Sophie Bennett
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a comedy-mystery film released in 1966. It stars Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a typesetter for a small-town newspaper who dreams of becoming a reporter. When Luther writes an article about a local haunted house, he is tasked with spending a night in the mansion, where he experiences supernatural occurrences. The film features a supporting cast of familiar TV faces from the 1960s and a memorable score by Vic Mizzy. Despite being a box-office success, there is no indication that The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a Disney movie.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, Family, Mystery |
| Year | 1966 |
| Cast | Don Knotts, Joan Staley, Dick Sargent, Florence Lake, Dorothy Love, Charles Lane, Ellen Corby, Burt Mustin, Harry Hickox, Robert Cornthwaite |
| Director | N/A |
| Production Company | Universal |
| Rating | 7.2/10 |
| Plot | Luther Heggs, a typesetter for a small-town newspaper, gets his big break when his editor asks him to spend the night in a haunted house. Heggs has supernatural encounters and writes a story that makes the front page, but he is then sued for libel by the owner of the house. |
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What You'll Learn
Don Knotts
Knotts' big break came in 1953 when he landed a role on the soap opera "Search for Tomorrow," appearing regularly until 1955. In 1956, he joined the cast of "The Steve Allen Plymouth Show," a variety show where he showcased his comedic talents. However, he is best known for his role as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on the sitcom ""The Andy Griffith Show" from 1960 to 1965. His portrayal of the nervous and comedic Barney Fife earned him five Emmy Awards.
In 1965, Knotts signed a multi-film contract with Universal Studios and began to focus on his film career. His notable film roles include "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" (1966), "The Reluctant Astronaut" (1967), "The Shakiest Gun in the West" (1968), and "The Love God?" (1969). "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" is particularly significant as it was his first film after leaving "The Andy Griffith Show." In the movie, Knotts plays Luther Heggs, a typesetter who spends a night in a haunted house and uncovers a mystery. The film showcases his talent for portraying nervous and bumbling characters.
Following his film career, Knotts returned to television with various roles. He hosted "The Don Knotts Show" in 1970 and made guest appearances on shows such as "The Bill Cosby Show" and "Here's Lucy." He also reprised his role as Barney Fife in "The New Andy Griffith Show" pilot and voiced an animated version of himself in "The New Scooby-Doo Movies." In the late 1970s, he joined the cast of the sitcom "Three's Company," playing the character Ralph Furley until 1984.
In the 1980s and 90s, Knotts continued to appear in various films and television shows, including "What a Country!" and "Matlock." He also reunited with Andy Griffith in the television film "Return to Mayberry" in 1986, reprising his beloved role of Barney Fife. In recognition of his contributions to comedy and entertainment, Morgantown, his hometown, honored him with a statue and renamed a street "Don Knotts Boulevard."
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Luther Heggs
Luther is a typesetter for the Rachel Courier Express in the fictitious community of Rachel, Kansas. He lives at the Natalie Miller boarding house and dreams of becoming a reporter. However, he is not taken seriously by his peers, who mock him when his report of a murder near the supposedly haunted Simmons Mansion turns out to be a false alarm.
Undeterred, Luther eventually gets his big break when he writes an article about the Simmons Mansion, which is rumoured to be haunted by the ghost of Ephraigm Simmons, who allegedly killed his wife before leaping to his death from the organ loft. The article is a hit, and Luther is assigned to spend the night in the mansion. During his stay, Luther discovers a hidden passage in a bookshelf leading to the organ loft. At midnight, he flees the loft when the organ begins to play by itself and finds pruning shears stabbed into a portrait of Mrs Simmons, with blood gushing from her neck.
Luther's story causes a sensation in the town and delays the plans of Nicholas Simmons, the nephew of the deceased couple, to demolish the mansion. Nicholas attempts to discredit Luther by suing him and the Rachel Courier Express for libel. Luther's credibility is called into question, but he is eventually vindicated when he discovers the truth behind the mysterious happenings in the mansion, exposing the true cause of the Simmons couple's death.
