THE GHOSTS OF BERKELEY SQUARE (1947)
Article 2027 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 10-2-2006
Posting Date: 3-1-2007
Directed by Vernon Sewell
Featuring Robert Morley, Felix Aylmer, Yvonne Arnaud

Two military men die while testing a trap in their house, and are condemned to haunt the place until reigning royalty comes to visit.

This is a fairly entertaining ghost comedy, with solid performances throughout, especially from our two leads, Robert Morley and Felix Aylmer, who constantly try to manipulate the current residents of the house to bring in royalty, which will release them from their curse. It’s fun to see the various groups who come to inhabit the house; at one point it’s a brothel, at another point it’s a medical hospital, and at one time or another a circus moves in as well as the Nawab of Bagwash (who apparently doesn’t count as royalty). Naturally, the schemes to bring in royalty backfire, often through the ghosts’ own actions. The cast also features Ernest Thesiger as a member of a psychical research society whose investigation of the haunted house could bring the much wanted visit. Director Vernon Sewell was also responsible for several other fantastically-themed movies, including LATIN QUARTER, THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR, CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR, and THE HORRORS OF BURKE AND HARE.