The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

Independent widow Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney) decides to leave the confines of her life in London with her mother and sister in law to live in the British seaside.  After falling in love with the haunted Gull Cottage, Lucy sets up home despite the antics of the hateful old ghost of the cottage's former owner Captain Gregg (Rex Harrison).  The two become fast friends after Lucy doesn't bend to Captain Gregg's nonsense.  Lucy soon becomes the ghostwriting of Gregg's salty autobiography after they make a deal to put up with each other.  Friendship soon develops into something more but when a live suitor (George Sanders) shows up for Lucy, both must come to terms with their feelings.

How has this precious film escaped my radar all these years?  I queued The Ghost and Mrs. Muir after my fascination with Rex Harrison began.  This critic much prefers Harrison's gruff Captain Gregg to his Henry Higgins.  As the salty sea captain, Rex plays the specter as harsh and tragic.  Tierney plays cultured society beautifully against Harrison.  The chemistry between these two is incredible.  Tierney's language dips to the edge of propriety with too much exposure to Capt. Gregg and Harrison takes pleasure in listening to the results.

Joseph L Makiewicz (All About Eve, Cleopatra) directs.  Makiewicz uses brilliant comedic and horror elements to jump start the film.  Blending the line between fantasy (Capt Gregg) and reality, Makiewicz creates a  moody but believable canvas for this great cast of characters.  The screenplay touches to the coming change in gender roles rather smartly without being obnoxious.  A perfectly scored soundtrack, courtesy of Bernard Herrmann (Citizen Kane, Vertigo) further enhances a well rounded film.

As I see it, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir recalls a time with cinema was indeed a craft worth investing in.  Every element is top-notch which creates a memorable classic worth seeing.