Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersIndependent Spirit AwardsWomen's History MonthSXSWSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Ghost Comes Home

  • 19401940
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 19m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
276
YOUR RATING
Billie Burke, Frank Morgan, and John Shelton in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)
ComedyDramaRomance
A missing man returns and learns his wife collected on his life insurance.A missing man returns and learns his wife collected on his life insurance.A missing man returns and learns his wife collected on his life insurance.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
276
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Wilhelm Thiele
  • Writers
    • Richard Maibaum(screen play)
    • Harry Ruskin(screen play)
    • Georg Kaiser(based on a play by)
  • Stars
    • Frank Morgan
    • Billie Burke
    • Ann Rutherford
  • Director
    • Wilhelm Thiele
  • Writers
    • Richard Maibaum(screen play)
    • Harry Ruskin(screen play)
    • Georg Kaiser(based on a play by)
  • Stars
    • Frank Morgan
    • Billie Burke
    • Ann Rutherford
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos11

    Ann Rutherford in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)
    Ann Rutherford in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)
    Ann Rutherford in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)
    Ann Rutherford in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)
    Ann Rutherford in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)
    Ann Rutherford in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)
    Ann Rutherford in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)
    Ann Rutherford in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)
    Frank Morgan, Ann Rutherford, and John Shelton in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)
    Frank Albertson, Frank Morgan, and John Shelton in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Frank Morgan
    Frank Morgan
    • Vern Adams
    Billie Burke
    Billie Burke
    • Cora Adams
    Ann Rutherford
    Ann Rutherford
    • Billie Adams
    John Shelton
    John Shelton
    • Lanny Shea
    Reginald Owen
    Reginald Owen
    • Hemingway
    Donald Meek
    Donald Meek
    • Mortimer Hopkins, Sr.
    Nat Pendleton
    Nat Pendleton
    • Roscoe
    Frank Albertson
    Frank Albertson
    • Ernest
    Harold Huber
    Harold Huber
    • Tony
    Hobart Cavanaugh
    Hobart Cavanaugh
    • Ambrose Bundy
    Ann Morriss
    Ann Morriss
    • Myra
    Don Castle
    Don Castle
    • 'Spig'
    Tom Rutherford
    Tom Rutherford
    • Mortimer Hopkins, Jr.
    Renie Riano
    Renie Riano
    • Sarah Osborn
    Richard Carle
    Richard Carle
    • John Reed Thomas
    King Baggot
    King Baggot
    • Townsman at Banquet
    • (uncredited)
    William A. Boardway
    William A. Boardway
    • Townsman at Banquet
    • (uncredited)
    Buck
    Buck
    • Dog in Pet Shop
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Wilhelm Thiele
    • Writers
      • Richard Maibaum(screen play)
      • Harry Ruskin(screen play)
      • Georg Kaiser(based on a play by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Live, Love and Learn
    5.9
    Live, Love and Learn
    The Wild Man of Borneo
    6.1
    The Wild Man of Borneo
    Topper Returns
    6.8
    Topper Returns
    Cluny Brown
    7.4
    Cluny Brown
    Mr. Moto's Gamble
    6.6
    Mr. Moto's Gamble
    Dinner at Eight
    7.5
    Dinner at Eight
    And Baby Makes Three
    5.7
    And Baby Makes Three
    Baby Face Harrington
    5.8
    Baby Face Harrington
    Dancing in the Dark
    5.4
    Dancing in the Dark
    Cairo
    6.1
    Cairo
    Phantom Raiders
    6.1
    Phantom Raiders
    It's a Wonderful World
    6.9
    It's a Wonderful World

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A great amount of footage of Pookey the Parrot had to be removed because he imitated the "Cut!" command of director Wilhelm Thiele and often screamed it in the middle of a scene.
    • Goofs
      The entire premise is wrong. He would have to be missing for 7 years to be proclaimed dead. No insurance company would pay without an investigation and after the death certificate is issued.
    • Connections
      Remake of Hurra! Ich lebe! (1928)
    • Soundtracks
      For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Played by a band seeing Vern off

      Reprised by a band welcoming Vern home

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    pretty good. some BIG big names.
    This one has a cast of comedy masters -- Frank Morgan (The Wizard!) Billie Burke (Glinda, the Good Witch.... and SOoooo many roles in BIG big films. and of course, the real life wife of Florenz Ziegfeld, of the showgirls fame.) Co-stars Reginald Owen, Nat Pendleton, and the under-stated, mild mannered Donald Meek. Vern (Morgan) must go to australia to help an old friend, but he seems to be having trouble getting there. He misses the boat, then the wacky-ness really begins. a whole lot of silliness about half way through, but its all fun if you go along with it. It has everything a caper needs: insurance companies, dressing in drag, kidnapping, and swindling all around. A little slow and un-even in parts, but it picks up steam and gets back on track. Ends on a high note, and it turns out to be much ado about nothing! Fun. Directed by Wilhelm Thiele, who had various levels of success in germany and the US. Good stuff. Can't miss, with Frank Morgan, Billie Burke, and Donald Meek!
    helpful•2
    0
    • ksf-2
    • May 3, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 8, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hooray, I'm Alive
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 19 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Billie Burke, Frank Morgan, and John Shelton in The Ghost Comes Home (1940)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Ghost Comes Home (1940) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.