Three Live Ghosts is a messy, charming 1930s comedy worth a look

You should probably watch this if you're into those old movies that feel like you're eavesdropping on a neighbor's living room. It's a 1936 flick that doesn't try too hard to be a masterpiece, and that's why it mostly works. If you can't stand stagey acting or people talking in thick, sometimes fake-sounding accents, you’ll likely want to skip it.

The whole setup is pretty simple. Three guys come back from a German prison camp after the war is over. The twist is that everyone thinks they are dead.

They aren't trying to pull a scam or anything, at least not at first. They just sort of land in London and realize it's easier to be 'ghosts' for a minute. 👻

They end up at the home of Mrs. Guggle, who is played by Beryl Mercer. If you've seen Sally, Irene and Mary, you know her vibe. She’s like the universal movie grandmother of the 1930s.

She’s great here because she’s a little bit greedy but also very sweet. She wants that insurance money, but she also wants to feed the boys. It’s a weird balance that somehow feels real.

One of the soldiers, William, is played by Robert Montgomery. He’s the 'fancy' one of the group. 🎩

He’s got amnesia, which I know is a huge cliché now. But back then, it was still a pretty fresh way to move a story along. He just wanders around looking handsome and confused, which Robert Montgomery is very good at.

There’s this one scene where he’s staring at a photo and you can almost see his brain trying to click into gear. It’s a nice bit of quiet acting in a movie that’s usually pretty loud.

The other two guys, the American and the Cockney, provide most of the comedy. Sometimes the jokes land, and sometimes they just feel like old vaudeville routines. 🎭

The Cockney guy, they call him 'Spoof,' is played by Charles McNaughton. He has this incredibly wide-eyed expression that he holds for way too long in some scenes.

It’s almost funny how much he leans into the character. You can tell he’s having the time of his life, even if he’s overacting just a smidge.

The apartment they all stay in is incredibly crowded. There are knick-knacks and doilies on every single surface. 🧶

I found myself looking at the background more than the actors sometimes. There’s a weird little birdcage in the corner that never has a bird in it.

It makes the movie feel very lived-in. It doesn't feel like a sterile movie set; it feels like a place where someone actually eats breakfast every day.

There is a subplot about a stolen necklace that feels like it was dropped in from a different movie. Maybe something like Fool Proof or a detective serial.

It adds some 'stakes' to the ending, but I honestly didn't care about the jewelry. I just wanted to see if the guys were going to get caught by the cops or not.

Speaking of the cops, the detective in this movie is hilarious. He’s so serious and wears this giant trench coat that looks two sizes too big for him.

He does this thing where he enters a room and just stands there in silence for about five seconds. It’s supposed to be intimidating, but it just looks like he forgot his next line. 😂

The movie gets a bit sentimental toward the end. There’s a lot of talk about 'duty' and 'honor' and all those big words that people used after the Great War.

It’s a bit heavy-handed, but it fits the time. People were still dealing with the fallout of the war when this was made.

I liked the chemistry between the three soldiers. You can tell they actually like each other. They bicker like brothers, which is way more interesting than them just being 'heroes.'

There’s a scene where they’re all sharing a meal and they start arguing about how to divide the food. It’s a tiny moment, but it’s the most human part of the whole film.

It reminded me a little bit of the group dynamics in Exit Smiling, just with less slapstick and more talking.

The lighting is mostly just 'bright' because that’s how they did it then. But there are a few shots in the basement that look surprisingly moody.

One reaction shot of Robert Montgomery lingers just a bit too long, and it becomes almost awkward. You’re waiting for the cut, but it stays on his face until he finally blinks.

The music is pretty standard for 1936. Lots of swelling strings whenever something 'important' happens. 🎻

It’s not as interesting as the music in The Road to Love, but it gets the job done. It mostly just stays in the background until the final scene.

The ending feels very rushed. Like, they realized they only had five minutes of film left and had to wrap everything up.

Everyone gets a happy ending, even the people who probably didn't deserve one. It’s that kind of movie.

Is it a classic? Probably not. But it’s a very pleasant way to spend ninety minutes if you like vintage stuff.

It’s got a lot of heart, and the actors really give it their all. Even when the script is a bit clunky.

Just don't go in expecting a deep war drama. It’s much more of a cozy mystery-comedy thing. ☕

I’m glad I watched it, mostly for Beryl Mercer and her weird little house. It’s a neat little time capsule of a movie.

Final thought: watch out for the scene with the sandwich. It’s the most intense anyone has ever looked at a piece of bread on camera.