Although Leo Gorcey left the series a year earlier, SPOOK CHASERS is still a funny episode. Huntz Hall is Huntz Hall, and goofier than ever, paired with Stanley Clements (who went back to the early days of the EAST SIDE KIDS in the 1940s.) Clements is not Gorcey, but he's ok with a few malaprops, and in a way more of a straight man, much like Abbott was to Costello. At least he's smart enough to let Sach get clobbered by the ghosts.
The old cobwebbed haunted house setting has its moments, similar to the THREE STOOGES, especially with Sach acting like Shemp and fixing the plumbing? An added treat is veteran actor Percy Helton, playing Mike, the exasperated owner of the sweet shop, who buys the broken down house way out in the country. He has some goofy scenes here, as can be expected. However, no one could replace Louie, played so memorably by Gorcey's real life dad.
Look for an old Stooges gag when Duke accidentally drinks a cup of varnish, thinking it's coffee. The bed sliding into the wall bit was lifted from HOLD THAT GHOST, starring Abbott and Costello, who borrowed it from Mack Sennett's silent comedies. Another wild bit -- Sach attempting to paint the cuckoo bird popping in and out of the cuckoo clock. Perfect stuff for Huntz Hall.
Look for Robert Shayne (from SUPERMAN) playing a cop. Who else? Darlene Fields (Dolly) was also a tv regular, appearing in several Warner Brothers/ABC shows at this time. Also some great still shots from this movie still available, the best with Duke driving the old Bowery Boys jalopy and Sach in the back seat with two ghosts!
The ending is cool enough when a REAL ghost finally does appear and walks through a wall. Only debit, the ghost should have come sooner!
See for the memories, especially all us big kids who grew up on this insane series. WARNER BROTHERS remastered dvd box set. Usually 6 to 8 episodes are in each box, and with some beautiful cover artwork.
Thanks much to TCM for running the Bowery Boys Saturday mornings, like the old days.
