The Smiling Ghost (1941) User Reviews

Very funny spooky house mystery

[csteidler · 7/10 · 23 March 2015]

Wayne Morris answers an ad and is inclined to accept a job offer that pays an easy $1000. He just wants to know—"$1000 to do what?" The prospective employer's answer: "To be engaged for one month to my granddaughter." –It sounds okay, but Morris isn't told up front that said granddaughter's fiancés tend to mysteriously succumb to a "smiling ghost curse."

A fun cast hams it up in this lively and none-too-serious old dark house comedy. Morris is earnest, slightly smart-alecky, a very likable hero. Two leading ladies give spirited performances: Alexis Smith is the rich girl whose fiancés don't last long, and Brenda Marshall the intrepid reporter who shows up to snoop around.

Willie Best, in a larger role than his usual bit part, is hilarious as Morris's reluctant assistant. Alan Hale is lots of fun as a gun- toting butler.

The plot is not exactly original but it moves at a nice quick pace. The actors seem to be enjoying themselves and the entertaining dialog they're delivering. ("Why," Smith snaps at Marshall as they discuss their beau Morris, "every look you give him you could pour on a waffle.")

The production values of this Warner Bros. B are a step above any number of otherwise similar Monogram pictures, but it really doesn't take itself any more seriously—which is why it works.

A worthwhile 70 minutes, especially for connoisseurs of the comedy-mystery B picture genre.

A fun little thriller from Warner Brothers

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 6 November 2010]

Wayne Morris, known from 1950 on for his Westerns, here plays Alex "Lucky" Downing, a man with more than a few odd dilemmas, each one causing the next. First, he is a chemical engineer at the time right before America entered WWII during the biggest industrial build-up of the last century who oddly enough cannot find a job of any kind and therefore is literally under siege by creditors. This causes him to put an ad in the paper making himself available for work - any kind of work. The job he gets is to pretend to be the fiancé of an heiress he has never seen for the sum of one thousand dollars, which is a princely sum in 1941. Fortunately the girl turns out to be very attractive (Alexis Smith as Elinor Bentley). His next dilemma, unknown to him at first, is that he is being used as bait by the Bentley family to try to draw "The Smiling Ghost" out into the open. The Smiling Ghost is a name given to whoever or whatever it is who has killed or maimed each and every one of Elinor's fiancés, three so far. Downing's final dilemma is that he has two girls competing for his affection - first the heiress Elinor is beginning to fall for him. Secondly there is a female reporter interested in the story of the smiling ghost (Brenda Marshall as Lil Barstow) who is also attracted to our hero.

This film has plenty of comedy, with Alan Hale as a detective under cover as a butler who from the first time you see him doesn't act or speak like a butler, not to mention Wayne Morris' likable every-man style. It also has plenty of atmosphere with the spooky dark Bentley mansion, fog in the graveyard at night, and a rather strange member of the Bentley family whose hobby includes collecting shrunken heads.

The only real negative in the film is the use of racial stereotypes as humor in the person of Clarence (Willie Best), Alex' assistant and friend. Clarence is portrayed as being superstitious and cowardly comic relief, and it's sad but not the least bit atypical for movies made at this time to put African Americans into such roles. At any rate, I hope Mr. Best laughed all of the way to the bank.

Besides that one negative, I'd rate it as one of the better B comedy/thrillers made in the 40's, especially when you realize that it was made at Warner Brothers, which wasn't a studio particularly well known for that genre.

Sometimes B-Fun is as Good as A-Fun

[dogwater-1 · 7/10 · 16 September 2014]

A surprisingly snappy little mystery comedy with Wayne Morris in his juvenile days sporting a patented brand of big guy innocence that he was very good with. Shortly afterward he went off to be a Navy flier and war hero, only to return to a Hollywood that had turned cold. Brenda Marshall plays a spunky, sassy reporter and is sexier than Alexis Smith which is no mean achievement. Willie Best shows why the prevailing racial attitudes kept a major talent from blossoming. He was truly a great comedian underneath the necessary character feature of a low I.Q. that all black actors of the day had to assume.Here, he's not quite so dumb and gets to use his formidable physical skills. I would urge to pull the curtain back a bit if you can and realize what a waste of talent it all was. No reason to go into the plot, its a farce with many funny lines and a very eccentric family which is a mainstay of many comedies of the 30s and 40s. Crisp, silly and warming.

