HOLD THAT GHOST (1941)
Article #943 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 10-14-2003
Posting Date: 3-12-2004
Directed by Arthur Lubin
Featuring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Richard Carlson

Two gas station attendants are present at the death of a gangster, and become heirs to his property, where it is believed a fortune is hidden.

There really is nothing new or novel about an old dark house comedy; almost every comedian of the time made at least one of these, and Abbott and Costello would revisit horror extensively in the latter part of their movie career. Thay were, however, at the peak of their form and their popularity at the time this one was made, and it has a greater deal of freshness than some of their later forays, the gags being a little more creative and the timing somewhat sharper. There are really no ghosts to speak of, and much of what happens doesn’t make much sense, but it’s lively and quite entertaining. The gag I remember most as a kid (involving bedrooms turning into casinos) is here in fine form, and it’s entertaining to see Evelyn Ankers and a young Richard Carlson, as well as smaller roles for Shemp Howard and Mischa Auer.