Old Mother Riley's Ghosts is a 1941 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and John Stuart.[1][2] It was the 8th in the long-running Old Mother Riley series.[3] Old Mother Riley inherits a castle in Scotland, but it appears to be haunted.
| Old Mother Riley's Ghosts | |
|---|---|
![](http://wiki.nitrosworld.org/wiki/File:"Old_Mother_Riley's_Ghosts"_(1941).jpg) | |
| Directed by | John Baxter |
| Written by | |
| Produced by | John Baxter |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | James Wilson |
| Edited by | Jack Harris |
| Music by | Kennedy Russell |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Anglo-American Film Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 82 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot summary
editOld Mother Riley inherits a Scottish property, believing it, at first, to be a pub, and makes the journey up north with her daughter, Kitty. They are surprised to find themselves in possession of a haunted castle, though it turns out the ghouls and ghosties are not what they seem. They are in fact an ingenious front for an espionage ring anxious to get their hands on an inventor's plans, and trying to scare intruders away. After vigorous attempts to scare Mother Riley out of her wits, the Irish washerwoman ends up turning the tables on the spies, and terrifying them in return.[2]
Cast
edit- Arthur Lucan as Mrs. Riley
- Kitty McShane as Kitty Riley
- John Stuart as John Cartwright
- A. Bromley Davenport as Warrender
- Dennis Wyndham as Jem
- John Laurie as McAdam
- Peter Gawthorne as Mr. Cartwright
Production
editCritical reception
editKinematograph Weekly called it "a broad, hearty comedy."[6]
Picturegoer wrote: "The humour is crude but hearty and Lucan displays considerable virtuosity as Mother Riley."[7]
TV Guide wrote, "Sure to garner a couple of hearty laughs ... Some fun 'scares' (a knight whose head flies off) help pass the time."[8]
References
edit- ↑ "Old Mother Riley's Ghosts". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 "BFI | Film & TV Database | Old Mother Riley's Ghosts (1941)". BFI. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- ↑ Vagg, Stephen (14 September 2025). "Forgotten British Film Moguls: Lady Yule". Filmink. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ↑ "British National finish at two studios". Kinematograph Weekly. 6 February 1941. p. 27.
- ↑ "British National has four in work". Kinematograph Weekly. 23 January 1941. p. 21.
- ↑ "Old Mother Riley's Ghosts". Kinematograph Weekly. 27 March 1941. p. 13.
- ↑ "Old Mother Riley's Ghosts". Picturegoer. 10 (524): 14. 7 June 1941. ProQuest 1771162803.
- ↑ "Old Mother Riley's Ghosts Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2014.