I saw this film 58 years ago

[dgwyn66 · 10 April 2000]

I saw this film 58 years ago so don't expect any vivid detail but as I saw it with a group of my contemporaries i recall the atmosphere of the occasion with great clarity. It was a "B" feature(something that has disappeared from the cinema now)a filler before the main film and it was an example of a genre very dear to our hearts at the time-the comedy thriller.Very much in the mould of The Cat and the Canary(I refer to the Bob Hope version of course) it was chock full of one-liners,sliding panels and eccentric characters not the least of whom was the wonderful Willie Best.Even after all these years I can still remember his words when he catches sight of the eponymous apparition.Overtaking a galloping horse he wails "Move over horse.Make way for someone who can really run".It gave us all a lot of fun then and some recollected pleasure now for me anyway.

6 / 10 Stars For Many Chuckles and 8 LOLs

[pronker · 6/10 · 8 June 2017]

It was the script that trummeled right along, and from the moment of discovering that Wayne had debtors, I was on his side. He's using all his wits to survive as "someone who's been out of college three years"and needs to find spondoolix.

Willie helps him; Willie is indispensable. "She has brains enough for two people," Wayne says about his heartthrob admiringly, and Willie spouts, "Then you and her are the perfect match!" So there's that. There's also the house with sliding panels, spooky staircases descending to a huge cellar with many, many twists and turns and places to hide. My sort of comedy-thriller setting. I liked the performances, lighthearted and it seemed the players knew exactly how to get the most out of their roles.

Brenda in both "Captains of the Clouds" and "Whispering Smith" showed a sultry, sexy quality with undertones of angst that made her roles memorable; she was sincere and loving with Flynn in "Sea Hawk", so if her movies were not numerous, at least they were memorable. This is a lesser film of hers, but showing more of a comedic side.

So, the villain is not all that great of a mystery. It's the appealing players, the house and the spooky spots that made this one slide down so easily, like syrup on waffles. Watch the movie to get the reference.

Lucky? Maybe not!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 8 June 2017]

When the story begins, Lucky Downing (Wayne Morris) is recruited to pose as a young lady's fiancé for one month...for $1000!! This seems too good to be true...and this is EXACTLY the case. This is because the lady (Alexis Smith) has had terrible luck with fiances...as each prior one has met with death or was severely injured! But Lucky doesn't know this and only learns about it AFTER the bodies start piling up! So will he stick with it or hightail it out of there? Well, his nickname isn't Brains...so you can only assume he's there for the duration!

This movie is very similar in style to films such as "The Ghost Breakers" which, incidentally, ALSO featured Willie Best as the leading man's valet. This isn't surprising since Best's shtick was playing the old stereotypical scared black man, though such stereotypes are no doubt offensive today.

Overall, despite its shortcomings, this is an entertaining film which will hold your interest.

B ghost/haunted house story is kind of fun

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 10 June 2005]

Attractive Wayne Morris is hired to be the fiancée of lovely Alexis Smith, the "kiss of death" girl, and there the fun begins. Beautiful Brenda Marshall is the reporter on the trail of a good story. What spoils this film, of course, is the character of Clarence, performed by Willie Best. It's the offensive portrayal of blacks often seen in these types of films which not only dates it but is embarrassing to watch. It's a shame, because there's no doubt that Best was a fine talent, and we know he was a wonderful singer.

Other than that, it's a neat entry into the genre, with Wayne Morris very beguiling with his "aw, shucks" earnestness and good looks. Alan Hale is quite funny as the butler.

Surprisingly fun spooky-comedy film; underrated

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 7/10 · 16 September 2014]

This is a very good little film in the comedy-horror genre. It could have been a vehicle for Red Skelton as in his "Whistling..." series by MGM at the same time, but the studio was also working to elevate Wayne Morris to the forefront, perhaps due to so many actors being off and involved in the war effort.

