THE GHOSTS OF BERKELEY SQUARE
UK, 1947, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Morley, Felix Aylmer, Yvonne Arnaud, Claude Hulbert, Abraham Sofaer, Ernest Thesiger, Marie Lohr, Martita Hunt, A.E. Matthews, Wilfrid Hyde- White.
Directed by Vernon Sewell.
The Ghosts of Berkeley Square is a small, amusing British comedy of the post-war period. It is a morale-boosting film – in the vein of such war efforts as Forever and a Day which traced the history of a house over centuries, giving an impression of British history and British morale.
Robert Morley plays his usual style as does Felix Aylmer (but with a lighter touch) as two 17th century military men who are against the Duke of Marlborough’s campaigns and fall foul of their own plans to sabotage his efforts. They finish up as ghosts – and can only be released when royalty visits the house. For several centuries there seems to be a possibility of such an event but it always fails.
The film gives the opportunity to recreate the 7th century, a brothel in the 18th century, a circus appearing in the 19th century, an Indian rajah with his harem as well as its being a hospital during World War One.
Many British character actors appear in small roles. The film was directed by Vernon Sewell, a director of minor films – although two of his last films were the horrors, The Curse of the Crimson Altar and The Blood Beast Terror.
1.An English film of the 1940s? World War Two, post-World War Two? Morale?
2.The production values, the re-creation of previous centuries, the home, furnishings, costumes, makeup? The transition over the centuries – the appearance of the house, the appearance of the costumes for the periods? The house finally in ruins after the bombing by the Zeppelin? The musical score?
3.The title, the introduction of Jumbo and Bulldog, addressing the Association of Ghosts? The flashback to their own history?
4.Robert Morley and Felix Aylmer, the comic touches? Robert Morley appearing as the Nawab of Bagwash? Their military careers, attitudes towards Marlborough, the criticism of strategies? The socials, the dances, high society? Lottie and Lady Mary? The other military? The plan against Marlborough, the trap, the mattress – their tryout and their failure? Their funeral and their watching it? Marlborough upstaging the funeral?
5.Jumbo and Bulldog as ghosts, learning of the conditions, for their being released? The hopes for a royal visit? Lady Mary wanting to rent the house – and their playing spooks and frightening her?
6.The passing of the decades, no progress? Their life, in the house, their not talking to each other, the border? The Christmas gift of the clock – and its announcing the times? Their reconciliation?
7.The various people moving into the house? Millie, her French background, bringing in the girls, the guests? The two ghosts participating? Gambling, debts, dancing? The arrest and their all being taken away?
8.The manner of the ghosts, appearing and disappearing? Enjoying themselves? The arrival of the carnival, the people from the various countries, their squatting in the house? Characteristics? The ghosts and their trying to frighten the Indians, failing, frightening the others and their escaping?
9.The performance, the ghost tours, the young men and the fiction, the tour guide? The contract with the two ghosts? Doctor Cruickshank and the Psychical Research Society, his experience of the ghosts, his inability to report the truth because of his losing his job?
10.1900 and the Boer War, the music of Soldiers of the Queen? The wounded? The ghosts’ observations on the campaign?
11.World War One, the house as a hospital, the dying soldier, their getting the penicillin from 1943 and bringing it back, the doctor thinking that he was having hallucinations? The visit of the queen to present the Victoria Cross? The soldier recovering – and going to the palace for his medal?
12.The finale, the destruction of the house, the Zeppelin? The queen’s visit and the happy release?
