Sun 20 May 2018
A Movie Review by Dan Stumpf: GILDERSLEEVE’S GHOST (1944).
Posted by Steve under Films: Comedy/Musicals , Old Time Radio , Reviews[10] Comments
GILDERSLEEVE’S GHOST. RKO, 1944. Harold Peary, Marion Martin, Richard LeGrand, Frank Reicher, Amelita Ward, Freddie Mercer, Margie Stewart, Emory Parnell, Jack Norton as the Drunk and Charles Gemora as the Gorilla. Screenwriter: Robert E. Kent, based on characters appearing on the long-running radio program, The Great Gildersleeve (1941-1958). Director: Gordon Douglas.
Some folks think it kinky of me, others merely shrug and roll their eyes, and a few have damned me from the pulpit for it, but I always thought Harold Peary was funny. Just something about that chuckle of his and the trademark hem-and-hawing, always gets a laugh out of me.
So I’m tempted to give Gildersleeve’s Ghost much more praise than it deserves from a discerning critic like myself. I can’t honestly recommend it to any serious movie buff either. But damitall, this movie has everything: ghosts, an old dark house, a mad doctor with a sinister assistant, an invisible woman, insulting comic relief, and an escaped gorilla. Who — I ask you WHO? — could ask for anything more?
Peary skips through it with his usual aplomb, and Gordon Douglas, whose career included Rio Conchos, Tony Rome, and Sincerely Yours, directs with the flippancy it deserves. I should also mention writer Robert Kent, who went on to a long and bizarre career with Sam Katzman, writing things like Hootenanny Hoot and The Fastest Guitar Alive.
As for Gildersleeve’s Ghost, it’s fast, light, and outrageous enough to keep you saying “Whuzza?†even if you don’t find it funny. Catch it if you can.
May 20th, 2018 at 10:19 pm
I’ve seen this one and it isn’t dreary, at worst an overlong sitcom. As such things went, it goes down fairly easily save for the uncomfortable comedy relief, and at least he is a pro at the job.
May 20th, 2018 at 10:30 pm
I’ve seen one Gildersleeve movie, not this one, and while Peary had the perfect voice for the character, in person (in the film) I found his appeal greatly diminished. But based on your review, Dan, I’d watch this one anyway, except for the gorilla.
May 21st, 2018 at 1:26 am
From Season 8 of Perry Mason, “The Case Of The Lover’s Gamble”, February 18, 1965.
Harold Peary has a fairly prominent role in one of the better whodunits of the latter part of the Mason run, written by Jackson Gillis.
Beyond that, I’ll say no more, except – watch it … and pay attention.
May 21st, 2018 at 2:15 pm
That’s what I call a tease, Mike. I’m still working on Season 2, Part 2, on DVD, off and on!
May 21st, 2018 at 4:39 pm
Hm, Steve …
You know, of course, that all the Perry Mason episodes are standalones, right?
It doesn’t make any difference what order you watch them in?
Hell, they weren’t even shown in the order they were filmed, for cryin’ out loud …
I mean, the friggin’ pilot was the tenth episode shown in Season 1 …
There are no rules.
(So you won’t be breaking any.)
Watch Mason in any order – or in no order.
Personally, I think it’s more fun that way.
May 21st, 2018 at 4:55 pm
It’s just me, Mike. I just like to plod along.
But if I owned Season 8, you can be sure I’d jump ahead. Guaranteed.
May 22nd, 2018 at 1:48 pm
Sounds like anice diversion for one in need of one
May 22nd, 2018 at 9:07 pm
What’s wrong with gorillas?
May 22nd, 2018 at 9:08 pm
What’s wrong with having gorillas in the film?
May 23rd, 2018 at 7:51 am
Bravo, Randy! I can’t think of a single film, including THE SEARCHERS, CITIZEN KANE and THE GODFATHER, that ciouldn’t have been improved by a guy in a gorilla suit.