At any rate, the film only has one real flaw -- it's so obvious from early on who the serial murderer is. But, in this type of film, there are two ways to enjoy the action -- by figuring out who the perpetrator is, or by enjoying the journey by which the other characters find out who the perpetrator is. Here, it's the latter that makes this film very watchable.

Wayne Morris was a pleasant enough presence on the screen, though I doubt he was ever destined to become a real A-lister. He does nicely here as the slightly befuddled hero, who despite your early expectations falls in love with the right girl...although the film doesn't really give us enough of a reason why he falls in love with her. Alexis Smith -- the second lead and supposed romantic lead (a semi-wealthy young woman whose fiancees all seem to get murdered) -- does fine, but is upstaged by Brenda Marshall (playing a newspaper woman), who turns out to be the real flame in our hero's eye. Alan Hale (senior) is the butler. Helen Westley is dandy as the grandmother of Alexis Smith.

But the actor who really shines here is Willie Best, as the Black manservant of Wayne Morris. His role is more prominent here than in many films, and his comedic talent is very obvious. What a shame we never got to see Mr. Best in different types of roles; I have a feeling he would have been marvelous. But, that was not possible back in the 1940s, so he makes the most of his role here.

The cast is just loaded with slightly oddball characters, almost all of whom might just be the murderer, but you know from very early on that it's the man in the iron mask (so to speak). And there are the usual spooky locations (such as the dark basement), peep holes for spying, and secret doors. All rather standard for this genre of film.

It's fun. Enjoy it!

Dandy comedy-thriller. Swift, spine-tingling fun.

[sdiner82 · 8/10 · 27 July 2001]

Among all the Hollywood studios of the '30s and '40s, Warner Bros. excelled at churning out slick, swift, polished 'B' comedy-thrillers (see the 4 Nancy Drew treats for further evidence). "The Smiling Ghost" is a perfect example of this genre. This nifty, nutty 1941 charmer packs more entertainment value into 71 minutes than most of today's films do in 2-hours-plus. The ever-gorgeous Alexis Smith plays a wealthy heiress whose fiances have always met with ghastly fates before the nuptuals. In a plot to unravel the killer's identity, poor Wayne Morris is duped into impersonating her new betrothed. All the standard ingredients are hauled out and refreshened--a gloomy dark mansion, secret passageways, sliding panels, and, as the title promises, the genuinely eerie apparition of a "smiling ghost." Done to a turn by an engaging cast, one wonders why the handsome, appealing and wryly comic Wayne Morris never achieved full-fledged stardom, and why did it take another 30 years for the dazzling Alexis Smith to be duly celebrated (on Broadway in 1971's "Follies")?

Good B movie but...

[preppy-3 · 6/10 · 13 June 2004]

Elinor Fairchild (Alexis Smith) has been engaged three times...only to have each of her suitors die or become crippled. People believe there's a curse on her. Unemployed Alex "Lucky" Downing (Wayne Morris) agrees to be engaged to her for $1,000. When he goes to stay at her house with her strange family it seems he's marked for death too...

It's a B film all the way (just look at the cast) but not a bad one. The script isn't that great--it wavers uncomfortably between comedy and horror. The comedy almost never works but there are some very spooky moments (especially a visit to a crypt). Also there's a very lively score and this was filmed on some beautiful sets (I'm assuming they were from an "A" film being done at the time).

The cast all plays the roles to perfection--especially Morris and Brenda Marshall as a newspaper woman. Smith also is VERY beautiful. But there's one thing that I find very annoying about this picture. That's Willie Best--he plays a black valet named Clarence. He manages, in the course of 70 minutes, to reinforce every negative black stereotype in existence at that time. We're encouraged to laugh at his being a coward, doing bug-eyed expressions ad naseum and CONSTANTLY running away from everything. I realize this attitude was OK in 1941 but it's downright disgusting to watch in this day and age. I really feel sorry for Best--he WAS very good. That treatment really spoiled the film for me (For the record, I'm a white guy). For that I can only give it a 6.

