The Ghosts of Berkeley Square

A very cute ghost comedy concerning 2 gentlemen officers of the 18th century. The men were trying hard to stop a war from starting when they accidentally killed themselves. At least the 2 men were good friends because they are now doomed to live in the Berkeley Square mansion until a reigning monarch visits, which is unlikely to happen anytime soon. It takes 200 years before they are released from their spiritual earth-bound state to move onward in the "afterlife".

It's a lighthearted comedy that would be fun to watch around the winter holidays - there is a quick Christmas scene. It's also a family friendly movie that makes it nice to view around the holidays.

7/10

Robert Morley and Felix Aylmar are a couple of high-ranking British officers in the reign of good Queen Anne, recently retired. They have bought a house together on Berkeley Square. When it turns out that Marlborough is in charge of the latest campaign, they realize he's going to lose the war. They rig up a contraption to kill him, but it backfires, killing them. They are condemned to haunt the place discreetly until reigning royalty visits -- there's always an escape hatch.

And so they haunt it, as it is occupied by gentry, and a bawd and her girls, and P. T. Barnum, who turns it into a haunted house exhibit. Will royalty ever visit, freeing them?

It's directed rather lugubriously by Vernon Sewell from Caryl Brahms' and S. J. Simons' comic novel, NO NIGHTINGALE. The two authors had met a couple of decades earlier, when Miss Brahms recruited him to help her write captions for a series of cartoons by David Low. Their first novel, A BULLET IN THE BALLET, arose from her fantasy of killing ballet critic Arnold Haskell. Several novels followed, including the one this is based on. She died in 1982, five days short of her 81st birthday.

S. J. Simon was born Simon Jacoblivitch Skidelsky in Harbin, Manchuria. In the 1930s and 1940s, he was a leading bridge player, co-inventing the Acol bidding system, and writing the funny and still valuable classic Why You Lose At Bridge. He died in 1948, aged 44.

Robert Morley and Felix Aylmer are a pair of Queen Anne era Colonel Blimps who have taken a nice house and live together. Thinking that the Duke of Marlborough is about to do something stupid they hatch a plot to kidnap him. But they blunder into their own trap and are killed.

The curse of Queen Anne falls on them. They are earthbound until a member of the royal house visits their dwelling. Otherwise they are a pretty lively pair and have all kinds of powers to use for their enjoyment and to get some royalty over to the place as the house passes through several different owners. A lot more than Marjorie Reynolds and Lou Costello had in The Time Of Their Lives which film bears some resemblance.

A bit of knowledge of British history helps in viewing this film. The ghosts are bound for over 300 years. And you won't believe what it takes to get a monarch to the place.

Very droll and witty a real treat for the ear that way.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Ghosts of Berkeley Square. It is perhaps too short, but there is a huge amount to like about it. The film has a very witty script that kept me amused all the time, brisk pacing and a fun story. The cinematography is quite remarkable, and the costumes and sets are imaginative. The music by Hans May is also sprightly, Vernon Sewell's direction is assured and all the characters are very likable. The cast are equally terrific, Robert Morley especially seems to be having a ball and it shows, it was a pleasure to watch him. It is just a shame that The Ghosts of Berkeley Square is so underseen, it isn't a favourite by all means but I thought it was very entertaining and a fun way to spend an hour-and-a-half of a day at home. 8/10 Bethany Cox

In the 1700s a pair of rum military officers plan to kidnap the Duke of Marlborough. The officers die testing a trap-door on the afternoon they are supposed to be serving tea to Queen Anne. As punishment for missing their date, they must haunt the house until royalty visits again.

Although they try to attract royalty they seem to be doomed to failure, and the house is leased to many different colorful-characters including French courtesans, circus performers and an Indian emperor.

A light-hearted film full of dry-humour quips and farce. The humour would have appealed to audiences looking for escapism and whimsy; however like all films of this time it contains subtle war-propaganda to inspire the masses.