The Canterville Ghost

In the seventeenth century Sir Simon de Canterville is compelled to duel on his brother’s behalf. He flees to the family castle when his opponent brings a substitute—the giant Sir Guy—who defeats him. Witnesses see Simon cower, and his cowardice begins a curse that will shadow the family.

Lord Canterville refuses to acknowledge the disgrace and seals the hiding place by bricking over the only entrance. He curses Simon to find no rest until a kinsman performs a brave act in his name, while the signet ring becomes a symbol of the prophecy. The act cements the family’s shame and bondage to this restless ghost.

Decades later, during World War II, US Army Rangers are billeted in the castle, now owned by six-year-old Lady Jessica de Canterville. The soldiers encounter Sir Simon, but instead of terrorizing them, they mock him with a playful haunting. The encounter begins to bridge the centuries between the living and the ghost.

Among the Rangers is Cuffy Williams, who grows close to Jessica. She reveals a distinctive birthmark on his neck, proving he is a Canterville by blood and a descendant of Sir Simon’s brother. The revelation ties the ghost’s fate to a living heir.

Sir Simon takes Cuffy on a tour of the family portrait gallery, recounting the cowardly acts of each descendant. Cuffy scoffs at Simon’s worries and boasts that he is different, challenging the old curse. The scene deepens the link between past and present.

When a crisis arises, Cuffy seems to be the brave Canterville but falters in combat. Sir Simon appears again with the signet ring, trying to spur him to action, while fear paralyzes him. The moment shows the weight of ancestral expectations on a modern soldier.

On a mission in Europe, Cuffy and a partner prepare to ambush Nazi soldiers on motorcycles. A Nazi convoy arrives and the partner is shot; Cuffy tries to take over and feels the bite of fear again. Another soldier must finish the action.

Back in England, Cuffy reports himself to his unit after the failed ambush. He is disgraced and leaves the Rangers for his old outfit, retreating to the castle where Jessica remains. The failure weighs heavily on him as the war continues around them.

Lady Jessica discovers an unexploded parachute mine in the woods and explains how to reach it. She shows Cuffy how to drive toward the danger, setting the stage for a life-or-death decision. The mine becomes the focal point of their ultimate test.

Jessica’s kicks to the mine accidentally trigger it, and Cuffy must act quickly. He manages to reattach the mine to a jeep while Sir Simon accompanies him, and they head toward a ravine. The tension climbs as time runs out.

Cuffy drives the improvised explosive toward the ravine and the mine detonates, sacrificing his own composure to save the others. The explosion frees Sir Simon from centuries of bondage, allowing him to rest at last in the garden. The act marks a triumph of courage over fear.

Sir Simon finally finds peace, sleeping in the garden at last. Jessica and Cuffy lay flowers on his tombstone and share a quiet moment, hinting at a growing bond between the living and the house’s resident beyond the grave. Jessica asks Cuffy his age, and he hints at a future beyond fear.