Line #20 Film/TheGhostGoesWest


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_ghost_goes_west.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:"Mm...the ghost might as well go west if [[LoveInterest she]] tags along."]]
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4	''The Ghost Goes West'' (1935) is a British RomanticComedy / HorrorComedy B-movie starring Creator/RobertDonat, Creator/JeanParker, Creator/EugenePallette, and directed by René Clair.
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6	[[TheCasanova Casanova]] Murdoch Glourie is a rich, young Scottish lad during the 18th century who rather make out with the ladies than go to war and defend his honour against the hated [=McLaggen=] clan. But when a gunpowder explosion kills him after cowardly hiding, he’s unable to make it to the afterlife. His ancestors wait for him until he can avenge his honour by making a [=McLaggen=] descendant bow before him and apologize for dishonouring their name.
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8	[[TimePassesMontage Centuries later]], Murdoch Glourie is still haunting Glourie castle while his own descendant, Donald, is selling the old place. A rich American girl, Peggy Martin, takes a fancy to the castle and convinces her parents to buy it, especially since Donald [[LoveAtFirstSight is a very charming fellow]]. The castle is taken down, stone by stone, and shipped off to Florida, except the ghost and his misfortunes goes with it.
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10	Not to be confused with ''The Ghoul Goes West'', a film by Creator/EdWood.
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12	----
13	!!Tropes:
14	* TheAlcoholic: Murdoch's father.
15	* AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence: Donald finds out that [[spoiler: Mr. Bigalow]] is the last descendant of the [=McLaggens=], so he tells Murdoch. Murdoch makes the descendant say this: "In the name of every [=McLaggen=] that ever disgraced the fair name of Scotland, I humbly apologized for the insult to my superiors, the Glouries, and I freely admit that one Glourie can thrash fifty [=McLaggens=]." After this, Murdoch can finally ascend into heaven with the rest of his ancestors.
16	-->"Now touch the floor with your nose."
17	* BarredFromTheAfterlife: Murdoch for about 200 years until he gets a [=McLaggen=] descendant to apologize for making fun of the Glouries.
18	* BigFancyHouse: Glourie Castle.
19	* TheCasanova: Murdoch Glourie loves all the ladies.
20	* CantSpitItOut: Donald and his feelings for Peggy.
21	* ContrivedCoincidence: The ship has a fancy dress party, and Murdoch doesn’t look one bit out of place when he appears.
22	* DramaticThunder: Once Murdoch finds a [=McLaggen=] descendant, cue the thunder and lightning.
23	* DeadPersonConversation: Peggy talks to Murdoch thinking it's Donald making a joke.
24	* FriendlyGhost: Murdoch scares servants away, but he doesn't do anything scary other than being a ghost.
25	* GhostlyGoals: Lazy Murdoch has only taken about 200 years to find a [=McLaggen=] to make it to the afterlife.
26	* HauntedCastle: Step right in. The Glourie castle is ancient, has modern conveniences, and a nice little ghost to go with it.
27	* IdenticalGrandson: Donald looks exactly like Murdoch. Both played by the wonderful Robert Donat.
28	* {{Intangibility}}: In the final scene, this is played for comedic purposes. [[spoiler: When Mr. Bigelow is being chased around the castle by Murdoch, Bigelow doesn't realize that Murdoch has the ability to go through doors, appear out of nowhere, and finally get him to submit.]]
29	* IntangibleTimeTravel: Murdoch ghosts around for 200 years into the future (1935 being the future for him, and the present for the other characters), and isn't fazed by all the modern changes.
30	* JacobMarleyApparel: Murdoch died wearing his Jacobite outfit, and it's the only thing he's got while haunting the castle.
31	* ManInAKilt: It doesn't hurt the eyes at all to see Robert Donat in a kilt.
32	* MistakenIdentity: Peggy thinks Murdoch’s antics are Donald's.
33	* PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy: Mr. Martin wears a kilt even though he's not Scottish. Then, when Donald shows them the tradition of having bagpipers play before dinner, Martin does the same thing when he introduces the castle in Florida. Except with jazz musicians. It comes off as Americanized cultural appropriation of In-universe Scottish traditions.
34	* RunningGag: A little game Murdoch loves to play, "Spell Me a Riddle". The "forfeit" is a kiss, and the answer to the riddle is [[spoiler:never revealed]].
35	-->'''Murdoch''': I ask you a riddle, and if you can't answer it by the time I spell Killiecrankie, you must pay a forfeit... Now this is the riddle: what is the difference betwixt the thistle in the heather, and the kiss in the dark?
36	* TallDarkAndHandsome: Robert Donat to a T.
37	* UnfinishedBusiness: The Glourie clan vs. the [=McLaggen=] clan.

Context Film / TheGhostGoesWest