L'inafferrabile spettro

Arthur Lubin directs this scary comedy with Abbott and Costello inheriting a gangster's abandoned piece of property. A haunted house? Some guys have all the luck. Well paced funny script complete with stormy atmosphere. Hilarious and a little spooky. Joan Davis is a scene stealer. Others in support: Richard Carlson, Evelyn Ankers and Marc Lawrence. Classic Abbott and Costello.

This durable comedy is a favorite of Abbot and Costello fans for many reasons. it is their first non-service comedy, their first involving spooks, monsters or hauntings and their first with a strong supporting cast and "A" production values. The story-line involves Bud and Lou inheriting a haunted house from a gangster named Moose. Since the crook's loot is supposed to be hidden there--it comes complete with ghosts, a bad reputation and cryptic clues--their trip there to take possession of their property proves to be a very lively adventure.Before this portion of the narrative, there is quite a bit of fun in a nightclub, involving the Andrews Sisters, a curious "Me and My Shadow" Number with legendary Ted Lewis and a truly black partner, the Ted lewis orchestra and much more. The other passengers along for the fun ride to the new property include Richard Carlson, very good as a science specialist incredibly oblivious to the admiration and the extreme physical charms of Evelyn Ankers, hilarious Joan Davis as a perfect foil for the lead duo and the others, plus durable bad guy Marc Lawrence, hilarious Mischa Auer, Shemp Howard, Russell Hicks as the gangster's lawyer and William Davidson as Moose Matson the gangster. Look for familiar faces among the gangsters and in the nightclub scenes. The direction of this film by skilled Arthur Lubin and the screenplay by Robert Lees, Fred Rinaldo and John Grant keeps the gags coming and the pace moving. The remarkable aspect of the film is that its musical numbers and sight-gags do not impede the progress of the plot. I had never seen this film until last year; so its freshness and the luminous results of its production team were a major discovery for me. The cinematography was done by Elwood Bredell, art direction by Jack Otterson with the set decoration by the famous Russell A. Gausman, and are all outstanding achievements. The costumes by Vera West are fine and thanks to the nightclub scenes unusually varied. This B/W classic would undoubtedly have been an expensive color production later on; but in any case, the money is found, the mystery is solved, the ghosts are mostly explained, lovers are united and the laughs generated by this delightful entertainment remain in the mind--as I and other viewers of this very funny film have testified-for years to come. Not to be missed.

This is a very funny early Abbott and Costello comedy that mixes crooks and ghosts, as Bud and Lou inherit a "haunted" roadhouse from a gangster who may or may not have stashed away a fortune somewhere on the premises. Richard Carlson and Joan Davis are also on hand. The latter is quite funny, the former isn't. Overall, this is one of the better produced A & C efforts, with a real A picture feel to it. The lazy B-style gags hadn't set in yet, and Universal was clearly putting what was for them a lot of money into this one. As a result, Hold That Ghost is not only a good comedy whodunit but also nice to look at.

Although released after IN THE NAVY, this was Abbott and Costello's first film made after BUCK PRIVATES. It's also the first film where they get total top billing(in ONE NIGHT IN THE TROPICS they were supporting players, in BUCK PRIVATES although they have top billing in the opening credits they do not in the end credits, and in IN THE NAVY they share top billing with Dick Powell). This film was the first of their horror-comedies, and Lou's frightened reactions were so hilarious, all films that followed featured at least one scene where Costello gets scared, no matter what the film was about. The film is a very clever, "Old Dark House" type of film, with an excellent cast. Most notable is the beautiful Evelyn Ankers(one of Universal's most famous scream queens) as one of the strangers trapped in the house with Bud and Lou. Everything about this film is great. No complaints on my part!

As another reviewer mentioned, I too was unaware that there was an additional 13+ minutes edited from the televised version I had seen so often on WPIX Channel 11 in New York, so long ago as a child. That is until recently. Finally having viewed the full version as an adult, I can speculate with some understanding as to why it might have been cut from the public broadcast (though I've searched for info regarding the specifics and come up empty). That not withstanding, I highly recommend watching which ever version you can find of this funny and well made classic.

Though some more critical viewers may find many of the gags passé and/or corny in this day age, when it was released it was well received by movie goers and critics alike in such notable newspapers of the day as the New York Times and Motion Picture Herald.

Those of us young and/or old who can appreciate the type of comedy that originated during a more innocent era, should be happily delighted with this classic comedic gem from the '40s.