A comedy mystery that tries for a little horror

[SimonJack · 5/10 · 1 October 2022]

"The Smiling Ghost" is one of a batch of comedy mysteries that Warner Brothers made in the late 1930s and early 1940s to try to benefit from a couple of movie trends. One was MGM's very popular Thin Man series of comedy and mystery. The other was the growing popularity of horror and sci-fi fright films, such as Universal had been making. Universal also was combining comedy with horror in some films, such as those made with Abbott and Costello.

But, Wayne Morris, who plays the lead in this film, Lucky Downing, wasn't a top actor, and his character is written as a sort of flummoxed hero. Because it's so obvious after a while, it changes from irritating to acceptable and adds a little humor in the film. The story is an interesting rendition of a familiar plot; but the screenplay has some gaping holes. Fortunately, a good cast of some well-known actors of the time are here to bolster the film. Alan Hale is Norton, the Fairchild's butler. He adds some to the comedy. Alexis Smith is Elinor Fairchild who can't seem to keep her beaus from dying. Helen Westley plays Grandmother Bentley and Willie Best is Clarence, the all-around man for Downing.

The comedy is mostly weak, and the mystery has to hold the audience interest. I guessed who the culprit was quite early on, but it might be a surprise to some. I had to make this a spoiler warning because it's a tip about who the culprit might be. How is it that none of the members of the Fairchild household knew about the hidden passages behind the walls - but someone from outside did? It's those sort of incongruities that separate the top screenwriting from the rest.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Lil Barstow, "Listen, it's more than an accident when a cobra strikes a man on the 18th floor of a Boston hotel."

Clarence, "Well, boss, we're locked in." Lucky Downing, "Try turning the doorknob."

Lucky Downing, "Clarence, you turn around and stop acting like a coward." Clarence, "What makes you think I'm acting?"

Norton - the Butler, "Ain't a thing for you to worry about, pal. I'm loaded to the hilt." Lucky Downing,, "Oh, what's this gonna be - a wedding or a Wild West show?"

A Nice Gem From Warner Bros.

[monsterlover58 · 8/10 · 4 January 2004]

This is one of those films you dont hear alot about...but that said this is one GREAT! little film...Wayne Morris absolutely shines as the comic hero "Lucky Downing" and Willie Best give his usual excellent performance as Luckys Valet Clarence...It,s all about an heiress whos lost a few beau,s to shall we say "misfortune" Lucky answers an ad in the paper by the young ladys Grandmother.. Soon he and Clarence are enveloped in a mystery set in an old spooky mansion..with a cast of family characters who are all kooky or sinister in some fashion....Not a film that takes itself seriously, this is one of those comedy-horror gems that you can really enjoy on a dark night or a rainy day....definitely give this an 8******** on a 10 scale..try it you wont be dissapointed.

This one should put a smile on your face.

[BA_Harrison · 6/10 · 20 September 2022]

Hard-up chemical engineer Lucky Downing (Wayne Morris) is hired to pose as the fiancé of heiress Elinor Bentley Fairchild (Alexis Smith), unaware that Elinor's previous romantic interests have all met with terrible fates, supposedly at the hands of 'the smiling ghost', the spirit of the woman's first betrothed, Johnny Egglestone, who committed suicide when she broke off the engagement.

A routine comedy/'old dark house' mystery, The Smiling Ghost does everything by the book, even starring Willie Best as Clarence, Lucky's secretary, another of the actor's trademark cowardly, knee-knocking, lip-quivering, bug-eyed characters. When Lucky and Clarence arrive at the Bentley mansion, they meet the rest of the family, a bunch of eccentrics who all look more than a bit shifty.

Soon after, the smiling ghost makes an appearance, attempting to add Downing to his list of victims. Realising that he has been used as bait, Lucky decides to leave, but is eventually tempted to stay when Elinor tells him that she really loves him. Putting on a brave face, Lucky sets about trying to solve the mystery of the murderous ghost. Plucky reporter Lil Barstow (Branda Marshall) lends a hand, having fallen for Lucky.

Director Lewis Seiler lays on the clichés thick and fast, but still achieves some effectively creepy scenes along the way, most notably in a cemetery when Lucky and Lil decide to see if Egglestone's body is in his tomb. We get the usual revolving wall panels and secret passageways and thunderstorms and the villain is finally revealed to have used a Scooby Doo-style rubber mask to carry out his wrong-doings-predictable stuff, but fun nonetheless, and at just 71 minutes, it definitely doesn't outstay its welcome.

