Chuck Murray (Bud Abbott) and Ferdinand “Ferdie” Jones (Lou Costello) are gas station attendants who are working as waiters at the prestigious Chez Glamour nightclub to try to improve their lot in life. Unfortunately for them, they get fired and return to just working at the gas station.
At the station, Moose Matson (William B. Davidson) rolls up looking to get ten gallons of gas. While the guys are attending to Moose’s request, the police see him and give chase. The boys end up in the car as Moose takes off. During the chase Moose is fatally wounded. On him is his last will and testament. According to his will, whoever is with him when he is killed will be his heirs. That would be Chuck and Ferdie. According to Moose’s attorney (Russell Hicks) the gangster was known for saying he kept his money in his head. No one knows what that really meant. The only other asset he had was a rundown tavern in the country.
The next day the guys meet the lawyer’s associate, Charlie Smith (Marc Lawrence), who is to take them to the tavern and had arranged for a bus owned by Harry Hoskins (Milton Parsons) to drive them. Also on the bus are Dr. Jackson (Richard Carlson), Camille Brewster (Joan Davis) and Norma Lind (Evelyn Ankers). What the guys don’t know is that both Charlie Smith and Harry Hoskins are members of Moose’s old gang and are looking for his money. When the bus gets to the tavern, Harry abandons everyone and drives off.
Chuck, Ferdie and the rest decide that they have no choice but to stay at the tavern until morning. With no power on, the stranded travelers have to rely on candles. A rainstorm comes up adding to the eeriness of the building. Then Charlie goes missing. Later he is found dead. Two men show up claiming to be detectives. They too disappear. The guests try to settle in, but unusual things begin to happen that make everyone start to believe that the place really is haunted, but the tavern is actually infested with criminals looking for Moose’s money.
“Hold That Ghost” was released in 1941 and was directed by Arthur Lubin. It is an American horror comedy with musical influences and old dark house elements.
There are no ghosts in the movie. The opening and closing nightclub scenes were added in to include the Andrew Sisters who were in previous Abbott and Costello films since preview audiences expected to see them. Added to the roster is bandleader Ted Lewis asking the age-old question “Is Everybody Happy?”
Like most Abbott and Costello films, it contains quite a few comedy sketches and slapstick by both Bud and Lou as well as a few between Lou and Joan Davis. One of the highlights of the film is the comedic dance routine between Lou Costello and Joan Davis. The sketch with the moving candle was similarly done later in “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” 1948. The music makes the film rather dated but sometimes a little nostalgia is fun. It’s still nice to see Ted Lewis and the Andrew Sisters together.