The Ghost Comes Home

This one has a cast of comedy masters -- Frank Morgan (The Wizard!) Billie Burke (Glinda, the Good Witch.... and SOoooo many roles in BIG big films. and of course, the real life wife of Florenz Ziegfeld, of the showgirls fame.) Co-stars Reginald Owen, Nat Pendleton, and the under-stated, mild mannered Donald Meek. Vern (Morgan) must go to australia to help an old friend, but he seems to be having trouble getting there. He misses the boat, then the wacky-ness really begins. a whole lot of silliness about half way through, but its all fun if you go along with it. It has everything a caper needs: insurance companies, dressing in drag, kidnapping, and swindling all around. A little slow and un-even in parts, but it picks up steam and gets back on track. Ends on a high note, and it turns out to be much ado about nothing! Fun. Directed by Wilhelm Thiele, who had various levels of success in germany and the US. Good stuff. Can't miss, with Frank Morgan, Billie Burke, and Donald Meek!

There's not a ghost to be had in this flimsy comedy about a hen-pecked husband returning home to his family after failing to board a cruise-ship which eventually sunk. Much to his embarrassment, the family, thinking he was dead, already cashed in on his insurance policy. Inept slapstick does reunite Frank Morgan with Billie Burke one year after "The Wizard of Oz", and Morgan in particular manages a very natural, sweet performance--but his efforts are wasted on such foolish material. Poorly-directed, poorly-produced movie is full of stupid supporting characters and surprisingly cruel jokes. Not even The Wizard himself could give this one a home... * from ****

I think one of the more overlooked actors of his day was Frank Morgan. While he's known today for playing the Wizard in "The Wizard of Oz", he also starred in quite a few charming films for MGM...films that provided him a chance to play a likable fellow. My favorite is "A Stranger in Town"...but this one is awfully good as well.

Vern Adams is a bit of a henpecked milquetoast...and a bit of a nobody. He's a nice enough guy but no one, including his family, takes him very seriously. Out of the blue, he receives a phone call from Australia! It's an old childhood friend who announces he wants to leave $500,000 to his hometown AND he wants Vern to come to Australia, all expenses paid, to see him and discuss what how the money will be used. Suddenly, folks LOVE Vern and he's a hero in his town.

Unfortunately, through a series of bad choices, Vern misses his ship and ends up in jail. No one in town knows this...and when he get out of jail he learns this old friend has died AND left nothing in the will about the legacy. He's worried his friends and neighbors will now hate him...but this turns out not to be the case. Why? Because the ship sank and he's been declared dead...and the family has collected on his insurance policy!! So, his family is in trouble for insurance fraud (after all, they've spent all the money) and Vern has no idea what to do next. How does he extricate himself from this mess? See the film.

As was often the case with Morgan's films, excellent writing and his sweet acting carry the film. Overall, clever, original and well worth seeing.

I was getting ready to watch this film on my television when the house was plunged into darkness did to a failure at a junction box. So with the aid of a flashlight i found my portable dv d player and put on the disc. It was this or nothing. I just could not believe the witless farce that played out before me in the dark and cold. It only.kept.my interest because the delightful Billie Burke was fratured,and I had just purchased her biography. The script seemed at times.as if it note the fingerprints of at.least twelve uncredited writers. They had each contributed one idea to the plot that was retained. Frank !organ does his usual mugging to try and raise a laugh.

Frank Morgan reunites with Billie Burke---not long after "The Wizard of Oz"---to play a married couple in this attempt at screwball comedy that falls short due to a script that lurches from scene to scene.

The story revolves around a misunderstanding. Everyone thinks Vern Adams (Morgan) died in a sea tragedy. His unexpected return launches a series of deceptions that create a hectic pace but few genuine laughs.

The colorful cast is worth seeing, however. Especially Ann Rutherford, between Andy Hardy films, who plays the Adams' daughter. Unfortunately, she is underused despite her strong contribution to the film's only romantic storyline.