Smile, though you're face is ugly.....

[mark.waltz · 5/10 · 12 December 2014]

That's the story with the ghastly looking ghost who has this hideous grin which both Conrad Veidt ("The Man Who Laughs") and Lon Chaney ("The Phantom of the Opera") would have excelled in during the silent era. It's all about the murders of the various men engaged to wealthy socialite Alexis Smith and the private investigator (Wayne Morris) who agrees to become engaged to her so they can unmask the hideous nightmare who almost appears to be a dream. Smith's wacky family is an eccentric bunch of do-nothing rich people, sitting around basically waiting for the others to die so their inheritances will increase. There's salty matriarch Helen Westley (who hires Morris for the job in the first place), her cynical daughter (Lee Patrick) and the paunchy Alan Hale among others. Morris's sidekick (Willie Best) is both his secretary/chauffeur and becomes the desired model for an eccentric member of the family who collects heads (simply because he hasn't collected a black one yet), and Brenda Marshall is Morris's acquaintance, a lady photographer dying to unmask the killer herself.

While today, black character performers like Willie Best are looked back on as the example of how African American actors were typecast, if you simply look on them as characters, you will find them extremely likable and enjoy what they had to contribute, no matter how stereotypical they were. Willie Best made me laugh not because he was playing a cowardly or less than smart character. He made me laugh because he was funny. I certainly didn't look at him as an archetype for all blacks. His talent speaks for itself, and I certainly would have liked to have seen what he could do in a less degrading part.

Alexis Smith never really got the chance to explode on screen like she would later on stage, having "moments" rather than the glory she would find in live theater. It's obvious from the start that she's not going to get Morris, and when Marshall lets her have it, she wins a glorious victory. Poor Lee Patrick is totally wasted, and Helen Westley overdoes it as the cute, feisty old lady. This certainly has its share of amusing moments, but ultimately, those come from Mr. Best more so than the white members of the cast.

A light drama touched with comedy and mystery.

[michaelRokeefe · 13 October 2000]

This is a light hearted, get away movie from the early 40s. Black and white "B" fare that lets your mind relax for awhile. A beautiful Heiress(Alexis Smith) has trouble getting married, because her husbands-to-be seem to never make it to the altar. A bumbling rube(Wayne Morris) is hired to be a decoy groom to bring the identity of the villain to light.

Also in the cast are Alan Hale, Brenda Marshall and Willie Best.

Fun formula scare comedy

[mmallory-89926 · 7/10 · 25 April 2020]

There is very little new (even for 1941) in "The Smiling Ghost," but it is an agreeable rehash of comedy/mystery conventions. Wayne Morris is amiable as the down-on-his-luck engineer who accepts a job posing as the fiance of a beautiful young woman (the very young Alexis Smith) whose previous fiances have all been murdered or maimed. The prime suspect is "The Smiling Ghost," presumed to be her first ex returned from the dead. The cast is packed with Warner Bros. reliables, notably Alan Hale, who is rather badly miscast as a society butler, but is all the more amusing for it. The actor who really keeps the film afloat, though, is Willie Best, doing something of a reprise of his role in "The Ghost Breakers" from the previous year. As Morris's valet-slash-right hand man, Best steals every scene he's in, still making you laugh even while you're cringing at the dated frightened black routine. He's the reason to watch the movie, because if anyone can't figure out who the killer really is, they should stop watching B mysteries.

Scooby-Doo mystery

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 14 September 2022]

Lucky Downing (Wayne Morris) is terribly broke and hasn't paid his assistant Clarence (Willie Best) for six months. He's offered an unusual job. Mrs. Bentley wants him to be engaged to her granddaughter Elinor Bentley Fairchild (Alexis Smith) for one month. What he doesn't know is that her three previous boyfriends all suffered some strange incidents. She's known as the "Kiss-of-Death" girl and the mystery killer is called the "Smiling Ghost". Lil Barstow (Brenda Marshall) is the eager reporter writing about the story.

