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The Ghost Breakers main poster

The Ghost Breakers

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6.5/10 • 78

1940-06-211h 25m

ComedyHorror

When the Ghost WALKS... They RUN!

After intrepid working girl Mary Carter becomes the new owner of a reputedly haunted mansion located off the Cuban coast, a stranger phones warning her to stay away from the castle. Undaunted, Mary sets sail for Cuba with a stowaway in her trunk—wise-cracking Larry Lawrence, a radio announcer who helps Mary get to the bottom of the voodoo magic, zombies and ghosts that supposedly curse the spooky estate.

Directors
George Marshall
Editors
Ellsworth Hoagland

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Bob Hope

    Bob Hope

    Larry Lawrence

  2. Paulette Goddard

    Paulette Goddard

    Mary Carter

  3. Richard Carlson

    Richard Carlson

    Geoff Montgomery

  4. Paul Lukas

    Paul Lukas

    Parada

  5. Anthony Quinn

    Anthony Quinn

    Ramon Mederes / Francisco Mederes

  6. Willie Best

    Willie Best

    Alex

  7. Pedro de Cordoba

    Pedro de Cordoba

    Havez (as Pedro De Cordoba)

  8. Virginia Brissac

    Virginia Brissac

    Mother Zombie

  9. Noble Johnson

    Noble Johnson

    The Zombie

Reviews1

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Jun 14, 2020

8/10

You still there zomb? The Ghost Breakers is a sort of sequel to Paramount's 1939 hit "The Cat and the Canary", also starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard. Directed by George Marshall (who would direct the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis 1958 remake, "Scared Stiff", as well) it's adapted by Walter DeLeon from the play "The Ghost Breaker" by Paul Dickey and Charles W. Goddard. The premise is simple, after mistakenly thinking he has shot a hoodlum type, Larry Lawrence (Hope) flees into another hotel room, that of Mary Carter (Goddard), who is packing for a trip to Cuba. Befriending her, it's not before long that Larry is on his way to Cuba as well, but Mary is under threat from shifty characters and to make matters worse, their destination castle is rumoured to be haunted and tales of zombies seem to carry some weight. Hope and Goddard really do have a rich chemistry here and the results are excellent to say the least. They would work again for a third time a year later in "Nothing But the Truth". But really it's with the writing that most credit is due here. Hope of course was an excellent deliverer of a line, but first you have to have quality lines to work from, and here with DeLeon's screenplay we get some delightful stuff for Hope to work with. From Basil Rathbone to sly political leg pulling, the gags come quick and fast and compliment the visual fun as Hope, Goddard and Willie Best are all aboard the fun creeper express. Charles Lang is on photography duties and captures the eerie atmosphere of the island perfectly, while a nod of approval should go to Edith Head for her costumes. Ultimately it's fun we want and fun we get, with a cowardly hero and a sexy leggy lady as our protagonists, one can only hope that the zombies don't get in the way too much. As either a stand alone movie or as a double bill with "The Cat And The Canary", "The Ghost Breakers" showcases a fine double act from a fine time in cinema history. Enjoy 7.5/10

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  • The Ghost Breakers poster
  • The Ghost Breakers poster
  • The Ghost Breakers poster
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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
stowawayhaunted househouseinheritancezombiemansionheirghostradio hosthaunted castlesteamshiphaunted mansionmystery