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poster of The Ghost Breakers
Rating: 6.5/10 by 76 users

The Ghost Breakers (1940)

After intrepid working girl Mary Carter becomes the new owner of a reputedly haunted mansion located off the Cuban coast, a stranger phones warning her to stay away from the castle. Undaunted, Mary sets sail for Cuba with a stowaway in her trunk—wise-cracking Larry Lawrence, a radio announcer who helps Mary get to the bottom of the voodoo magic, zombies and ghosts that supposedly curse the spooky estate.

Directing:
  • George Marshall
Writing:
  • Charles W. Goddard
  • Paul Dickey
  • Walter DeLeon
Stars:
Release Date: Fri, Jun 21, 1940

Rating: 6.5/10 by 76 users

Alternative Title:
Ingen rädder för spöken - SE

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 25 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0

Plot Keyword: stowaway, haunted house, house, inheritance, zombie, mansion, heir, ghost, radio host, haunted castle, steamship, haunted mansion, mystery
Subtitle   Wallpaper   Watch Trailer    

Bob Hope
Larry Lawrence
Richard Carlson
Geoff Montgomery
Anthony Quinn
Ramon Mederes / Francisco Mederes
Pedro de Cordoba
Havez (as Pedro De Cordoba)
Virginia Brissac
Mother Zombie
Tom Dugan
Raspy Kelly
Paul Fix
Frenchy Duval
James Blaine
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
David Durand
Bellhop (uncredited)
Jack Edwards
Ship Bellboy (uncredited)
Robert Elliott
Lieutenant Murray (uncredited)
James Flavin
Hotel Porter (uncredited)
Jack Hatfield
Elevator Boy (uncredited)
Grace Hayle
Screaming Woman (uncredited)
Claire James
Las Palmas Club Patron (uncredited)
Douglas Kennedy
Intern (uncredited)
Francisco Marán
Headwaiter (uncredited)
Dolores Moran
Las Palmas Patron (uncredited)
Paul Newlan
Baggage Handler (uncredited)
Jack Norton
Drunk (uncredited)
Tom Quinn
Man in Hotel Hallway (uncredited)
Robert Ryan
Intern (uncredited)
Larry Steers
Man in Hotel Hallway (uncredited)
Kay Stewart
Telephone Girl (uncredited)
Leonard Sues
Newsboy (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan
Policeman at Boat Dock (uncredited)
Blanca Vischer
Dolores - Cuban Girl (uncredited)
Emmett Vogan
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Max Wagner
Ship Porter (uncredited)

John Chard

You still there zomb? The Ghost Breakers is a sort of sequel to Paramount's 1939 hit "The Cat and the Canary", also starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard. Directed by George Marshall (who would direct the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis 1958 remake, "Scared Stiff", as well) it's adapted by Walter DeLeon from the play "The Ghost Breaker" by Paul Dickey and Charles W. Goddard. The premise is simple, after mistakenly thinking he has shot a hoodlum type, Larry Lawrence (Hope) flees into another hotel room, that of Mary Carter (Goddard), who is packing for a trip to Cuba. Befriending her, it's not before long that Larry is on his way to Cuba as well, but Mary is under threat from shifty characters and to make matters worse, their destination castle is rumoured to be haunted and tales of zombies seem to carry some weight. Hope and Goddard really do have a rich chemistry here and the results are excellent to say the least. They would work again for a third time a year later in "Nothing But the Truth". But really it's with the writing that most credit is due here. Hope of course was an excellent deliverer of a line, but first you have to have quality lines to work from, and here with DeLeon's screenplay we get some delightful stuff for Hope to work with. From Basil Rathbone to sly political leg pulling, the gags come quick and fast and compliment the visual fun as Hope, Goddard and Willie Best are all aboard the fun creeper express. Charles Lang is on photography duties and captures the eerie atmosphere of the island perfectly, while a nod of approval should go to Edith Head for her costumes. Ultimately it's fun we want and fun we get, with a cowardly hero and a sexy leggy lady as our protagonists, one can only hope that the zombies don't get in the way too much. As either a stand alone movie or as a double bill with "The Cat And The Canary", "The Ghost Breakers" showcases a fine double act from a fine time in cinema history. Enjoy 7.5/10


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