Watch The Ghost of St. Michael's For Free

Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Memorable, crazy movie

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Will Hay is back as a hapless teacher, this time he is William Lamb, who is hired to teach on the remote Scottish Isle of Skye. Whilst there, Lamb is informed that the school is haunted by a legendary ghost and that with each sighting, and the sound of the eerie bagpipes, comes death to a member of staff.This was Will Hay's second film for Ealing Studios and the significant leap in production quality from his Gainsborough Pictures works is very noticeable. Once again Marcel Varnel gives his tight and steady directing to a Hay picture, but the once golden team of Hay, Moffatt and Marriott had become no more. Feeling that as a trio they had gone as far as they could, Hay split the scene, leaving Moffatt and Marriott working at Gainsborough with the likes of Arthur Askey.So in this first comedy for Ealing, Hay was effectively breaking in new comedy sidekick in the form of Claude Hulbert {Hulbert would make one other film with Hay, the darkly humorous My Learned Friend}, while Charles Hawtrey was making his third appearance of the four films he made with the erstwhile Hay. Tho the absence of Marriott and Moffatt is sorely felt, The Ghost Of St. Michael's stands up on its own two feet as a comedy of note. The writing from John Dighton and Angus MacPhail is lean and resplendent with comedic moments, whilst Ealing have really managed to capture that creepy comedy setting with John Croydon's production team on tip top form. Full of secret rooms and mysterious goings on, and even offering up a nice who done it finale, it's a film for all the family to enjoy. 8/10

I've just got this Will Hay film on video for the princely sum of 25p from a charity shop. (That's about 50c in US currency to all you American devotees). I'm on my way home to see this glorious film. Things like this are seldom shown on the telly. A great shame. I haven't seen it for years! I'm getting excited already! Then again, I'm easily pleased. Actually, I was quite surprised to see comments about Will Hay films from American fans. Although I shouldn't be surprised at all as most of his films are hilarious, although he did make a couple of duff ones. It's another great shame the Americans have such a stranglehold of British cinema as it stops the youngsters of today being exposed to this type of comic genius. If only I could now get hold of a copy of The Black Sheep Of Whitehall my collection of his best films would be complete, but alas they're like gold dust!

Just a couple of points: the school is moved to Skye in the Hebrides, Scotland, NOT the Channel Islands.Also, I would not say it is a take on The Ghost Train: that would be Oh Mr Porter, surely.But certainly one of the most watchable of Will Hay's films.It is amazing to see people like John Laurie, who went on to play Private Frazer in Dad's Army on TV, and, of course, Charles Hawtrey.Did any of the other schoolboys go on to feature or star in other films?Anybody know?If you do, let us know

I like all of Will Hay's films, but apart from 'Oh, Mr Porter,' this is my favourite. It is jam packed with funny one-liners and comic situations and gives Hay full reign to play his seedy music hall schoolmaster. A wee gem of a film.