Blackbeard's Ghost

"Blackbeard's Ghost" is a live-action 1968 Disney film starring Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette, directed by Robert Stevenson. It is based upon the novel of the same name written by Ben Stahl and was shot in Walt Disney Studios. The Disney Channel aired this film every year around the time of Halloween until the late 1990s.

Plot

After a chance encounter with a scrap of paper containing the spells of Captain Blackbeard's tenth wife Aldetha (a well-known witch), Walker conjures up the ghost of Blackbeard himself (Ustinov), a socially-inappropriate drunkard whose contempt for humanity has damned him to an existence in limbo, unless he can perform some good deed that may break the curse.

The two are bound to one another by the power of the spell; as a result, Steve must deal with the antics of the wayward pirate while attempting a romantic relationship with an attractive Godolphin professor, Jo Anne Baker (Pleshette); reviving Godolphin's track team; and thwarting the greedy exploits of local crime boss Silky Seymour, who wishes to seize the hotel at which Steve Walker received Aldetha's writings. This proves very difficult, as only Steve Walker is able to see or hear Blackbeard's ghost. Ultimately, Silky Seymour is humiliatingly and finally trounced, leaving Steve Walker, the Godolphin track team, and Jo Anne Baker to fulfill their respective desires. Having revealed Blackbeard to his hero-worshipping descendants, the innkeepers who are Steve Walker's hosts, Steve Walker abets his departure to the afterlife. There, Blackbeard joins his former crews.

Cast

*Peter Ustinov .... Captain Blackbeard
*Dean Jones .... Steve Walker
*Suzanne Pleshette .... Jo Anne Baker
*Elsa Lanchester .... Emily Stowecroft
*Joby Baker .... Silky Seymour
*Elliott Reid .... TV commentator
*Richard Deacon .... Dean Wheaton
*Norman Grabowski .... Virgil
*Kelly Thordsen .... Motorcycle officer
*Michael Conrad .... Pinetop Purvis
*Herbie Faye .... Croupier
*George Murdock .... Head official
*Hank Jones .... Gudger Larkin
*Ned Glass .... Teller
*Gil Lamb .... Waiter
*Alan Carney .... Bartender
*Ted Markland .... Charles
*Lou Nova .... Leon
*Charlie Brill .... Edward
*with: Herb Vigran*, William Fawcett*, Betty Bronson*, Elsie Baker*, Kathryn Minner*, Sara Taft*.

* Billed in opening credits, but not closing credits; not credited with specific rôle on-screen. These parts can now be identified: Herb Vigran ("Danny Oly"); William Fawcett ("Mr. Ainsworth, the bank official"); Betty Bronson, Elsie Baker, Kathryn Minner, Sara Taft ("Old ladies").

External links

*imdb title|id=0062737|title=Blackbeard's Ghost
* [http://www.ultimatedisney.com/blackbeard.htm "Blackbeard's Ghost" at UltimateDisney.com]