MOVIE REVIEW
BLITHE SPIRIT
Rated PG-13. At Landmark Kendall Square and on VOD.
Grade: B
Yet another production of Noel Cowards perennial Blithe Spirit (the first film adaptation was directed by David Lean), this latest effort features Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher, Leslie Mann and Academy Award winner Judi Dench, a pretty impressive lineup to be sure. The film, like the play, which has been revived more times than Count Dracula, and broadcast on radio and TV and made into a stage musical (directed by Coward), was directed by Edward Hall, who lists among his credits Downton Abbey, where Stevens used to hang his hat.
Stevens is Charles Condomine, an author famous for his Detective Flowers series, who is remarried after the death of his first wife Elvira (Mann) to Ruth (Fisher). He and Ruth live in an art deco mansion on an English hillside, while he writes in a second house on the property. They have two servants, an angry cook named Edna (Michelle Dotrice) and a jittery maid named Edith (Aimee-Ffion Edwards). Ruths father (Henry Kunz) is a film producer for whom Charles is writing, or make that not writing, a screenplay. Charles has been terribly blocked since the death of Elvira, who is an American here, in a riding accident. Charles and Ruth go to the West End to see the act of a medium by the name of Madame Arcati (Dench), a spiritualist, who claims to have the power of levitation.
When the act is exposed as a fake, Madame Arcati agrees to hold a seance at Chez Condomine for its owners and their friends. Things go terribly awry, and the ghost of the first Mrs. Condomine appears and refuses to go back where she came from. Only Charles can see and hear her, something the film is a bit lazy about.
Cowards bickering-married-couples-past-and-present dialogue remains sharp and witty, and can also be a bit moldy at times. Charles is experiencing sexual block as well as the writing kind. Ruth, who gets dosed by Elvira with an aphrodisiac, is jealous of her dead predecessor. The three leads have chemistry and give the dialogue, adapted for the film by Nick Moorcroft and Piers Ashworth of the rather lame St. Trinians reboots and Meg Leonard, a run for its money.
Dench in a role previously played by the likes of Estelle Winwood, Geraldine Page and Angela Lansbury, gives Arcati a regal bearing mixed with a longing for a long dead soldier.
Coward took the 1941 plays title from Shelleys poem To a Skylark. The new film is set in 1937, two years before Britain entered World War II. The writers have added visits to film studios, where we fleetingly encounter Alfred Hitchcock and a few others. But they do not amount to much.
It is strange that no one notices a ghost drinking cocktails. Stevens is fun, but wont make anyone forget Rex Harrison. Still, its hard to kill Blithe Spirit. It just keeps coming back. The Lean film, adapted by Coward, Ronald Neame and Anthony Havelock-Allan, came up with an even better ending than the play. Hall was smart enough to retain it.
(Blithe Spirit contains sexual references and drug use.)
