DOS FANTASMAS Y UNA MUCHACHA (1959)
aka TWO GHOSTS AND A GIRL
Article 2007 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 9-12-2006
Posting Date: 2-9-2007
Directed by Rogelio A. Gonzalez
Featuring German Valdes, Manuel ‘Loco’ Valdes, Ana Luisa Peluffo

At the turn of the century, two gentleman have a duel in a theater over a musical performer and end up killing each other. Their ghosts remain to haunt the theater. Years later, they encounter a beautiful woman who appears to be a descendant of the performer, and have to save her from bank robbers.

When the main title of my review is left in the native language of its country of origin, that is usually a sign that I’ve had to watch the movie in its undubbed and unsubtitled state. This, being largely slapstick comedy, suffers very little from this handicap; you can tell from the facial expressions and body language what is going on most of the time. It’s all pretty silly, and at times the manic visual humor rises to HELLZAPOPPIN’ levels, especially a bizarre musical number which features a nonstop barrage of ethnic stereotypes to a very familiar novelty tune. The split-screen special effects are a bit primitive, but I have to admit that the cast is game, and everyone involved seems to be having a good time. Horror fans should also keep their eyes open for a short sequence in which a woman is attacked by the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Wolf Man, the Mummy and the Frankenstein Monster (and maybe Dracula – I started to lose track) all at once, but it turns out they’re just actors in a movie. It’s all rather charming in its way, and if you’ve never tried watching a foreign movie without subtitles or dubbing, this would be a good one to start with.