Hold That Ghost
Directed by Arthur Lubin
Written by Robert Lees, Fred Rinaldo, and John Grant
1941/USA
Universal Pictures
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Ferdie: Oh a bed, that’s just what I need, a nice big bed to hide under.[/box]
OK, it’s official. I find Lou Costello annoying. This movie was slightly redeemed by the appearance of the Andrews Sisters.
Chuck (Abbott) and Ferdie (Costello) work at a gas station when they are not moonlighting as waiters at a night club. One day, they are working in a gangster’s car when the gangster gets in to escape the police. The gangster is killed in a shootout. It turns out that his will left his fortune to whomever was with him when he died and the boys are his heirs. However, the gangster’s only known asset is a cabin. No one knows where the loot is hidden. The boys head out to the cabin with one of the gangsters and some hangers on. They soon find out that it is not only full of other gangsters treasure hunting but is haunted as well. With Mischa Auer as a waiter, Joan Davis as a foil for Costello, Richard Carlson and Evelyn Ankers as the juvenile and ingenue, and Ted Lewis and His Band as nightclub entertainers.
I have a real problem with comedians whose acts are based on acting like infants. This includes Costello and especially Jerry Lewis. So I am not the right person to write this review. Fans of the act have given this movie a very respectable IMDb user rating. The only person in this movie that I found more dire than Costello was Ted (Is everybody happy?) Lewis. Not a fan.
Trailer
Joe Dante on Hold That Ghost on Trailers from Hell (I just love watching trailers with commentary by filmmakers on Trailers from Hell – www.trailersfromhell.com)
Couldn’t agree with you more, Bea. I detest Jerry Lewis followed closely by Lou Costello. People who act like infants don’t exist on their own in this world, let along hold down a job. This film gets a big pass from me as do all their films.
I felt I had to see Buck Privates to see the Andrews Sisters sing the Oscar-nominated “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” but I’m with you. No more after that one.