Sophie Bennett
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is an American comedy horror mystery film released in 1966. It stars Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a newspaper typesetter who spends a night in a haunted house. The film was shot in colour using the Technicolor Corporation's Techniscope widescreen process. This technique yielded a grainy image, which probably explains why it was seldom used in Hollywood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film Name | The Ghost and Mr. Chicken |
| Year of Release | 1966 |
| Genre | Comedy, Family, Mystery, Horror |
| Black and White | No |
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![Ghost & Mr Chicken [DVD] [1966] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+i2psx6CL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a 1966 colour film
The film was Knotts' first major project after leaving The Andy Griffith Show, and it uses a similar small-town setting and involved a number of alumni from the sitcom, including director Alan Rafkin and writers Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum. The film was a box office success, grossing $4 million in the first five months after its release on a $500,000 budget. It paved the way for a string of other Knotts-fronted comedy films.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was shot in Technicolor Corporation's Techniscope widescreen process. This process achieved a widescreen effect by splitting the usual film frame horizontally into two smaller frames with a greater width-to-height ratio. It was inexpensive but yielded a grainy image, which probably explains why it was seldom used in Hollywood.
The film has a light-hearted and mysterious tone, with a touch of spookiness. It features two recurring joke lines and some great physical comedy from Knotts, who does his signature "nervous man" schtick throughout. The supporting cast of characters seem like they hail from the same small town as Heggs, and the film is blessed with incredible music by Vic Mizzy, including some genuinely creepy organ music.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a fun and funny film that has stood the test of time. It is a comedy classic and a family film in the best sense of the word. It is definitely worth watching, even for adults and college graduates who might normally be embarrassed to admit they enjoy a film like this!
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The film stars Don Knotts as Luther Heggs
The 1966 American comedy horror mystery film The Ghost and Mr. Chicken stars Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a nervous and timid typesetter for the small-town newspaper Rachel Courier Express in Rachel, Kansas. The film was Knotts' first major project after leaving The Andy Griffith Show, and it uses a similar small-town setting and involved several alumni from the sitcom, including director Alan Rafkin and writers Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum.
In the film, Luther Heggs is a typesetter with aspirations to become a reporter. He gets his chance when he writes an article about the local "haunted house", the Simmons Mansion, where a gruesome murder-suicide had taken place 20 years earlier. The article creates such a stir that Luther's editor, George Beckett, assigns him to spend a night in the old house and write a follow-up story. During his stay, the terrified Luther discovers a hidden staircase, a blood-stained organ that plays by itself, and a portrait dripping blood.
Luther Heggs' character in the film has been described as "nervous" and "quirky". He drives an Edsel Corsair, considered a commercial failure, to bolster his character's quirky reputation. Knotts himself called the Bon Ami company president to get permission to mention the cleaning product's name in one of the film's running gags. The line "and they used Bon Ami!" is said to be particularly funny. Another running gag in the film is the line "Attaboy, Luther!", which was ad-libbed by screenwriter Everett Greenbaum.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was a box office success, grossing $4 million in the first five months after its release on a $500,000 budget. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with a score of 67% on Rotten Tomatoes based on six critics and an average score of 6.2 out of 10. It paved the way for a string of other Knotts-fronted comedy films, including The Reluctant Astronaut (1967) and The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968).
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Heggs is a typesetter for the Rachel Courier Express
In the 1966 comedy horror mystery film "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken", Don Knotts stars as Luther Heggs, a typesetter for the Rachel Courier Express in the fictional town of Rachel, Kansas. Heggs lives at the Natalie Miller boarding house and dreams of becoming a reporter. While working on a filler story for the paper, Heggs learns from the janitor, Mr. Kelsey, about the supposedly haunted Simmons Mansion, where a murder-suicide had taken place years earlier.
Encouraged by Kelsey, Heggs writes an article about the mansion and his editor assigns him to spend the night there on the 20th anniversary of the murder-suicide. Although initially hesitant due to his fears, Heggs agrees as he sees this as an opportunity to become a reporter and impress his love interest, Alma. During his stay at the mansion, Heggs discovers more than just a ghost story, as he inadvertently solves the mystery surrounding the haunting and uncovers the truth about the deaths, becoming a hero in the process.
