The Live Ghost

The Live Ghost

Year: 1934

Runtime: 21 mins

Language: English

Director: Charley Rogers

Comedy

Stan and Ollie, who work at a fish market, are coaxed by a sea captain into recruiting a crew at a local tavern, offering a dollar per head. Their scheme initially succeeds, but the two men are soon themselves shanghaied. The forced crew, furious at the betrayal, swears vengeance, setting the stage for a comic clash of loyalties and retribution.

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Timeline & Setting – The Live Ghost (1934)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Live Ghost (1934). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The action unfolds across shipboard life, a nearby tavern, and a distant port. It presents a maritime setting typical of classic nautical comedies. The focus is on episodic scheming and slapstick humor rather than a precise calendar year.

Location

The Captain's Ship, Local Tavern, Distant Port

The action primarily unfolds aboard a sea vessel with a reputation for being haunted. The crew also frequents a local tavern during shore leave, and the voyage reaches a distant port where tensions surface. The setting blends claustrophobic shipboard life with onshore scenes, delivering a brisk, slapstick nautical comedy.

⚓️ Maritime 👻 Haunted 🎭 Comedy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:27

Main Characters – The Live Ghost (1934)

Meet the key characters of The Live Ghost (1934), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Captain slug (Walter Long)

A gruff, authoritative mariner who runs a ship with a haunted reputation. He tries to recruit sailors by bending fear and force, even shanghaiing unwitting men. He maintains strict discipline and uses threats — such as the infamous neck-twist line — to keep control. He embodies the film's blend of menace and comic bravado.

🧭 Captain 🗝️ Authority 🎭 Villain

Stan slug (Stan Laurel)

One of the two leads who initially refuses to join the sea life, citing a dislike of the ocean. He is quick-witted and resourceful, often dragged into the captain's schemes. His friendship with Ollie provides the film's core comedic engine.

😂 Comedian 🧭 Reluctant Sailor

Ollie slug (Oliver Hardy)

The other reluctant recruit, Ollie brings bumbling optimism and a knack for getting into and out of trouble. He partners with Stan to navigate the captain's plot, contributing to the film's signature slapstick rhythm.

😂 Comedian 🧭 Reluctant Sailor

Drunken sailor slug (Arthur Housman)

An inebriated crew member who is abducted by the captain as part of the recruitment plan. His drunken antics create opportunities for humor and accidental missteps that propel the plot.

🍺 Drunk 👻 Ghostly

Sailor at Table slug (Leo Willis)

A crew member seen among tavern and shipboard scenes, contributing to the ensemble's reactions and the comic energy of the group.

🧑‍✈️ Sailor 👥 Ensemble

Maisie the Vamp, Blonde Floozy slug (Mae Busch)

A glamorous vamp whose presence adds intrigue to the ship's social dynamics. She interacts with the crew in ways that influence the events surrounding the drunken mate and the captain.

💃 Vamp 🪞 Glamour

Sailor at Table slug (Charles Hall)

Another crew member seen in tavern and table scenes, contributing to the film's broad ensemble humor and the ship's bustling social life.

👥 Ensemble 🧭 Sailor

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:27

Major Themes – The Live Ghost (1934)

Explore the central themes of The Live Ghost (1934), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👻 Haunted Myth

The captain weaponizes belief in a ghost to control his crew, turning superstition into a tool of power. The promise of a spectral menace creates fear that keeps sailors in line. The later reveal shows the 'ghost' to be a drunken mate, exposing manipulation and deception as the real driver of order.

⚓️ Power & Control

Authority on the ship is enforced through coercion and fear rather than consent. Stan and Ollie are swept up in the captain's plan, illustrating how leadership can bend honest men to a dangerous scheme. The story explores the ethics of shanghaiing and the line between discipline and abuse.

🎭 Slapstick & Deception

Humor arises from physical gags, mistaken loyalties, and the captain's iron will clashing with two bumbling would-be sailors. The crew's anxiety, coupled with the captain's over-the-top threats, fuels the comic tension. The final twist undercuts fear with a farcical reveal.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:27

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The Live Ghost Summary

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The Live Ghost Summary

The Live Ghost Timeline

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The Live Ghost Timeline

More About The Live Ghost

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The Live Ghost (1934) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Live Ghost (1934) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Live Ghost (1934) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow