Jake Harper
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a 1966 comedy film starring Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a timid typesetter for a small-town newspaper who gets the chance to prove his courage by spending the night in a haunted house. The film was released on VHS in 1996 and has since become a beloved classic, with many viewers recalling fond memories of watching it as a child. The film's memorable score, charming characters, and humorous one-liners have contributed to its enduring popularity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 1966 |
| Genre | Comedy, Family, Mystery |
| Plot | A young man must spend the night in a haunted house to win a reporting job |
| Cast | Don Knotts, Joan Staley, Dick Sargent, Ellen Corby, Burt Mustin, Harry Hickox, Robert Cornthwaite, Florence Lake, Dorothy Love, Charles Lane, and others |
| Director | Alan Rafkin |
| Writers | Jim Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum, and Andy Griffith |
| Production company | Universal Studios |
| Filming location | The old Colonial Street, next to New York Street and Courthouse Square |
| Running time | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
The film was released in 1966
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a comedy film that was released in 1966. It stars Don Knotts, who had emerged as a favourite recurring sketch comedian on The Steve Allen Plymouth Show from 1957 to 1960. The film was released on VHS in 1996, and on DVD in 2003 and 2007. A Blu-ray version was also released in 2016.
The film follows Luther Heggs, a meek, timid typesetter for a small-town newspaper who dreams of becoming a reporter. To win a reporting job, Luther must spend the night in a haunted house, where a gruesome murder and suicide took place 20 years earlier. During his stay, he discovers a hidden staircase, a bloodstained organ that plays by itself, and a portrait dripping blood. The film is filled with humorous one-liners and brilliant facial expressions from the character actors.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was Knotts' first film vehicle after he left The Andy Griffith Show. It was directed by Alan Rafkin and featured many alumni from the sitcom, including writers Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum. Knotts even wore the same salt and pepper suit with a white fedora that he had worn on The Andy Griffith Show. The film was a box office success, paving the way for a string of other Knotts-fronted comedy films.
The film was produced by Universal Studios and had a low budget. Most of the filming took place on the Universal backlot and on standing sets from various TV shows. The famous Simmons mansion, where the haunted house scenes were filmed, was a long-standing structure originally built in the 1940s and used for many other Universal classics. The filming of The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was completed in just 17 days.
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It stars Don Knotts as Luther Heggs
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is an American comedy-horror-mystery film released in 1966. It stars Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a meek and timid typesetter for a small-town newspaper called the Rachel Courier Express. Luther dreams of becoming a reporter and winning the love of Alma Parker. His chance comes when he writes an article about the local "haunted house", the Simmons Mansion, where a gruesome murder and suicide took place 20 years earlier. The article creates such a stir that Luther's editor, George Beckett, orders him to spend a night in the old house and do a follow-up story.
During his stay, Luther discovers a hidden staircase, a blood-stained organ that plays by itself, and a portrait dripping blood. His story is published, and Luther is celebrated at a town picnic for his courage. However, Nick Simmons, a descendant of the murdered couple, sues Luther and his paper for libel. Luther must then prove the existence of the ghost to clear his name.
Don Knotts' portrayal of Luther Heggs in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is considered a classic example of his "nervous-Nellie" character type. Knotts had perfected this character on television, most notably in his role as Deputy Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. In the film, Knotts drives an Edsel Corsair and wears a salt and pepper suit with a white fedora, adding to the quirky reputation of his character. One of the most memorable scenes featuring Knotts' comedic skills is the stage-fright speech at the town picnic, with recurring joke lines that have become famous among fans of the film.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was Knotts' first major film role after leaving The Andy Griffith Show. It was directed by Alan Rafkin and written by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum, both of whom had worked on The Andy Griffith Show as well. The film was a box office success and paved the way for several other successful comedy films starring Knotts.
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The story involves a haunted house
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a 1966 screwball comedy film starring Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a nervous typesetter for a small-town newspaper. In the film, Heggs sets out to prove his worth as a reporter by spending a night in a haunted house, where a gruesome murder and suicide had taken place 20 years earlier.
Luther Heggs, a meek and timid individual, aspires to be a reporter and win the love of Alma Parker. He writes an article about the haunted house, creating a stir in the town. His boss challenges him to spend a night in the old mansion and do a follow-up story. During his vigil, Luther discovers a hidden staircase, a blood-stained organ that plays by itself, and a portrait with pruning shears stabbed through it.
The film combines comedy and mystery, with Luther's nervous personality providing comedic relief throughout his eerie encounters in the haunted house. The story unfolds as Luther uncovers the truth about the haunting and the tragic deaths that occurred within the mansion's walls.
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It was filmed in 17 days
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a 1966 American comedy-horror-mystery film starring Don Knotts as Luther Heggs, a nervous and timid typesetter who aspires to be a reporter. The film was directed by Alan Rafkin and written by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum, both of whom previously worked on The Andy Griffith Show. It was Don Knotts' first major project after leaving the show.
The film was a box office success, grossing $4 million in the first five months after its release on a $500,000 budget. It was also well-received by audiences, with a score of 67% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was filmed in just 17 days, which was typical for a low-budget feature produced at Universal during that period. Filming took place on the backlot of Universal Studios in Hollywood and on standing sets from various TV shows, which were redressed for the occasion.
The film's score, composed by Vic Mizzy, was written in just four days and includes the scary "Haunted Organ" theme that punctuates Luther's terrifying ordeal in the haunted mansion. The Ghost and Mr. Chicken has become a beloved classic, with its light-hearted tone, entertaining performances, and memorable running gags, such as the frequent exclamation "Atta boy, Luther!" and the mention of the cleaning product "Bon Ami".
The success of The Ghost and Mr. Chicken paved the way for several other Don Knotts-fronted comedy films, including The Reluctant Astronaut (1967), The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), and How to Frame a Figg (1971). The film has been released on various home media formats over the years, including VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray, allowing audiences to revisit this charming and entertaining movie.
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It's a comedy, not a horror
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a comedy film released in 1966. It stars Don Knotts, who had emerged as a favourite recurring sketch comedian on The Steve Allen Plymouth Show from 1957 to 1960. Knotts is known for his nervous-Nellie character type, which he perfected on television before his iconic portrayal of Deputy Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 to 1966.
In The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, Knotts plays Luther Heggs, a meek, timid typesetter for a small-town newspaper who dreams of becoming a reporter. To win a reporting job, he must spend the night in a haunted house, where a gruesome murder and suicide took place 20 years earlier. During his vigil, Luther discovers a hidden staircase, a bloodstained organ that plays by itself, and a portrait dripping blood.
The film is filled with humorous one-liners and brilliant facial expressions from the character actors. It also includes a court scene that brought a lot of laughter, an elevator scene that showcased Knotts' great performance, and a communism joke that excited viewers when considered in the context of the times.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is not a scary movie, but it is a lot of fun and very funny. It is a sweetly entertaining film and a great family film, making it perfect for Halloween.
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Frequently asked questions
1966.
The film is set in the 1940s.
It is a comedy, family, mystery film.
The film was directed by Alan Rafkin.
