Earthbound

Light drama and sentiment mixes reasonably well for this thin story involving an American businessman in Europe who is shot to death by a former flame; he ends up attending his own murder trial in ghostly form, only to see the wrong person convicted for the crime. Why another person should accept blame (and life in prison) for a killing they didn't commit is something the picture never takes the time to iron out, and Warner Baxter is initially a dismaying hero with little personality (he improves however, as does the film after a slow start). Charley Grapewin is terrific as a Bible-reading stranger who can converse with Baxter's ghost, and Elizabeth Patterson is also very good as a busy-body. The film itself is extremely slight, with one special effect which becomes rather tedious, though director Irving Pichel keeps the narrative fairly tight and drives the movie to a satisfying wrap-up. ** from ****

Dig those 1940 special effects, Wow! Super-imposed ghost is the star. Lots of funny scenes, especially in courtroom where the murdered man's ghost is trying to help expose the real murderer. Actually this movie is mush for muddled minds, great for late night or lazy afternoon.