Expert: Mel - 1/16/2011

Question
QUESTION: The film is a comedy about a group of townspeople who need to create the ghost of a knight who is allegedly seen at midnight in a  castle) (Might have been attract tourists, sell the castle, or keep some people from buying the castle.) A comedy of errors ensues, with multiple men taking on the role of the ghost. Spoiler: At the end, the real ghost makes a surprise visit, walking through a room and through a wall. It was set in the British Isles (Ireland? Scotland?) and was made before the 1950s. I only saw it once on television decades ago, and loved it.

ANSWER: Hello Pat,

This question puzzled me a bit and I've spent quite some time researching it. The reason being that the film you are describing is a 1988 film called "High Spirits", which starred Peter O'Toole, Steve Guttenberg and Daryl Hannah, and had a great supporting cast featuring Beverly D'Angelo, Jennifer Tilly, Peter Gallagher and Liam Neeson. Have a look here.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Spirits_(film)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095304/combined

Your assertion that it was a film from pre-1950 made me wonder if the same story had been filmed at an earlier date. Anyway, as I said at the start, I've searched everywhere that I can think of for details of a similar film, but haven't found one.

Is it possible that you are mixing two different films up together, "High Spirits" and one from an earlier decade? There were several "ghost/castle" films made in the 1940's; e.g. "The Ghost Goes West", "The Canterville Ghost", "Ghosts On The Loose", "Ghost Catchers". But none of them had the exact storyline that you give.

Hope that's of some help to you. Cheers.......Mel.




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi! First, thanks for the time you spent on this. I remember when I saw High Spirits in the theater the first time, I thought they had ripped off my mystery movie as well. I encountered these titles in my search, but the only ghost in my movie was a knight, and the "real" ghost does not show up until that very last scene at the end. I know the Canterville Ghost well; this is not it. At first, everyone thinks he is another member of the village, as he serenely walks across the room, until he walks through the wall. Yes, it was black and white. If I ever find it, or if I discover my mistake, I will let you know.

Answer
Hello Pat,

Good news! An Internet colleague of mine has found your film for you (I hope). It was made in 1954, starred David Niven, Yvonne DeCarlo and Barry Fitzgerald, and was called "Tonight's The Night" (aka "Happy Ever After"). Have a look here.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonight%27s_the_Night_(film)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047595/combined


Glad to be of help. Cheers.......Mel.