Newspaper typist, Luther Heggs (Knotts) longs to be a reporter for his paper... and when he hears a woman screaming murder, he thinks it is his big chance to cover a story. But when the man turns out to be alive, Luther becomes a joke.
A filler piece he writes for the paper about the mysterious Simmons Mansion, where two murders occurred 20 years before, sparks local interest. The owner / editor of the paper, George Beckett (Sargent), decides that someone needs to spend the night in the Simmons Mansion, but not just anyone... someone gullible with an imagination: Luther. He agrees, to impress the beautiful Alma Parker (Staley) who is dating reporter Ollie Weaver (Homeier).
Luther is easily scared and is spooked by the tales that are passed around the town about the house and the couple who used to live there. As the night goes on freaky things begin happening... will Luther stay in the house all night and will anyone believe him?
Don Knotts is amazing. His face is incredibly expressive and excels at showing fear. I was watching reruns of "The Andy Griffith Show" the other night, and everytime Don Knotts appeared on screen I thought of this film. It leaves an impression. The first time I saw it I was terrified, I was 9ish.
It isn't a long story... and it would be nice to develop some of the supporting players. The supporting cast is compromised of incredible character actors, who are underused. Everything else is great, and it is a great showcase for the many talents of rubber faced Don Knotts! An oldy, but a goody :)
A filler piece he writes for the paper about the mysterious Simmons Mansion, where two murders occurred 20 years before, sparks local interest. The owner / editor of the paper, George Beckett (Sargent), decides that someone needs to spend the night in the Simmons Mansion, but not just anyone... someone gullible with an imagination: Luther. He agrees, to impress the beautiful Alma Parker (Staley) who is dating reporter Ollie Weaver (Homeier).
Luther is easily scared and is spooked by the tales that are passed around the town about the house and the couple who used to live there. As the night goes on freaky things begin happening... will Luther stay in the house all night and will anyone believe him?
Don Knotts is amazing. His face is incredibly expressive and excels at showing fear. I was watching reruns of "The Andy Griffith Show" the other night, and everytime Don Knotts appeared on screen I thought of this film. It leaves an impression. The first time I saw it I was terrified, I was 9ish.
It isn't a long story... and it would be nice to develop some of the supporting players. The supporting cast is compromised of incredible character actors, who are underused. Everything else is great, and it is a great showcase for the many talents of rubber faced Don Knotts! An oldy, but a goody :)
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) 90 minutes
Director: Alan Rafkin
Starring: Don Knotts as Luther Heggs
Joan Staley as Alma Parker
Liam Redmond as Kelsey
Dick Sargent as George Beckett
Skip Homeier as Ollie Weaver
Philip Ober as Nicholas Simmons
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