Ghosts on the Loose

Ghosts on the Loose is an American comedy film from 1943, directed by William Beaudine and produced by Sam Katzman and Jack Dietz. The film is the fifteenth of the 48 Bowery Boys movies and notably features the famous horror icon Bela Lugosi. Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, and Bobby Jordan lead the pack of the Bowery Boys in this lighthearted, amusing spectacle with an underpinning of horror elements.

The plot revolves around a group of inner-city youths, led by the tough-talking and fast-paced Muggs (Leo Gorcey). The remainder of the rowdy ensemble comprises of Glimpy (Huntz Hall), who provides comic relief with his eccentric and goofy behavior, and the tenacious Danny (Bobby Jordan). Eager to make their mark and prove their mettle, these street-smart lads stumble upon an adventure that's far more than they bargained for.

The story begins when Muggs' sister, Betty (Ava Gardner in one of her earliest roles), gets married to her beau Jack Gibson (Rick Vallin). Muggs and the gang ambitiously decide to help the newlyweds by renovating their new home. Unfortunately, they mistakenly end up at a spooky, decrepit neighboring mansion believing it to be the couple's new home.

However, this grim mansion hides sinister secrets. It's owned by the mysterious Emil (Bela Lugosi), who has set up the house as a front for his precarious machinations, much to the horror of his innocent sibling, played by Minerva Urecal. Muggs and his friends are about to inadvertently interrupt Emil's operations and expose him. The harmless prank by the boys triggers an uncanny rollercoaster of humor, suspense, and edge-of-your-seat anticipation.

The film is significant since it merges a group of rough-and-tumble juveniles, famously known as Dead End Kids or Bowery Boys in the 1930s, with touches of horror, thereby introducing a new angle to their comedic antics. In the script of Ghosts on the Loose, comedy and horror elements are blended seamlessly to create an engaging and thrilling ambiance.

Despite the title, the movie actually doesn't involve genuine "ghosts", but rather relies on its eerie setting – a dilapidated, creepy mansion – and a plot of espionage, to provide the thrills and the "loose ghosts." There are plenty of chuckles to be had and a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor in the script to make this 1943 production an enjoyable watch.

Performances by the main actors, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, and Bobby Jordan, provide much of the film's charm, with their loaded one-liners, their camaraderie, and their obvious enthusiasm for causing a ruckus. Bela Lugosi, best known for his role as Count Dracula, provides a strong, looming presence that increases the tension in the film even while adding to its overall humor.

Ghosts on the Loose is a blend of zany humor mixed with suspenseful moments, which are usually resolved in hilariously unexpected ways. These elements, combined with the distinctive Bowery Boys dynamic and the addition of horror professionals like Lugosi, create a fun-filled romp that still resonates with fans more than half a century after its release. It is a delightful exhibition of madcap misadventures and comic mishaps, offering good clean fun and a slice of nostalgia-inducing cinema.

It is a gem for those who appreciate and celebrate the vintage era of Hollywood, more so for fans of The Bowery Boys. To watch Ghosts on the Loose is to take a trip back to another era of film-making, where comedies were straightforward and light-hearted, and often incorporated elements from other cinematic genres to craft something genuinely delightful. Recommend this movie to anyone searching for some early cinema fun.