Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

The Ghost Breakers Blu-ray Movie Review

A classic gem with a first-rate Bob Hope performance

The Ghost Breakers is a must-see classic featuring a superb performance by the always-charming Bob Hope. Produced by Arthur Hornblow Jr. (Witness for the Prosecution, Oklahoma!), the film has many spooky elements to please fans of classic horror movies. Based on the play by Paul Dickey (Scared Stiff, The Man from the Sea) and Charles W. Goddard (The Perils of Pauline, The Hope Diamond Mystery), there is much to commend about the under-rated gem that is The Ghost Breakers. An essential watch.

Larry Lawrence (Bob Hope) is a successful news broadcaster who delivers the latest tidbits on crime across the airwaves. Unfortunately, the broadcaster is thrust into an unexpected scenario (one he never expected in a million years): one in which he fears he is being chased by evil henchmen (as a suspected murderer, no less!) when a mix-up happens on a trip. Can Larry survive to see another day of sunlight?

While struggling to overcome the villains, Larry meets the beautiful Mary Carter (Paulette Goddard) and finds himself tagging along for a trip to Cuba. Joined by his friend and valet, Alex (Willie Best), the trio soon find themselves on a mysterious island and at a haunted castle which could be home to zombies, ghosts, and other otherworldly spirits. Viewers are in for a spooky good time as haunts are plentiful and laughs are aplenty! Boo!

At the forefront of the success behind The Ghost Breakers is the top-notch performance by Bob Hope. A comedy legend, Hope provides the filmmakers with plenty of zany physical comedy and pitch-perfect line deliveries to keep the experience thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end. A massively talented performer, Hope provides the perfect performance to match the storytelling. Exceptional.

The production has many compelling elements at play as well. The art direction by Hans Dreier (The Lost Weekend, Double Indemnity) and Robert Usher (The Lady Has Plans, Hold Back the Dawn) is especially effective. The film is almost like a visit to a haunted house event: there are so many fun moments with the production-design enhancing the experience.

"Can bullets kill ghosts?"

The spooky elements are downright fantastic: everything seemed well laid out and designed to make The Ghost Breakers as entertaining as possible. Some of this is due to the impressive special effects work crafted by Farciot Edouart (Vertigo, To Catch a Thief). A prominent special effects wizard in early-era Hollywood, Edouart helped bring to life the scary elements of the film with apparent ease.

The music score by Ernst Toch (Dr. Cyclops, On Such a Night) is a strong accompaniment to the film as well. During the scary moments, the undercurrent of the music fits the tone of the filmmaking like a glove. The dramatic moments are also given a sense of real heft that makes the experience all the more compelling. Toch delivered the goods: The Ghost Breakers has a great old-school score that works well within the genre.

No horror-comedy would be as effective without some stirring visuals. The cinematography by Charles Lang (Sabrina, Charade) is one of the greatest strengths of the production. Not only does Lang help to light each scene with the right ambiance, the black and white cinematography captures the essence of the spooky story components exactly as each scene requires. Rather than make the film look like a mere comedy, Lang expertly conveys the supernatural components. A first-rate cinematographic effort.

The costumes by Edith Head (Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, The Man Who Would Be King) are also worth commending. Hope and the supporting cast seem to fit their respective roles perfectly. The costumes aid the overall aesthetic and help to bring the storytelling to life.

Perhaps the greatest component of The Ghost Breakers is the screenplay by Walter DeLeon (The Cat and the Canary, The Big Broadcast of 1938). The story is exciting and comedic from start to finish. There was never a sense of the story dragging or losing its momentum. The entire experience is a cinematic blast of comedy and suspense. The comedy is first-rate and it all starts with the script.

Directed by George Marshall (Pick Up Your Troubles, How the West Was Won), The Ghost Breakers is a must-see classic. The film hits a home run and viewers will enjoy experiencing the zany comedy that is on display with this entertaining gem. Working alongside editor Ellsworth Hoagland (Souls at Sea, The Great Lover), Marshall was a perfect fit for the material. The Ghost Breakers is a total blast and one that any fan of Bob Hop should consider seeing. The Ghost Breakers a laugh- out-loud gem with fun scary-movie elements at play too. Don't miss it.

The Ghost Breakers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The Ghost Breakers is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. This is a rather impressive looking scan of the film. The encode retains the natural film grain which is found on the source footage. The print only has some minor specks on the print and these moments are relatively fleeting. The scan has little in the way of actual print damage and looks downright stunning at times. A truly fantastic looking disc. The brand new 2K master adds a great deal of intricacy to the presentation and allows for the vision of its filmmakers to shine.

The Ghost Breakers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in DTS HD Master Audio mono. The lossless audio track is quite good given the age of the source elements. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The soundstage does sound a little thin at times but it never sounds overly harsh. The track effectively presents the film. Egregious crackle, hiss, warps, and clicks are not present during the audio-track.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

The Ghost Breakers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by author/film historian Lee Gambin

Trailers from Hell with Larry Karaszewski (HD, 2:52) in which the host discusses The Ghost Breakers as he delves in to details about the feature-film.

The Ghost Breakers Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:15)

The Blu-ray release includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: The Cat and the Canary (SD, 3:40), The Paleface (SD, 1:50), The Young in Heart (HD, 3:26), and Murder, He Says (HD, 2:05).

The Ghost Breakers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Ghost Breakers is a massively entertaining experience. The film has a top-notch screenplay and the direction is solid throughout. Bob Hope carries the film and makes it all the more entertaining as well. The production merits are exquisite. This is a true classic of old-school horror- comedy filmmaking. Everything about it hit home. The Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber features a strong video-audio presentation as well. Highly recommended.