The Ghost Goes West (1935)

The Ghost Goes West
Directed by René Clair
1935/UK
London Film Productions
First viewing

Murdoch Glourie (The Ghost): I hate America. It’s worse than the first day of battle.

This enjoyable and atmospheric romantic comedy/fantasy film is a bit reminiscent in tone to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.  It was the highest grossing film of 1936 in Great Britain.

The Glouries and the McGlaggens are two ancient feuding Scottish families.  In the 18th Century, the Laird of the Glouries sends his womanizing son Murdoch (Robert Donat) off to the battlefield to avenge the honor of the Glouries on the McGlaggens.  Murdoch is killed before he can do this and is doomed to wander Glourie castle until he can find a McGlaggen and get him to apologize and admit the superiority of the Glouries.

In 1935, Donald Glourie (also Robert Donat) is broke and living in the castle which he cannot sell because it is haunted.  Wealthy American Peggy Martin (Jean Peters) discovers the castle and talks her father (Eugene Pallette) into buying it and rebuilding it in Florida.  Donald is smitten with Peggy at first sight but is shy.  Murdoch, the ghost, has no such problems.  The ghost keeps things lively both on the sea voyage to America and after arrival.

Robert Donat is, as usual, excellent and very appealing and all the other performances are fine.  Clair has deftly captured the fantasy and historical elements and kept the comedy sparkling.  There is some good satire on American media frenzy and consumerism at the end.  Recommended.

Clip available on TCM:  http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/409420/Ghost-Goes-West-The-Movie-Clip-Enthusiasm-Controllers.html