The Ghosts of Berkeley Square is a 1947 British comedy film, directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Robert Morley and Felix Aylmer. The film is an adaptation of the 1944 novel No Nightingales by Caryl Brahms and S. J. Simon, inspired by the enduring reputation of the property at 50 Berkeley Square as "the most haunted house in London". Despite its stellar cast of highly respected character actors and its inventive use of special effects, the film proved less successful at the box-office than had been hoped.
Plot
At the 1000th Annual dinner of the Old Ghosts Association General 'Jumbo' Burlap and Colonel 'Bulldog' Kelsoe present the story of their death and haunting to the general public after the inter-terrestrial hookup of radio and television allows communication between humans and spirits. In the 18th Century, Burlap and Kelsoe are officers in the army of Queen Anne who have recently retired and purchased a house on Berkeley Square. At a house-warming party the pair speculate how to win the war however they learn that the Duke of Marlborough has other plans that will lead to the Battle of Malplaquet. Believing the battle will end in slaughter they hatch a plan to capture Marlborough and hold him prisoner until the threat of hostilities passes. They build a contraption to drop Marlborough through a trapdoor onto a mattress in the cellar, however when they elect to test their device, they are killed as the mattress has been removed. Their deaths prevent a planned visit by Queen Anne.
Burlap and Kelsoe watch their funeral procession and speculate about being ghosts when they are sent a book of rules and regulations as well as documents to sign from beyond. Later, the pair are also subjected to a court-martial who find them guilty for crimes against the Crown, sentencing Burlap and Kelsoe to haunt their Berkeley Square residence until it is visited by a member or reigning royalty. Lady Mary looks at buying the now empty house however as the Queen hates her Burlap and Kelsoe decide to scare her away. Realising that by scaring Lady Mary away the house will now be labelled as haunted and therefore never sell and be visited by royalty, Burlap and Kelsoe blame each other for the fiasco, quarrel, and refuse to speak to each other. 66 years later, after adopting a ghostly cat, Burlap and Kelsoe receive a Christmas present along with a Christmas Tree and decide to forgive each other.
15 years later the house is occupied by Madam Millie, who demands to see Burlap and Kelsoe. The pair materialise before her and she explains that while she is not frightened of them they must not bother her girls. She also claims to know the King and that he is likely to visit. Burlap and Kelsoe discover that Millie has turned their home into a bordello and while Kelsoe is initially shocked, Burlap studies different methods of materialising so he can head downstairs to gamble, drink, and be entertained by Millie's girls. When Kelsoe realises Burlap has gone he also learns how to materialise, joining Burlap and the girls. When Millie discovers Burlap and Kelsoe have broken their promise to leave her girls alone, she charges them for services and damages. Having no money, Burlap decides to use a ghostly Kelsoe to help him cheat at cards and use the winnings to pay off their debts, however when they are accused of cheating a massive fight breaks out. Millie and her girls are arrested, the bordello is trashed and closed, and the King's equerry prevents the royal visit.
