Live Action Discussions: Blackbeard's Ghost

[ichabod]

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Blackbeard's Ghost (1968)



Originally released - 8 February 1968
Director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829038/">Robert Stevenson</a>

Main Cast
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001811/">Peter Ustinov</a> - Captain Edward Teach a.k.a Blackbeard
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0427894/">Dean Jones</a> - Steve Walker
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0687189/”>Suzanne Pleshette</a> - Prof. Jo Ann Baker
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006471/">Elsa Lanchester</a> - Emily Stowecroft
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212586/">Richard Deacon</a> - Dean Wheaton
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0428191/">Hank Jones</a> - Gudger Larkin
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0936115/">Joby Baker</a> - Silky Seymour

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Two-time Academy Award-winner Peter Ustinov (Spartacus 1960, Topkapi 1964) stars in this hilarious fantasy as the ghost of the legendary pirate Blackbeard. Cursed to wander in limbo until he performs a good deed, Blackbeard gets his chance when he decides to help a local college track team... that hasn`t a ghost of a chance of winning. This warmhearted comedy will have you laughing from Blackbeard`s first fade-in to his final fade-out.
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You know I really enjoy this movie. It's not one of the all out blockbusters that had money thrown at it, it's one of the rounded family comedies with a dash of special effects and mysticism thrown in. Thus though the film came along following Walt's death it certainly grasps the same air as the films like The Absent Minded Professor and The Shaggy Dog and sticks out from the crowd of bland comedies that often get lost in the tide of late 60s and 70s comedies that became the studios almost sole output.

The whimsy of the plot combined with great performances as well as the special effects are what give it that feel of smoke and mirrors that the early Disney comedies had. After the unexpected hit that was The Ugly Dachshund it should come as little surprised that the films main stars Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette were teamed up again for this feature. Along with the superb Peter Ustinov (who probably got the part of Prince John in Robin Hood based on his performance in this movie) giving an excellent rogue-ish performance of the drunken bumbling "hero", which I adore. As the characters reminisce about the legends of the cut throat Blackbeard and his misdemeanours it's quite enjoyable to see the character as Ustinov plays him, recalling his misadventures such as forcing wives to walk the plank and the spells bestowed upon him by his angry wife.

The portrayal of Blackbeard as a run sodden blackguard who you can't help but love to hate, who despite his criminal ways has an inexplicable charm beares an incredibly close resemblance to the ways of Captain Jack from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Similarly the mix of Pirates and the supernatural also seems a foreshadowing of the recent blockbusters.

Perhaps the Disneyland attraction also gave some inspiration to Blackbeard's Ghost after all the completion of the two were not that many years apart.

And clearly the film proved succesful. Because only 5 years after its 1968 release, it was re-released in 1973, so obviously the audience was there for it.

I really adore the charm of the film, as with a number of Disney comedies the central plot revolves around trying to raise enough money to save something like the college in The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes or the hotel in Snowball Express alongside many other films, but the mix of fine performances, outlandish slapstick, pirate lore, the supernatural and basic special effects help in my opinion to make this film stand out from the crowd.

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[Flanger-Hanger]

Oh how I would love to see all of this film! I've seen 30 plus minutes on youtube (using the nice region 2 DVD) so I know the ending and the high school track meets scenes and a little bit more. The region 1 DVD is to crappy for my tastes (and yet I bought Babes in Toyland, go fig).

From what I have seen the movie IS funny, unlike so many of the bland comedies as you said ichabod that came out later. Dean Jones yelling at nothing always looks strange and Peter Ustinov could not be more perfect as Blackbeard. Aside from Robin Hood was he ever brought back to do anything else with Disney? Considering the sucess of both films.

As a side note, I like the Halloweenish take on the Live Action Discussions banner.

[2099net]

and Peter Ustinov could not be more perfect as Blackbeard. Aside from Robin Hood was he ever brought back to do anything else with Disney?

Yes he was made-up to look like a chinaman in "One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing". I doubt you'll see a DVD release of this anytime soon if Disney are holding back on "Song of the South" as "One/Dinosaurs" actually is racist at worst, politically incorrect at best.

Anchor Bay licenced and released a R1 DVD, but its long out of print, and Disney UK have a R2 DVD for sale.

[ichabod]

Yes, One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing is far worse than Song of the South. I'm surprised I have it on DVD sitting on my shelf, yet SotS isn't.

He also briefly appeared in The Great Muppet Caper, which since the buyout could be considered Disney akin.

[disneyfella]

He was also in "Treasure of Matecumbe", which is available on DVD through the Disney Movie Club (Last I checked it was on sale for $13.99).

I totally love Blackbeard's Ghost. Some of the best physical comedy from the 60s is in that movie. Dean Jones is great at prat falls, and Suzanne Pleshette has classic comedy timing. The ending of that movie in the casino is hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mZTGXZxosg

[thomashton]

Good movie. Bought it maybe 2 years ago or so and still haven't watched it all the way through. Last I saw it I was a teenager (I'm now 32). I remember it being great. Will have to go put it in and watch it again.

[Voiceroy]

"Blackbeard's Ghost" is a nostalgic favorite of mine, and it's Peter Ustinov in top comedic form.

It's a real shame that it hasn't gotten a proper DVD release. The one WDHV released in 2002 has to be one of the absolute worst examples of pan-and-scan issued to date. And *zero* effort was made for restoration--it actually looks worse than the old VHS copy we used to watch when I was a kid. No exaggeration--it's just horrible, HORRIBLE, I tell you. The P&S ruins some of the action sequences--at times you can't even tell what's going on. During the infamous track and field scene, for no reason at all, there are out of focus close-ups of the runners and Blackbeard in which you can't even make out the facial features or expressions.

It's a barebones disc too--I don't think there's even a trailer.

Frankly, Disney should be ashamed to have released such an inferior product. Such a great comedic, family movie doesn't deserve such poor treatment.

[ichabod]

It's a real shame that it hasn't gotten a proper DVD release. The one WDHV released in 2002 has to be one of the absolute worst examples of pan-and-scan issued to date. And *zero* effort was made for restoration--it actually looks worse than the old VHS copy we used to watch when I was a kid.

Well just to add insult to injury, the awful Region 1 transfer wasn't even necessary.

See this thread for why: <a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... ackbeard's Ghost DVD, not just P+S but very weird!</a>

Also Hank Jones, one of the stars of the film gave an interview to UD, which is worth a read.

<a href="http://www.ultimatedisney.com/forum/vie ... host">Hank Jones Interview</a>