MovieChat Forums > The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) Discussion > So he lied...?

So he lied...?

posted 15 years ago by Dscully100
20 replies | jump to latest

Saw this for the first time on Netflix Starz play it instantly... a gorgeous, sad film that was very, very romantic. Harrison's monologue had me in tears.

HOWEVER.. it did occur to me that it's a good thing that Lucy didn't remember the terms of their arrangement in the later years when Anna admitted that she had had many long conversations with the captain as a child.

So did he lie to Lucy? Was he hanging out with Anna, too? I suppose he had unlimited time and potentially limitless boredom, so I suppose I can't blame him if he was hanging out with the little girl, too. Heck, he might have been spending time with Martha, too.. we just don't know it.

Plus she wanted to move the Captain's picture to her own room when Lucy tired of it and considered moving it to the attic. Hmm...

At any rate, the romantic in me doesn't like the idea that he lied to Lucy and was interacting with her daughter even though he promised he would not.

[–] LoramirOfGondor 15 years ago

That's true - the thought crossed my mind when Martha mentioned moving the picture to her room, and then Anna plainly said she'd known him.

>>At any rate, the romantic in me doesn't like the idea that he lied to Lucy and was interacting with her daughter even though he promised he would not.

I agree - I'm a hopeless romantic, so I'd much prefer to justify it somehow, except I can't come up with any way. I guess the film-makers just wanted a way to remind Lucy later in life of the Captain, when she'd more or less forgotten him.

I watched it on Netflix too - I love Watch Instantly!

[–] belacane 15 years ago

There was one other thing about Martha, when Lucy walks in with Anna and they are talking about Bill, and one of them tells Martha that Bill is, or is going to be, a lieutenant, and Martha says, "Captains is more in my line," or something like that. So I got the impression he was hanging out with Martha, too.

Was the "deal" was that he would *stay in the bedroom* or that he *wouldn't bother anyone else in the house*? I just watched it, but I can't remember which it was. I'm thinking he was supposed to only be in the bedroom (or on the balcony, too, I suppose).

He clearly went with her to the publishers (he called the publisher an "old grampus") and sat with her on the train, and there were other times when he wasn't in the bedroom. So I thought right from the start he broke his promise, but that she didn't mind, because she never called him on it. I guess she simply never thought he'd break the promise about bothering Anna.

[–] texasbelle8 15 years ago

He didn't lie, he knew that she was afraid of her child seeing a ghost. Also, he was quite the gruff fellow, again, she didn't want the little girl frightened. It never dawned on her, or probably him, that he would grow to enjoy the little girl's company. To tell her would admit to a certain sensitivity that would sully his reputation as a hard case.

[–] niblet_511 15 years ago

I just watched it. The deal was he promised he wouldn't frighten the girl. And if the daughter fondly remembers the talks, then obviously he didn't scare her.

So no deal was broken, and no lies were told. ;]

Anything happens to my daughter, I got a .45 and a shovel. I doubt anybody would miss you.

[–] dakoko 9 years ago

niblet got it right-- there were no lies.

[–] CountVladDracula 15 years ago

If I recall correctly that bit about the daughter knowing the ghost was not in the actual novel. I don't know why that was put in the film. I guess it was meant to be filler but it made Captain Gregg dishonest. However when you think about it she only made him promise not to talk to her for fear he'd frighten her. Since he didn't frighten her no harm was done. I guess ghosts can be lonely too, especially with just one person as company.

[–] mustang_steph 14 years ago

I don't think he really lied to Lucy. She said she didn't want her little girl "frightened into fits" and he obviously never frightened Anna. Instead, they were apparently quite good friends and playmates. I don't think that Lucy minded Captain Gregg having this secret friendship with her daughter. She loved him. Had he been alive, she would have most likely ended up marrying Daniel and having him serve as Anna's stepfather.

[–] texasbelle8 14 years ago

The terms of their agreement was that he wasn't going to frighten the child and that he would not go roaming about the house because he would confine himself to the "best room." If you watched the complete movie and not a cut version then you would have seen that the little girl witnessed the Captain throwing the in-laws out. Also, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that the little girl went into the mother's room to explore as children are oft times want to do. By doing that it is plausible that Anna met the Captain there. Many who believe in ghosts maintain that children are extra sensitive to the presence of ghosts.

[–] donjmiller 13 years ago

Fairly early in the movie, when Lucy's mother-in-law and sister-in-law visit her at Gull Cottage and the Captain throws them out, as he pushes them out the door, Anna is standing quite close, watching as it happens. So his presence would not have been a secret from her from then on, whatever else he did.

[–] carmenjones411 13 years ago

Regardless, I'm sure Lucy wouldn't mind because he didn't mean any harm. Also he knew that Anna was a brave girl who liked stories about sea captains and pirates.

[–] christieb7 12 years ago

Martha saw Captain Gregg as well. When she comforts Lucy after she learns the truth about Miles, Martha says, "Blast his hide." She obviously picked up "blast" from the ghost. I think the captain had relationships with all three inhabitants but didn't want them knowing that about each other. Perhaps he wanted a one-on-one friendship with each one, and they would discuss him among themselves if they were aware they all were seeing the ghost and therefore taint each friendship. So, Captain Gregg knew what he was doing all along.

[–] first-things-first 11 years ago

Yes, he didn't keep his bargain. But Anna saw him escort the relatives out, so she knew something was up. Maybe once the cat was out if the bag, he was protective of Anna too.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

[–] ScopeWatcher 11 years ago

Let's remember that before the Muir in-laws enter, the Captain tells Lucy that people won't see him unless he wants them to. Those women never saw him, not even when he kept snatching at the sister-in-law's arm; nor did they hear him laughing at her reaction.

This is also why young Anna probably could not see Daniel as he whisked the "blasted in-laws" out of the front door (even though he was visible to the camera). Did Anna enjoy the sight because the ladies looked funny to her, seemingly running against their will? Or WAS she able to see Capt. Gregg because by then he might already have introduced himself and become her confidante?

The best movies leave some questions unanswered. This is a very good one.

Most great films deserve a more appreciative audience than they get.

[–] first-things-first 11 years ago

I never considered that she couldn't see him at that point. But I like your take on that scene. Some movies you need to watch with someone to truly enjoy them.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

[–] gema6 10 years ago

It is possible that he put ideas into Martha's head as to the "colorful" words she used, and she never actually saw him.

Along the same vein, we could assume that since Anna was small, and small children are innocent, that was the reason she could see him, even if he wasn't trying to materialize for her.

Those are alternate scenarios, but I do like to think that when all was said and done, that all three women saw him. I just wanted to throw those out for the mulling.

If I lived in a haunted cottage, I would want to see the friendly ghost(s). The mean ones could stay away.

[–] mastersslave74 10 years ago

Another possibility is that he did not start playing with Anna until after he left Lucy's life? Maybe he got bored and figured he would watch over the child.

I love the ending.. and love Somewhere in Time for the Same reason.

[–] gema6 10 years ago

I never thought about Anna seeing him only after he had stopped talking to Lucy...it's a bit sad. So, when did he talk to Martha? Just periodically?

I agree about the endings to both movies too...

“Listen, don’t any panic body, just because the comesters are ganging.”
J. Grumby