Based on a novel by Nathaniel Benchley (son of humorist Robert and father of Peter, author of JAWS)"The Spirit is Willing" has several good comedy set ups. Unfortunately, it left out the jokes. The whole movie is like a series of jokes without punch lines.
A family headed by comedy icon Sid Caesar rents a New England house they don't know is haunted by three spooks, a husband/wife and the wife's maid, with whom the husband was carrying on. The triple murder that caused the haunting is related in gory detail before the credits.
Judging him strictly on movies like this, "The Busybody," and even "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," it's difficult for anyone of my generation, who missed "Your Show of Shows", to understand why Caesar was considered such a great comic. Any good actor with a comic bent could have played his part.
Four things make this movie worth watching.
First, there is a first-class lineup of notable supporting actors. These include, sometimes all too briefly, Mary Wickes, Jesse White, Jay C. Flippin, Harvey Limbeck, John McGiver, Byron Foulger, and Doodles Weaver. The second thing follows that almost immediately, and that's John Astin's appearance as a psychiatrist, which comes late in the movie. In his prime, Astin (from the original "Addams Family) could liven any dragging proceedings with a neat comedy turn, and he certainly earned his paycheck this time.
Third, the appearance of Jill Townsend in three roles: as one of the ghosts, as a teenager, and as the town librarian.
Last but certainly not least, is the Vic Mizzy sound. Vic Mizzy is not one of the more well-known film composer, but his work is instantly recognizable. He did the music for "Green Acres" and several Don Knotts movies (including "The Ghost and Mister Chicken" and "The Reluctant Astronaut). The Vic Mizzy sound is not only comforting in its familiarity in odd situations like ghostly manifestations, it is also tongue-in-cheek. It may be the most wryly humorous part of the film.
A family headed by comedy icon Sid Caesar rents a New England house they don't know is haunted by three spooks, a husband/wife and the wife's maid, with whom the husband was carrying on. The triple murder that caused the haunting is related in gory detail before the credits.
Judging him strictly on movies like this, "The Busybody," and even "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," it's difficult for anyone of my generation, who missed "Your Show of Shows", to understand why Caesar was considered such a great comic. Any good actor with a comic bent could have played his part.
Four things make this movie worth watching.
First, there is a first-class lineup of notable supporting actors. These include, sometimes all too briefly, Mary Wickes, Jesse White, Jay C. Flippin, Harvey Limbeck, John McGiver, Byron Foulger, and Doodles Weaver. The second thing follows that almost immediately, and that's John Astin's appearance as a psychiatrist, which comes late in the movie. In his prime, Astin (from the original "Addams Family) could liven any dragging proceedings with a neat comedy turn, and he certainly earned his paycheck this time.
Third, the appearance of Jill Townsend in three roles: as one of the ghosts, as a teenager, and as the town librarian.
Last but certainly not least, is the Vic Mizzy sound. Vic Mizzy is not one of the more well-known film composer, but his work is instantly recognizable. He did the music for "Green Acres" and several Don Knotts movies (including "The Ghost and Mister Chicken" and "The Reluctant Astronaut). The Vic Mizzy sound is not only comforting in its familiarity in odd situations like ghostly manifestations, it is also tongue-in-cheek. It may be the most wryly humorous part of the film.