Very disappointing...

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

In the 1700s a pair of rum military officers plan to kidnap the Duke of Marlborough. The officers die testing a trap-door on the afternoon they are supposed to be serving tea to Queen Anne. As punishment for missing their date, they must haunt the house until royalty visits again.Although they try to attract royalty they seem to be doomed to failure, and the house is leased to many different colorful-characters including French courtesans, circus performers and an Indian emperor.A light-hearted film full of dry-humour quips and farce. The humour would have appealed to audiences looking for escapism and whimsy; however like all films of this time it contains subtle war-propaganda to inspire the masses.

Vernon Sewell made many fine little films as director, including GHOST SHIP and CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR, but unfortunately THE GHOSTS OF BERKELEY SQUARE isn't one of them. It's a potboiler that must have been dated even when it came out in post-war Britain, most resembling the 'old dark house' comedies of the 1930s. Sadly the script is very thin and the humour can best be described as genteel, especially for modern viewers.The loose plotting sees a couple of ghosts, played by Robert Morley (THEATRE OF BLOOD) and Felix Aylmer (THE MUMMY), haunting a mansion and coming into contact with the various tenants who inhabit the property. There's a PT Barnum-alike who populates the place with various foreigners (leading to some excruciatingly awful, borderline racist moments), along with ghost researchers and some cracked old biddies. The narrative is episodic in tone with a rather dark ending that brings things right up to date.Sadly, the humour just isn't funny any more, and seemingly consists of the ghosts materialising at will or else using their supernatural skills to cheat at cards, etc. The special effects are okay for their age and the cast do their best, particularly the vibrant Robert Morley, but this is completely forgettable film even for genre fans.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Ghosts of Berkeley Square. It is perhaps too short, but there is a huge amount to like about it. The film has a very witty script that kept me amused all the time, brisk pacing and a fun story. The cinematography is quite remarkable, and the costumes and sets are imaginative. The music by Hans May is also sprightly, Vernon Sewell's direction is assured and all the characters are very likable. The cast are equally terrific, Robert Morley especially seems to be having a ball and it shows, it was a pleasure to watch him. It is just a shame that The Ghosts of Berkeley Square is so underseen, it isn't a favourite by all means but I thought it was very entertaining and a fun way to spend an hour-and-a-half of a day at home. 8/10 Bethany Cox

The cream of British comic acting talent could not disguise the somewhat thin script, that was clearly intended as a wartime morale booster, but somehow appeared past its sell-by date, in 1947. Its true length should have been half an hour but they didn't have TV then. Nevertheless it has some fascination as a period piece, and we are kept in dull suspense wondering why they are waiting for the visit of a monarch, an interesting twist, which gives it its patriotic wartime message. The best cameo is undoubtedly Yvonne Arnaud as the scatty Bordello keeper (who - for the benefit of those below a certain age or not French or British - continued to have great success on BBC comedy radio throughout the 1950s till her death aged 66.) Robert Morley too, as usual, never fails to entertain.