Blithe Spirit
Year:
1945
Production Country:
Great Britain
Comedy. Following a seance held by a writer at his country house as part of the research for his new novel, the ghost of his late first wife materialises, who soon begins to cause trouble for him and his new wife.
The following statement regarding the story appears after the opening credits: 'When we are young We read and believe The most Fantastic Things When we grow older and wiser We learn, with perhaps a little regret That these things can never be.' [This is followed by Noël Coward on the soundtrack saying 'We are quite, quite wrong']
Cast & credits
Cast
- [Opening Narration] Noël Coward
- Charles Condomine Rex Harrison
- Ruth Condomine Constance Cummings
- Elvira Condomine Kay Hammond
- Madame Arcati Margaret Rutherford
- Dr George Bradman Hugh Wakefield
- Mrs Violet Bradman Joyce Carey
- Edith, the maid Jacqueline Clarke
- [RAC man] Johnnie Schofield
- [cook] Marie Ault
Credits
Direction
- Directed by David Lean
- Assistant Director George Pollock
- [Assistant Director (2nd)] Reginald Marks
- [Assistant Director (3rd)] J.A. Hearne
- [Continuity] Maggie Unsworth
- [Assistant Continuity] Yvonne Axworthy
Production
- A Two Cities Film Two Cities Films
- A Cineguild Production Cineguild
- A Noel Coward Production Noël Coward
- In Charge of Production Anthony Havelock-allan
- Unit Manager Norman Spencer
- Unit Manager Sydney S. Streeter
- Made at D&P Studios
- [Studio] Denham Studios
Casting
- [Casting] Irene Howard
Writing
- Adapted for the Screen by David Lean
- Adapted for the Screen by Ronald Neame
- Adapted for the Screen by Anthony Havelock-allan
- Above the Title Credit [for Play] Noël Coward
Photography
- Photographed in Technicolor by Ronald Neame
- Colour Director for Technicolor Natalie Kalmus
- Associate for Technicolor Joan Bridge
- Technician for Technicolor George Minassian
- Camera Operator William Mcleod
- [Focus Puller] D. Bartlett
Stills
- [Stills] Wilfrid Newton
Special Effects
- Special Effects Tom Howard
- [Back Projection] Charles Staffell
Editing
- Film Editor Jack Harris
- [Assistant Editor] Norah Walsh
- [Assembly Editor] Marjorie Saunders
Design
- Art Supervisor to Noel Coward G.E. Calthrop
- Art Director C.P. Norman
- [Set Decorator] Arthur Taksen
- [Draughtsman] T. Hopewell Ash
Costumes
- Dress Supervisor Hilda Collins
- Dresses by Raemonde Rahvis
Make-up
- Make Up Tony Sforzini
- Hairdressing Vivienne Walker
Music
- Musical Score Composed by Richard Addinsell
- [Music] Played by London Symphony Orchestra
- [Music] Conducted by Muir Mathieson
Sound
- Sound Recordist J.C. Cook
- Sound Recordist Desmond Dew
- [Sound Camera Operator] Roy Day
- Sound System Western Electric
- [Boom Operator] Percy Dayton
- [Boom Assistant] George Paternoster
- [Sound Maintenance Engineer] George Lewis
- [Dubbing Crew] Desmond Dew
- [Dubbing Crew] Alan Whatley
- [Dubbing Crew] Anthony J. Kay
- [Dubbing Crew] Cyril Crowhurst
