Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are the most famous comedy duo in history, and deservedly so, so I am happy to see any of their films. In a bar a boat Captain (Walter Long) wants men for his crew, but none of them are interested in sailing on a haunted tub. He hires Stan and Ollie to help recruit some men, by tricking them to run outside (with the egg breaking in mouth trick) and get clunked on the head by a pan, and the boys end up getting themselves clunked too. The Captain warns all the crew to not mention ghosts to him, or he'll twist those who say its heads right round, and this day the crew go ashore to have a break. The boys stay aboard to keep an eye on the Drunken sailor (Arthur Housman), who manages to sneak off, leaving some suitcases under a bed cover as a decoy. Stan finds a gun in the room, and accidentally shoots the wall, causing the suitcases to move, they think they have killed the guy, so they go to get a body bag to throw "him" overboard. The Drunk walking back to the boat falls into a pit of white paint, and after moving the suitcases and going back under his cover, the boys throw him overboard. He swims out and climbs back on board, and covered in white Stan screams thinking he is a ghost. When Ollie, with Stan following, go to investigate, the Drunk gets onto the top bunk, and when Ollie is sure he is talking to Stan, they both see the white covered guy come out, and they run screaming. The crew return wanting to get even with the boys, but they end up jumping overboard seeing the white Drunk, only the Captain and the Drunk's wife Maisie the Vamp, Blonde Floozy (Mae Busch) recognise. The film ends with the Captain twisting the boys' heads round to their backs when they mention the word "ghost" to him. Also starring Charlie Hall as Sailor at Table and Leo Willis as Sailor at Table. Filled with wonderful slapstick and all classic comedy you could want from a black and white film, it is an enjoyable film. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were number 7 on The Comedians' Comedian, and "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!" was number 60 on 100 Years, 100 Quotes. Good!
Review of The Live Ghost