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Comedy
"The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" is a comedy-mystery film released in 1966. It stars Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a meek, timid typesetter for a small-town newspaper who dreams of becoming a reporter. When Luther gets the chance to investigate the town's "haunted" house, he discovers more than he bargained for, including a hidden staircase, a blood-stained organ that plays by itself, and a portrait dripping blood.
The film is known for its comedy, with Knotts delivering a hilarious performance as the nervous and bumbling Luther. The supporting cast also adds to the humour, with familiar faces from 1960s TV such as Florence Lake, Dorothy Love, Charles Lane, and others. One of the most memorable comedic scenes is Luther's speech at the town picnic, where he tries to clarify his thoughts in front of his friends and local dignitaries.
The score, composed by Vic Mizzy, also enhances the comedy of the film. Mizzy's unique style, which includes unexpected instruments like the xylophone and fuzz guitar, adds a playful touch to the music. The "Haunted Organ" theme, in particular, is a scary yet playful addition to the family comedy.
Overall, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" is a light-hearted and entertaining comedy that combines humour with a well-crafted mystery. It is a perfect example of Don Knotts' ability to portray nervous and bumbling characters in a hilarious yet nuanced way. The film's success led to similar roles for Knotts in other Universal pictures, such as "The Reluctant Astronaut" (1967) and "The Shakiest Gun in the West" (1968).
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Mystery
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a comedy-mystery film released in 1966. It stars Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a meek, timid typesetter for a small-town newspaper who dreams of becoming a reporter.
In the film, Heggs gets his big break when he writes an article about a local "haunted house" where a murder-suicide took place 20 years earlier. The article creates a stir, and Heggs' editor, George Beckett, assigns him to spend a night in the old house and write a follow-up story. During his stay, Heggs discovers a hidden staircase, a blood-stained organ that plays by itself, and a portrait dripping blood. He becomes convinced that he has seen a ghost and writes a front-page story, bringing a libel suit from the mansion's owner, Nick Simmons, a descendant of the murdered couple.
With the help of his friend Kelsey, Heggs sets out to uncover the truth behind the ghostly occurrences and solve a 20-year-old murder mystery. The film combines comedy with supernatural elements and satire of small-town life. It features a supporting cast of quirky small-town residents and well-known TV actors from the 1960s.
The film was Don Knotts' first movie after leaving Mayberry and signing a multi-film contract with Universal. It showcases his talent for portraying nervous, bumbling characters, a style he had perfected in his earlier television roles. With its mix of humour, mystery, and supernatural elements, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" offers a fun and entertaining viewing experience.
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Haunted house
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a comedy-mystery film released in 1966. It stars Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a typesetter and aspiring reporter for a small-town newspaper, the Rachel Courier Express.
In the film, Heggs gets his big break when his editor asks him to spend a night in a haunted house, the Simmons mansion, where a murder-suicide had taken place 20 years earlier. The case arouses local interest because the current owner of the house, Nick Simmons, plans to tear down the mansion, which is rumoured to be haunted. Heggs has several supernatural encounters during his night in the mansion, including discovering a hidden staircase, a blood-stained organ that plays by itself, and a portrait dripping blood. He writes a front-page story about his experiences, which leads Simmons to sue him and the paper for libel. However, Heggs is ultimately able to solve the 20-year-old murder and identify the real killer.
The film is known for its comedic elements, with Knotts playing the "nervous man" character type that he had perfected in his earlier television work. It also features a supporting cast of characters that seem like they hail from a typical small town, adding to the film's satirical tone. The music by Vic Mizzy, including the "Haunted Organ" theme, also enhances the comedic and spooky atmosphere of the film.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was Don Knotts' second starring role in a feature film and helped establish him as a leading movie comedian. It was also a box-office success, leading to similar roles in subsequent films.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is not a Disney movie. It was produced by Universal Studios and released in 1966.
Luther Heggs, a typesetter for a small-town newspaper, aspires to be a reporter. He gets his big break when his editor asks him to spend the night in a haunted house where a murder-suicide took place 20 years earlier. Heggs has supernatural encounters and writes a front-page story that leads to him being sued for libel.
Don Knotts plays the lead character, Luther Heggs.
'The Ghost and Mr. Chicken' is a comedy-mystery.
