Jake Harper
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a 1966 American comedy horror mystery film starring Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a nervous and timid typesetter for a small-town newspaper who dreams of becoming a reporter. In the hopes of getting a promotion, Luther agrees to spend a night in a haunted house, where he encounters ghosts, murder mysteries, and romance. The film was Knotts' first major project after leaving The Andy Griffith Show and was a box office success, grossing $4 million on a $500,000 budget.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, Family, Mystery, Horror |
| Year of Release | 1966 |
| Director | Alan Rafkin |
| Writers | Jim Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum, Andy Griffith |
| Starring | Don Knotts, Florence Lake, Dorothy Love, Charles Lane, Ellen Corby, Burt Mustin, Harry Hickox, Robert Cornthwaite, Skip Homeier |
| Plot | Luther Heggs, a timid typesetter for a small-town newspaper, spends a night in a haunted house in the hopes of being promoted to reporter. |
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![The Ghost and Mr. Chicken [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91bTLBCQQxL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Plot
"The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" is a 1966 American comedy horror mystery film starring Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a timid and nervous small-town newspaper typesetter who spends a night in a haunted house. The film is set in the fictitious community of Rachel, Kansas, and revolves around the legend of a murder-suicide that took place 20 years earlier in the supposedly haunted house, known as the Simmons Mansion.
Luther Heggs works as a typesetter for the Rachel Courier Express and dreams of becoming a reporter. He learns about the supposed murder-suicide of Ephraigm Simmons and his wife at the Simmons Mansion from the newspaper's janitor, Mr. Kelsey, who used to be a gardener there. Legend has it that Mr. Simmons killed his wife with a bladed instrument and then leaped to his death from the organ loft, and that his ghost can sometimes be heard playing the organ at midnight. Encouraged by Kelsey, Luther writes an article about the mansion, which catches the attention of his editor, George Beckett.
Intrigued by the story, Beckett assigns Luther to spend the night in the mansion on the 20th anniversary of the murder-suicide and report on his experience. Despite his fears, Luther accepts the assignment, hoping to become a reporter and impress Alma Parker, the woman he loves. During his night in the mansion, Luther discovers a hidden staircase, a blood-stained organ that plays by itself, and a portrait dripping blood.
After surviving the terrifying night, Luther publishes an article about his experience, becoming an overnight town celebrity. However, Nick Simmons, a descendant of the murdered couple, sues Luther and the newspaper for libel. Undeterred, Luther persists and eventually solves the mystery, uncovering the truth about the deaths and proving his worth as a reporter. He also wins the love of Alma Parker, and the movie ends with their wedding, during which the organ in the Simmons Mansion begins to play by itself, hinting that there may be a ghost after all.
The film was Don Knotts' first major project after leaving "The Andy Griffith Show," and it paved the way for several other comedy films starring Knotts. It was a box office success, grossing $4 million on a budget of $500,000, and received mixed reviews from critics, with a score of 67% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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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)
Cast
The 1966 comedy horror mystery film "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" stars Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a timid typesetter for a small-town newspaper who gets the chance to become a reporter when he writes about a haunted house. The film co-stars Skip Homeier as Ollie, the paper's star reporter, and Lurene Tuttle as Mrs. Natalie Miller, the owner of the boarding house where Luther lives.
Other cast members include Florence Lake, Dorothy Love, and others as the "Psychic Occult Society"; Charles Lane as a lawyer; Ellen Corby, Burt Mustin, Harry Hickox, Robert Cornthwaite, and Hal Smith; and Nydia Westman, Jesslyn Fax, Reta Shaw, and James Millhollin.
Several other players from "The Andy Griffith Show" appear in the film, including director Alan Rafkin and writers Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum.
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Production
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a 1966 comedy horror mystery film starring Don Knotts, who plays Luther Heggs, a timid typesetter for a small-town newspaper who investigates a murder mystery in a haunted house. The film was produced by Universal Pictures on a modest budget and was Knotts' first major project after leaving The Andy Griffith Show.