Read more:
Blithe Spirit rises again to tickle new generation - Boston Herald
- Warren Gerds/Critic at Large: Review: Oshkosh troupes Dracula has a bit of bite [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold: One part horror to 20 parts fantasy [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold is the beginning of a Marvelesque Universal monsters reboot [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- How Universal Created a Living Trailer for 'Dracula Untold' at its Theme Parks [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- To sell 'Dracula Untold,' Universal asks you to add bats to your video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Luke Evans injured by over-sized fangs on Dracula Untold [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula's Dungeon Found in Turkey? Tale Gets Tangled [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Every Generation Gets The Dracula It Deserves: A Very Important Dracula Timeline [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- 'Dracula Untold': Luke Evans sinks teeth into Vlad Tepes for vampire epic [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker Audiobook - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold Rome Press Conference: Luke Evans and Sarah Gadon - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold Premiere in New York: Director Gary Shore - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Instant Chronique du Daron "Dracula Untold et Sex Tape" - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- principe de la oscuridad vlad dracula - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- OBT DRACULA VS THE MUMMY - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- 141005 Dracula and Nosferatu - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) - Movie Review - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold, Addicted - Guests: Steve Carell & Jennifer Garner | Weekend Ticket | FandangoMovies - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold In Theaters Friday TV Spot 8 HD - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold: What's the Fun of a Dracula Who Hates Neck-Biting? [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- The Dracula: Untold Cast Spills On More Universal Monster Movies [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- 'Dracula Untold' Stars Fete Their Historically-Based Vampire Tale Without "Forbidden Love" [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold: Luke Evans "Vlad" Movie Premiere Interview - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold Special Screening: Actor Luke Evans (Full) - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold Movie CLIP - Vlads son (2014) - Luke Evans HD - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Pro-Metheus - Bram Stokers Dracula (Hip Hop Instrumental Remix) - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold premiere: Sarah Gadon - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- HHN 24 - Dracula Untold - Reign of blood (no in house video) - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Alexander and Mina - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold - movie review - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold TV SPOT - In Theaters Friday (2014) - Luke Evans Movie HD - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold Featurette - Vlad vs. 1000 (2014) - Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper Movie HD - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- Ghiznu - Dracula Cowboy (acoustic) - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- podcast 08, Angry Bird, Crepusculo, Dracula, etc. - Video [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2014]
- At the movies: Through Oct. 16 [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- The Weekend Warrior: Dracula Untold, Alexander's Bad Day, The Judge, Addicted [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- Movie Review: Dracula Untold [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- 'Dracula Untold' review: Fangs for nothing [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- 6 Things to Do in Transylvania Other Than Becoming Undead [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold - Custom Trailer (HD) - Video [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- LUKE EVANS Stars in Dracula Untold or Dracula On Toast? - The Graham Norton Show on BBC AMERICA - Video [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- Dracula part of movie universe? - Video [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- Halloween Drawings - How To Draw Cute Dracula by Garbi KW - Video [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- Castlevania: Curse of Darkness Trevor vs True Dracula (No Damage, No Spells) - Video [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- Dracula - Thug Notes Summary & Analysis - Video [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold Official Trailer (2014). Stars Luke Evans, Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon - Video [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- FMA & GRWM - Social Movie Night "Dracula Untold" - Video [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- Movie Update: Dracula Untold - Video [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- DRACULA (nueva version) - Video [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- DAY 2 "ME ENAMORO DRACULA" | Lemonadelife - Video [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- "Dracula Untold" Flies to PH IMAX Theaters Oct 15 [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Luke Evans on biting into "Dracula Untold" role [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold has very little to say [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Dracula nothing to sink your teeth into [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- The Wild Evolution of Vampires, From Bram Stoker to Dracula Untold [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- 'Dracula Untold' proves vampire allure is hard to resist [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold Movie Review (Schmoes Know) - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold Comic Trailer (2014) - Luke Evans Movie HD - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Get the Look | Junsu Dracula | - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Book Review Wednesdays #20: Dracula - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Movies in a Minute: 'The Judge', 'Dracula Untold' & More - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Chey Dracula. - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Sarah Gadon Interview - Dracula Untold (HD) 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- DRACULA BALANGI Trke Alt Yazl lk Fragman - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Luke Evans Interview - Dracula Untold (HD) 2014 - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold - Behind the scenes Interviews - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- The History of Dracula in Film - A Monster's Transformation HD - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- Sarah Gadon Talks Playing Mirena In 'Dracula Untold' - Video [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2014]
- 'Dracula Untold' sinks some fun into a muddled plot [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold nothing to sink your teeth into [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- Dracula Untold review [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- Box office: 'Dracula Untold' unearths $1.3 million Thursday night [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- Happy Hour - #Oprah reaction, Worst Dracula Films, Paltrow gushes over Obama - Video [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- DRACULA UNTOLD Interview - Sarah Gadon - Video [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- The Judge, Dracula Untold movie review - Video [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- Is Dracula Untold a Superhero Film? - Video [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- DRACULA UNTOLD - Double Toasted Video Review - Video [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- [NEW]Dracula Untold Trailer #2[1080p HD] - Video [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]