This is a Scooby-Doo mystery with adults. The secret is obvious from the first moment. The reveal is almost boring. It's very much a light weight mystery with all the screwball comedy. With Willie Best as Scooby-Doo, it's very very light weight.

"Boss, if you hear something whizzing by you, it'll be me"

[bensonmum2 · 7/10 · 29 April 2020]

Lucky Downing is offered a job paying $1,000 if he can act as a young woman's fiancé for one month. The problem for Lucky is that the young woman, Elinor Bentley Fairchild, is also known as the Kiss-of-Death Girl. It seems she had three previous potential husbands and each met with tragedy before they could be married. Is Lucky to suffer the same fate or can he break the curse?

Bottom line - The Smiling Ghost sure is a lot of fun. Here's a laundry list of what I liked:

Most of the Cast: Helen Westley, Brenda Marshall, Alexis Smith, and Alan Hale are all absolutely fantastic. In fact, some of the catty scenes with Marshall and Smith are highlights of the movie for me. The two women play off each other perfectly.

The Old, Dark House; The setting in The Smiling Ghost couldn't be more perfect. I love a big old creepy house, complete with secret passages, a raging thunderstorm, and filled with shifty characters.

Willie Best: I really hate that Best had to play to the stereotypes of the era, because he shows what a comedic genius he was. His comic timing is as good as you'll find.

Special Effects: I would normally never mention this in a comedy/mystery, but the titular Smiling Ghost make-up is especially creepy. And the decision by director Lewis Seiler to play the Smiling Ghost as a sinister entity and not part of the comedic hi-jinks was brilliant. The fact that the ghost is a credible threat adds to the overall atmosphere.

As for things I didn't care for, well, there are really only two that stand out. One, Wayne Morris in the lead role didn't really work for me. In reading other comments, I know a lot of people enjoyed his performance. For me, he was too wishy-washy to be effective. Two, a lot of the plot is horribly predictable. The mystery isn't really all that mysterious. I think I knew the killer's identity the moment they appeared on screen. And the plot twists involving the relationships were as obvious as the nose on your face. Still, The Smiling Ghost wasn't meant to be a thoughtful piece of film. It's meant to be entertaining and, at that, it's successful.

7/10

Fun film

[gary_sites · 6/10 · 14 November 2020]

Watch it just for the performance of Willie Best. He makes the film.

Great fun in the traditional "B" fashion

[reve-2 · 9/10 · 6 May 2000]

If you are looking for a pleasant diversion that will make you laugh and be royally entertained with an old fashioned "B" mystery, this film is for you. Alexis Smith plays a gal who has been engaged to three different men, all of whom have met their demise before the wedding. The family hires Wayne Morris as a decoy fiancee in an attempt to get the murderer out in the open. The only problem is that Morris does not know that he's being used as bait. However, when he does find out his true status he decides to help trap the killer anyway. This movie is great fun with such devices as a secret panel, some funny acting relatives, and Willie Best playing his usual knee knocking, scared character. Yes, some will be offended by his characterization but, deal with it. That's the way things were done in those days. We would certainly and rightfully object if such antics were filmed today but, remember, this movie is from the early 1940s. The real identity of the killer is pretty obvious but, so what? It's a fun movie and well worth a little more than 70 minutes of your' time.

Old fashioned fun, great one liners, a little spooky and a surprise ending to a "who-done it" classic

[djforrestil · 7/10 · 14 July 2023]

I first watched this movie last year before Halloween and it really is a fun, a little spooky, and at times hilarious movie with all the one liners. The plot is actually pretty good, and all the actors do a wonderful job. Willie Best definitely helps make the movie as he plays his typical scared role of ghosts in similar movies. Willie's talents are under-rated as well as the movie being under-rated. Viewers compare this to the 1940 comedy Ghost Breakers with Bob Hope, and mention that movie is better. I strongly disagree. With all the hype after reading the reviews I finally watched Ghost Breakers last night and was disappointed. Ghost Breakers takes almost an hour to become interesting compared to The Smiling Ghost starts out immediately being funny and even spookier and not knowing who the ghost/killer is. Wayne Morris, Alexis Smith and Lee Patrick all do a fine job as well. Charles Halton adds to the fun as the Great Uncle who plays a mad scientist who collects shrunken heads and is persistent to add Willie Best's character Clarence to his collection. A real fun movie to watch!