Heggs' investigation into the haunted house leads him to uncover a 20-year-old murder, adding a layer of intrigue to the story. The house is owned by Philip Ober, who returns to town intending to demolish the mansion. However, his plans face opposition due to the reputation of the house being haunted by the ghost of Ober's wife, who was murdered there two decades ago. Despite initial setbacks, Heggs perseveres and eventually solves the murder, showcasing his determination and skills as an aspiring reporter.
Throughout the film, Heggs' quirky reputation is emphasized, with one example being his choice of vehicle, an Edsel Corsair, which was considered a commercial failure. Additionally, the film incorporates running gags, including references to the cleaning product Bon Ami and the line "atta boy, Luther". The film also explores Heggs' personal life, including his desire for Joan Staley's character and his rivalry with Skip Homeier's character.
"The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" marked Don Knotts' first major project after leaving "The Andy Griffith Show". The film utilized a similar small-town setting and featured several alumni from the sitcom, including director Alan Rafkin and writers Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum. The film was a box office success, grossing $4 million on a $500,000 budget and paving the way for a string of successful comedy films for Knotts.
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The film was shot in Technicolor Corporation's Techniscope wide-screen process
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is an American comedy-horror-mystery film released in 1966. It was Don Knotts' first major project after leaving The Andy Griffith Show. The film was shot in Technicolor Corporations' Techniscope widescreen process, which gave it a distinct look.
Techniscope was a widescreen process developed by the Technicolor Corporation that involved splitting the usual film frame horizontally into two smaller frames with a greater width-to-height ratio. This technique created a widescreen effect without the need for expensive anamorphic lenses or large amounts of film stock. By using a smaller film area, Techniscope reduced the cost of filming while still allowing for a widescreen presentation.
The use of Techniscope in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken contributed to the film's overall aesthetic and helped create a unique viewing experience for audiences. The process enhanced the comedic and mysterious elements of the film, allowing for a more dynamic presentation of the story and performances.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was filmed on location at the old Colonial Street, which was located next to New York Street and Courthouse Square. The Simmons Mansion, where the film's haunted house scenes took place, was situated on this street. The production team made use of the existing architecture and added their own touches to create the eerie atmosphere of the film.
The film's exterior shots of the Simmons House, with its distinctive tower, have often been compared to the Psycho House. This is because both houses shared a similar design, with the Psycho House's tower being removed from the Simmons House facade during construction. The Simmons House facade was later modified with a new version of the tower for The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, creating a cohesive look for the haunted house setting.
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The Simmons Mansion in the film is located on Colonial Street
The Simmons Mansion in the film The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is located on Colonial Street, on the Universal Studios lot in California. The mansion was built for the 1946 film So Goes My Love. It is a three-story Second-Empire Victorian house. The mansion has been used in several other shows and films, including Harvey (1950) and Desperate Housewives (2004-2012).
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is an American comedy horror mystery film released in 1966. It stars Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a newspaper typesetter who spends a night in a haunted house. The Simmons Mansion in the film is located on Colonial Street, which is part of the Universal Studios back lot in California. The house has been used in several other productions and has undergone alterations to its architecture over the years.
The Simmons Mansion is not to be confused with the Munster House, which is located next door on the new (relocated) Colonial Street, with the Munster House on the right. The old Colonial Street, where The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was filmed, was located next to New York Street and Courthouse Square. The Munster House was originally located to the left of the Simmons Mansion on this old street.
The Simmons Mansion is known for its distinctive tower, which was removed and used for the facade of the Psycho House. A new version of the tower was later put back on the Simmons Mansion facade for The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. The house has been described as having a similar look to Phantom Manor, and its interior has been compared to that of Disney's Haunted Mansion.
The film The Ghost and Mr. Chicken centres around Luther Heggs, who works as a typesetter for the Rachel Courier Express in the fictitious community of Rachel, Kansas. He lives at the Natalie Miller boarding house and aspires to become a reporter. While at work, he learns from the newspaper's janitor, Mr. Kelsey, that the Simmons Mansion was the site of a supposed murder-suicide. Ephraigm Simmons is thought to have killed his wife with a bladed instrument before leaping to his death from the organ loft. Legend has it that the ghost of Mr. Simmons can still be heard playing the organ at midnight.
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Frequently asked questions
No, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is in colour.
The film was released in 1966.
Don Knotts stars as Luther Heggs, alongside Joan Staley.
Luther Heggs is a typesetter who wants to be a reporter. He spends a night in a haunted house and uncovers the truth about a murder-suicide.
The film is set in the fictional community of Rachel, Kansas.