The film was directed by Alan Rafkin, who also directed several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. The script was written by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum, who were also writers on The Andy Griffith Show. Knotts personally requested Rafkin to direct the film and had a say in the choice of writers, demonstrating his involvement in the production process. The film's working title was "Running Scared".
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was filmed on the backlot of Universal Studios in Hollywood, with a filming schedule of just 17 days, typical for a low-budget feature at the time. The production made use of existing sets from various TV shows, redressed to suit the film's locations. One of the film's running gags required legal clearance, which Knotts had to secure before filming.
The film's score was composed by Vic Mizzy, who had previously scored the 1964 film The Night Walker. Mizzy's style is characterised by the use of unexpected instruments such as the xylophone, fuzz guitar, and bass harmonica. He composed the score for The Ghost and Mr. Chicken in just four days, creating a catchy and recognisable theme.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was a box office success, grossing $4 million in the first five months after its release on a budget of $500,000. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with a score of 67% on Rotten Tomatoes based on six reviews, and an average score of 6.2 out of 10. The film has since become a cult classic, with a strong following among fans of comedy horror.
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Reception
The 1966 American comedy horror mystery film "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a score of 67% based on six critics, with an average score of 6.2 out of 10. The film was directed by Alan Rafkin and written by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum. It stars Don Knotts, who had recently left the popular television show "The Andy Griffith Show". Knotts' performance in the film was well-received, with some considering it one of his best. The film also features a supporting cast of familiar TV faces from the 1960s.
"The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" grossed $4 million in the first five months after its release on a $500,000 budget, making it a box office success. The film has since developed a cult following, with many viewers recalling it as a favourite film from their childhood. It has been praised as a wholesome horror/comedy and delightful entertainment for the whole family. The film's soundtrack, composed by Vic Mizzy, was also well-received, leading to its release on compact disc in 2005.
In addition to its commercial success, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" also paved the way for a string of other Knotts-fronted comedy films, including "The Reluctant Astronaut" (1967), "The Shakiest Gun in the West" (1968), "The Love God?" (1969), and "How to Frame a Figg" (1971). The film was released on VHS in 1996 and has since been released multiple times on DVD and Blu-ray.
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Music
The score for The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was composed by Vic Mizzy, who is also known for composing the themes for "The Addams Family" and "Green Acres". Mizzy's score combines the comic elements found in his sitcom themes with the spooky atmosphere he created for the William Castle horror film "The Night Walker". The result is a fun, percussion-heavy soundtrack that enhances the film's blend of comedy and horror.
The score includes a sprightly ghost theme based on the tune "Mr. Ghost Goes to Town", as well as a "haunted" organ anthem that appears throughout the film. The organ music is a key element of the film's atmosphere, with the story involving a haunted mansion where a murder-suicide took place, and the ghost of the murderer is said to occasionally be heard playing the organ at midnight.
The soundtrack also features quirky music that complements the film's blend of comedy and horror, with one reviewer noting that it takes the listener "from comical to the edge of your seat". The combination of Mizzy's composition and the film's memorable character actors and comedic performances makes The Ghost and Mr. Chicken a fun and entertaining experience.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken soundtrack was released on compact disc in 2005, allowing fans of the film to own the music that enhances the film's memorable moments and adds to its enduring appeal.
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Frequently asked questions
The movie is about a timid typesetter for a small-town newspaper, Luther Heggs, who learns about a terrible murder that occurred in an old abandoned mansion in the town, which is reputedly haunted. He writes a piece about the crime that generates so much attention that he is dared to follow it up by spending the night in the "murder house".
Don Knotts plays the lead character of Luther Heggs.
Don Knotts' character Luther Heggs is a typesetter for the Rachel Courier Express in the town of Rachel, Kansas.
The movie is a comedy horror mystery.
The movie was released in 1966.
