With a bouncy score in the background (similar to the more famous "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken"), we learn the secret of this New England set of ghosts all killed and destined to spend eternity together in 1898. The ghastly looking Cass Daley, desperate for a husband, marries a sea captain desperate to inherit her estate and a bigger ship, and on their wedding night discovers him being a rascal. Butcher knives fly and before you know it, three are dead, their ghostly images doomed to roam the earth until Daley (believe it or not!) looses her virginity! These ghosts aren't like the sea captain from "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir"; the earthlings who come into their presence can actually feel them, not only metaphysically but flesh-wise as well.
Almost 70 years after the Maine coastline murder, the ailing Sid Caesar and his wife Vera Miles show up with their embittered teenaged son (Barry Gordon) for a "rest" and when Gordon encounters each of them, pots are thrown through windows, the living room is made a mess and Miles' meddling uncle (John McGiver) is pushed down a flight of stairs, all of the blame put on the innocent teen. The adults don't believe the legend until they meet the look-alike of one of them (Jill Townsend) who explains the story, and from there, Gordon is determined to end the curse, find the ghostly Daley a mate and convince his parents he was innocent of all the mischief they blamed him for.
A superb supporting cast includes such fun faces as Jesse White, Mary Wickes and Jay C. Flippen. Wickes proves how perfect she could have been as Tugboat Annie as the rather tough but legend-spouting caretaker who eerily reveals her situation when encountered by the ghosts. She totally reminded me of the famous "Large Marge" sequence from "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" as her story gets more and more dramatic. John Astin of "The Addams Family" plays a visitor who has his share of gay insinuations with Gordon and Astin each believing the other may be living an alternative life-style. The inclusion of this is subtle and not offensive, and amusing through each of them making light-hearted cracks at the other's expense.
While not a classic in the comedy horror genre of films like "Arsenic and Old Lace" and the "Topper" series, this is a very amusing film and one of William Castle's better later efforts. Everybody seems to be having a great time, the sets and location photography are ideal, and that musical score by Vic Mizzy (who had earlier wrote the score to "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" as well as several 60's cult classics) will stay in your head long after the movie is over.
Almost 70 years after the Maine coastline murder, the ailing Sid Caesar and his wife Vera Miles show up with their embittered teenaged son (Barry Gordon) for a "rest" and when Gordon encounters each of them, pots are thrown through windows, the living room is made a mess and Miles' meddling uncle (John McGiver) is pushed down a flight of stairs, all of the blame put on the innocent teen. The adults don't believe the legend until they meet the look-alike of one of them (Jill Townsend) who explains the story, and from there, Gordon is determined to end the curse, find the ghostly Daley a mate and convince his parents he was innocent of all the mischief they blamed him for.
A superb supporting cast includes such fun faces as Jesse White, Mary Wickes and Jay C. Flippen. Wickes proves how perfect she could have been as Tugboat Annie as the rather tough but legend-spouting caretaker who eerily reveals her situation when encountered by the ghosts. She totally reminded me of the famous "Large Marge" sequence from "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" as her story gets more and more dramatic. John Astin of "The Addams Family" plays a visitor who has his share of gay insinuations with Gordon and Astin each believing the other may be living an alternative life-style. The inclusion of this is subtle and not offensive, and amusing through each of them making light-hearted cracks at the other's expense.
While not a classic in the comedy horror genre of films like "Arsenic and Old Lace" and the "Topper" series, this is a very amusing film and one of William Castle's better later efforts. Everybody seems to be having a great time, the sets and location photography are ideal, and that musical score by Vic Mizzy (who had earlier wrote the score to "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" as well as several 60's cult classics) will stay in your head long after the movie is over.