The Cat and the Canary (1978): Cast & Plot
The Cat and the Canary is a 1978 mystery horror film directed by Radley Metzger, starring Wilfrid Hyde-White as Cyrus West, Daniel Massey and Peter McEnery. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Radley Metzger
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Grenadier Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Cat and the Canary About?
The premise of The Cat and the Canary without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A warning echoes: “For God’s sake, stay in your rooms and lock the doors!” When a group of prospective heirs gathers in a grim, antiquated mansion to discover who will inherit a vast fortune, they soon realize a flesh‑rending maniac is on the loose, turning the inheritance hunt into a deadly nightmare.
The Cat and the Canary Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- reference to bertrand russell
- hanged cat
- killing a cat
- reference to william shakespeare
- kissing cousins
- death of cat
- dead cat
- animal in title
- american in the uk
- man hits a woman
- man punches a woman
- psychotronic film
+38 more Show fewer
- bloody face
- punched in the face
- woman wears a slip
- murder play
- stage thriller
- house
- group
- incest
- cousin cousin incest
- missing dead body
- male cousin attracted to female cousin
- lady in red
- camera shot of a woman's legs
- candelabra
- family mansion
- cousins in love
- greedy relative
- female cousin female cousin incest
- black and white cat
- in love with a cousin
- sexual attraction
- reading of a will
- scene during opening credits
- dark and stormy night
- eccentric uncle
- incestuous desire
- padlock
- flashback
- wax cylinder audio recording
- american actress plays a british character
- male cousin in love with female cousin
- male cousin female cousin relationship
- reference to dr. jekyll
- woman in chains
- manacles
- man in a wheelchair
- gun in pocket
- pushed down some stairs
The Cat and the Canary Cast & Characters
Wilfrid Hyde-White leads the cast as Cyrus West, with Daniel Massey as Dr. Harry Blythe and Peter McEnery as Charlie Wilder. Directed by Radley Metzger; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Radley Metzger
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as Cyrus West
- Daniel Massey as Dr. Harry Blythe
- Peter McEnery as Charlie Wilder
-
Honor Blackman as Susan Sillsby
Also Starring in The Cat and the Canary
· 6 more- Olivia Hussey Cicily Young
- Michael Callan Paul Jones
- Carol Lynley Annabelle West
- Wendy Hiller Alison Crosby
- Beatrix Lehmann Mrs. Pleasant
- Edward Fox Hendricks
More from Radley Metzger
More films directed by Radley Metzger: The Princess and the Call Girl, Little Mother, The Lickerish Quartet and Camille 2000.
The Cat and the Canary Plot Summary
What happens in The Cat and the Canary from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On the twentieth anniversary of Cyrus West’s death, the remaining cousins converge on his secluded mansion in rural England to witness a filmed reading of his last will and testament. The gathering gathers a diverse group: Harry Blythe, a former surgeon; Charlie Wilder, a flamboyant stuntman who made a name for himself in California; Susan Sillsby, a renowned English hunter; Cicily Young Olivia Hussey, Susan’s cousin and roommate who shares a tender bond with her; Paul Jones, an American songwriter trying for his big break; and Annabelle West, a rising fashion designer. The proceedings are supervised by Cyrus’s lawyer, Allison Crosby, and the loyal, practical Mrs. Pleasant Beatrix Lehmann, who has tended the manor for years.
Full summary
The whole story of The Cat and the Canary, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Cat and the Canary?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What condition must Annabelle West meet to inherit Cyrus West's fortune?
Cars in The Cat and the Canary
3 cars on screen, including the 1932 Austin 12/4 Burnham and the 1937 Austin 12/4 Taxi.
-
1932 Austin 12/4 Burnham Minor role -
1937 Austin 12/4 Taxi Minor role -
1935 Talbot AY 95 Minor role
The Cat and the Canary Also Known As
7 alternative titles, including “Le Chat et le Canari” and “Die Katze und der Kanarienvogel”.
- Also known as
-
- Le Chat et le Canari
- Die Katze und der Kanarienvogel
- El gato y el canario
- Il gatto e il canarino
- 고양이와 카나리아
- 猫与康纳利
- Кот и канарейка
Seen The Cat and the Canary?
Movies Like The Cat and the Canary
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Cat and the Canary, The Cat and the Canary and The Cat Creeps.
The Cat and the Canary FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Cat and the Canary, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Cat and the Canary?
The Cat and the Canary runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was The Cat and the Canary released?
The Cat and the Canary was released on November 1, 1978.
Who directed The Cat and the Canary?
The Cat and the Canary was directed by Radley Metzger.
More films by Radley Metzger Who is in the cast of The Cat and the Canary?
The Cat and the Canary stars Wilfrid Hyde-White as Cyrus West, Daniel Massey as Dr. Harry Blythe and Peter McEnery as Charlie Wilder, among 10 credited actors.
Does The Cat and the Canary have a post-credit scene?
No. The Cat and the Canary has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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