quite fun and the acting is nice. It's simple, silly fun--and perhaps Coward wanted more out of the film, but I think for me that's quite enough to make it worth seeing.