Blackbeard's Ghost (1968)

Written by CinemaSerf on June 3, 2023

Dean Jones ("Steve Walker") arrives at Godolphin College to take charge of their pretty shocking track team. They put him up at "Blackbeard's Inn" where he encounters the Daughters of The Buccaneers - allegedly descendants of "Blackbeard" and his crew. Their inn is about to be torn down and replaced by a casino by an unscrupulous gangster so the ladies have an auction to try to raise the funds they need to stop this development. "Walker" ends up in possession of an antique bedpan that contains a parchment with a spell that he, rather stupidly as it turns out, reads aloud.... enter the ghost of "Blackbeard" (Peter Ustinov) who is cursed to remain in limbo until he does something nice for someone - the gauntlet has been laid down... This is a fun fantasy adventure; Ustinov is great as the mischievous and recalcitrant ghost having quite a good time with all the people and mod cons of 1960s America - especially as only Jones can see him. It's a bit slapstick at times, and pretty uncomplicated - so don't expect your grey matter to be unduly taxed; it's just best to let the talent wash over you and smile occasionally at the really pretty basic, but acceptable, SFX.