An isolated ghostly mansion in Louisiana, a ten year's old will, a gaggle of interested relatives, a library, an escaped madman, a black cat and river alligators provide some of the elements for this artful blending of comedy and mystery. It has an early starring role for Bob Hope and he demonstrates his great flair for comic acting with a perfect delivery of the many jokes. He is most likeable, being plausibly cowardly but also heroic. The other members of the cast are ideal, particularly Gale Sondergaard as the ambiguous housekeeper Miss Lu and George Zucco as the efficient lawyer Crosby. The shooting of the perfect sets is full of creepy ambience utilising shadows and mist very well. The scene where the dead body falls out of the secret panel still unnerves me since first seeing the film as a child. If you want to see laughs and thrills seamlessly combined this is the movie for you.
There is a lovely black cat in the film which sadly doesn't get a credit for its fine acting.
There is a lovely black cat in the film which sadly doesn't get a credit for its fine acting.