Expert: Barbara L. Baker - 12/31/2011

Question
Hello,

I remember a movie as a child that was old even then maybe made in the 40's? It started out with several Scottish clans in the middle ages heading to war with the English, I believe, when two clansmen from rival clans began dueling themselves before they get to the intended battle. One is killed and ends up haunting his own castle. It is a lighthearted film and I remember I loved it then. Any ideas which film this might be?

Thank you. I appreciate your availability for these things very much :)

Answer
Johanna, I'm pretty sure the film you recall is the 1944 version of "The Canterville Ghost" starring Charles Laughton as the ghost. I do have two hestitations, however. First is that the reason for the haunting isn't exactly as you describe, although a duel is involved and the gost does haunt a castle. Next, the castle, while in Britain, may not be in Scotland (it has been awhile since I saw this film, and the many TV movie remakes are a bit different, sticking more closely to the original Oscar Wilde story). Basically, the plot revolves around cowardly Sir Simon of Canterville who lees a duel in the 1600s only to have his father seal him up in the room where he is hiding. This dooms him to become a ghost until one of his descendants performs a brave deed, which just might be an American relation who is stationed with a troop of soldiers at the castle in 1943 on the eve of D-Day.

If this is not the title you are looking for then the film might be instead the 1941 film "Ghost of St. Michael," about a ghost that haunts a castle in Scotland that is turned to a school because of WWII.  The backstory of the ghost is not clear from the description I read of the film on the Internet Movie Data base (mdb.com). The plot description from there notes that the castle is haunted by "a legendary ghost, whose spectral bagpipes signal the death of one of the staff."  The other comments seem to suggest the comedy is more from the school (and the incompetent teacher played by comic actor Will Hays) than from the ghost himself.

I hope one of these is the title you are looking for. If not, I'm sorry I could not be of more help.