Blackbeard's Ghost (1968)

Lightweight Disney comedy gets a big boost from a strong cast. Dean Jones is the new track coach at a local college and after spending the night at Blackbeard's Inn, where he befriends the cantankerous ghost of Edward Teach, AKA Blackbeard, played by the always excellent Peter Ustinov, who then helps Jones and love interest Suzanne Pleshette secure money to save the hotel from being taken away by the bank (and gangsters). The plot isn't really why you'd watch this film. It's the banter between Jones and Pleshette, and the comic mugging by Ustinov, which all goes a very long way. It's also fun to see the original Bride of Frankenstein, Elsa Lanchester, in a supporting role. Far from a Disney classic, it's still solid entertainment. And as an aside, I'm kind of fascinated thinking back to the many Disney live action films of the 60s and 70s that were made for kids, but which feature no children. This is something you don't ever really see anymore in children's movies.

Blackbeard's Ghost stars Dean Jones as GoDolphin College's new track coach. On his first night arriving, he stays at Blackbeard's Inn and discovers said ghost after accidentally conjuring the spell that makes him visible only to him. The rest of the story centers on the relationship between the two and how they help the ancestors of Blackbeard's crew retain ownership of the Inn from the clutches of the local casino-running gangster. Richard Deacon plays the Dean of the college and Suzanne Pleshette plays the psychology professor assigned to keep an eye on their new track coach once they notice he seems to be talking to himself a lot (although it is really to Peter Ustinov as Blackbeard, who is invisible to everybody else). You have to suspend some disbelief in the beginning that this track coach comes in to town knowing very little about the school or the team of track misfits he inherits and that there is no athletic director character or anybody that enters the story that actually hired him, but oh well, I digress... Ustinov does a great job with the character, taking full advantage of the opportunities he gets to show off his comedic skills, and Dean Jones does a sneaky good job too with the role he's given, playing the good man going crazy over dealing with the ghost he didn't sign up for. There are plenty of special effects and sight gags, and some are entertaining to watch, but overall it's just not that funny. Suzanne Pleshette plays the straight woman to perfection, which you can see becomes the precursor to her role on The Bob Newhart Show. Overall a watchable show with some slow patches and some good performances, but I wanted to leave it with a few more belly laughs than what I got. Maybe I needed to be ten years old again to enjoy it more.

This just came on the television as I was working on some sewing ... I sort of half started watching it and before I knew it the sewing had been set aside and my 16 year old daughter was calling from the other room to ask what I was laughing at. I hadn't even realised I was laughing so much and it really is funny - mainly because of Peter Ustinov's wonderful comedic performance as the pirate Blackbeard's Ghost, but also the completely bonkers events that occur - particularly the madcap track and field competition, and the fight with the bad guys at the end in which fingers are used as guns to hilarious effect (you'd have to watch it to understand what I'm on about). Silly, slapstick, knockabout nonsense it may be ... but the script is sharp and funny (particularly Ustinov's wonderful dialogue) and all in all it's a delightfully daft romp that made me smile, chuckle and yes .. laugh out loud.

I watched this movie last Saturday morning with my 11 year old daughter. This was the first time she saw this movie and about the fifth time for me.It is a movie full of humor and great acting. I really enjoy the Disney movies from the 60's and 70'sIf you have not seen this movie you must rent it. It is a movie the whole family can enjoy. No dirty words, no political agenda, just good old fashion fun.If Walt Disney were alive when this movie came out he would have put his stamp of improvement to it. Kariokebob