Can't fall asleep? Watch this movie!

[small45-670-264771 · 3/10 · 9 June 2012]

This ridiculous movie can't make up it's mind what it's about. An out of work nice guy takes a job posing as the fiancé of a woman whose fiances keep dieing before the wedding. I think the cause of the deaths was they read the script.

Willie Best does his usual great job playing the scared, funny Negro character, but I suggest you see him High Sierra.

I like good crap, but this flick is just plain crap.

Find my description vague & boring? Then you got what this movie is like & just saved 90 minutes of your life. Don't believe me. Fine! Waste the 90 minutes & see for yourself. Make sure your wearing your pajamas.

a fine scary movie with elements of suspense and humour

[rlutton · 8/10 · 16 January 2003]

I remember with fond 'scariness' this definitive film of the early 40s. It had the unseen murderer, the witless hero, the beguiling heroine and the bulging eyes of the hero's assistant.

It still remains a film that may be viewed with pleasure. It has all the elements of the 'scary' - darkened night - sliding panels - a gauche hero - humour and wit. It may lack the suspense of the Spiral Staircase, but it still remains a film worthy to be seen.

Dead on arrival

[michaelprescott-00547 · 4/10 · 1 October 2022]

The Smiling Ghost is one of those haunted house pictures where the ghost turns out to be an insane killer making use of secret passageways that only he knows about. Nothing wrong with that, but there's a lot wrong with this stale low-budget concoction.

I would have said B-movie, but I don't think Ghost is a true B. It's ten to fifteen minutes longer than the typical B and boasts slightly better production values (check out that cemetery). On the other hand, it's clearly not a top-of-the-line production. I'd call it a "little A," a designation studios reserved for cheaply made features that could get top billing thanks to easily exploitable titles and subject matter.

As a little A, it features a decent cast, including up-and-coming actress Alexis Smith, veteran character actor Alan Hale, and leading man Wayne Morris, who may have been the best available choice given that so many bigger stars had already enlisted. (Morris himself would be drafted shortly after completing this movie.)

Unfortunately it also features Willie Best, known in earlier years as "Sleep 'n Eat," by virtue of a studio marketing ploy that claimed he worked only for room and board. This was, of course, untrue; Best was well compensated for taking roles that most other black actors declined. He was widely despised in the black community for perpetuating the stereotype of a goggle-eyed, knee-knocking simpleton. Even at this relatively late date, he's still doing his shtick, as he also would in High Sierra, providing the low point of that otherwise first-rate melodrama.

Best isn't all that's wrong with this movie, though he is what's most egregiously wrong. There's plenty of just plain bad writing. Example: Morris, our hero, approaches a lady he's mistaken for his faux fiancée and tells her the deal is off because "you're the homeliest woman I've ever seen." Wow, way to establish sympathy for the leading man.

The killer's identity is obvious from the get-go. The Ghost's all-too-corporeal nature is revealed too soon. At the cemetery the Ghost has an ideal opportunity to dispatch Morris, but inexplicably leaves him alive. A subplot involving an eccentric oldster with a passion for shrunken heads is resolved in a way that doesn't make sense.

Still, none of that would be fatal to Ghost if not for Best's painfully unwatchable antics. With Willie Best in such a prominent role, this movie never had a smiling ghost of a chance.

An EXCELLENT "Old House" film!

[Norm-30 · 8/10 · 27 March 2000]

A man is hired (for $1000) to be engaged to a beautiful heiress for a month. Unbeknowst to him, she is known as the "Kiss of Death" girl, and every one of her 3 previous suitors has been murdered by "the Smiling Ghost".

An excellent, eerie "old house" film with secret panels, a midnite opening of a family crypt, the great "scared reaction' antics of Willie Best, and (of COURSE!) the creepy-looking "smiling ghost" all make this a top-notch yarn.

DEFINITELY worth seeing!

Norm