Not at all simply based on the same play, this is almost a scene by scene recreation of the 1940 Bob Hope film. A couple of Martin/Lewis songs, stage gags but otherwise a Scooby Doo tale in Cuba. Hope is funnier and Martin is not cool enough to make up for Jerry Lewis.
sharePersonally, I enjoy both versions. The musical numbers in Scared Stiff are worth it--especially Lewis' spoof of Carmen Miranda!
shareI saw 'Scared Stiff' first, then watched 'The Ghost Breakers' to see just how much they are alike. Yes, it is the same movie - word-for-word in many parts. Even the polka dot scarf AND the finger poking through the mouth on the sticker on the trunk. Paulette Goddard was pretty hot. Kinda funny how Jerry Lewis replaced the black guy. The 40's seemed to have a lot more haunted house/ghost story movies than the 50's.
I don't mind the same movie being made twice. It was interesting watching the two versions. I actually like 'The Ghost Breakers' more. Lewis is a little too much at times (like Jim Carrey). And I had to fast forward every time they started singing. Oh, yeah - Paulette Goddard was pretty hot.