A film like this might seem very strange to be reviewed on a horror website, however there’s an important trope that is used countless times in our beloved genre; that the Old Dark House, a fearful place embodied with checkered past, almost everyone’s hometown has a house with this reputation. Therefore, this film is a throwback to that trope and uses comedy to balance the approach, previously accomplish with such films as Abbott and Costello in Hold That Ghost [1941], Laurel and Hardy in A-Haunting We Will Go [1942], Bowery Boys in Ghosts on the Loose [1943] just to name a few, all in all they often lack on the spookiness and played more for the laughs. The legendary comedic talent Don Knotts has the top billing of this production the first of his five-picture deal with Universal Pictures as it plays off the ghostly romance film The Ghost and Mrs. Muir [1947] but instead of being a rugged ghost portrayed by Rex Harrison, Knotts is the chicken, a pure scaredy-cat, spooked by his own shadow. Strangely Alan Rafkin (The Ghost Writer [1990]), a television director was selected to helm the production and clearly seems less interested in the haunted house aspects, and more curious about character relationships and scenes in the newspaper office or courtroom. However, the film is saved by allowing Knotts to select the writers to work with which was television screenwriters James Fritzell and Greenbaum along with an uncredited assist from Andy Griffith all from The Andy Griffith Show, yes it was Mayberry all over again. While that name may not mean much to some of our dear readers it will in a bit, but first recall, the film is more an escape from the harsh horrors of cinema in the form of Psycho [1960], 13 Ghosts [1960] and then the first animal attack movie The Birds [1963]. Some moviegoers sought a different avenue of innocence for themselves and share with their children that Norman Rockwell’s Americana idealism that was highly influenced by the ultra smalltown gossip found at hair salons and barbershops. Lastly, this is not a horror movie, but rather comedic mystery flick, which contains a few aspects which are either foreign or unrealistic for modern viewers to comprehend but that’ll attempt to remedy.
Seeing a sign post for the town of Rachel, Kansas population 838, our eyes set on the old Simmons Mansion and the town drunk Calver (Hal Smith) appears to have been murdered which has Luther Heggs Heggs (Don Knotts (The Private Eyes [1980])) witnessing the crime and clearly showing how easily his character trait of nervous antics will be portrayed throughout the film. It is by the next day the main story begins, at a boarding-house meeting the other tenants and some ‘shy risqué talk’ as well as Heggs, nemesis Ollie (Skip Homeier), their shared love interest Alma (Joan Staley). One does to learn Luther is an aspiring journalist, but currently a timid typesetter (laying out newspapers columns) for the local Rachel Courier Newspaper, (a small-town USA paper) owned by Mr. George Beckett (Dick Sargent (The Clonus Horror [1979])). It is important to note that many people of authority or ownership were announced with the title of ‘Mister.’ Heggs, notes that nephew Nicholas Simmons is back to tear down the infamous house takes the opportunity from janitor Kelsey (Liam Redmond (Curse of the Demon [1957])) retelling the story of the murder of Mrs. Simmons and the suicide of her husband, to note the 20-year anniversary of the shocking tale and supposedly haunted house.
After spending the briefest night at spook-central he hears moans, mad laughter, chains hidden staircase and a blood-stained organ playing itself, all causing a panic-stricken man to flee in terror before finding bloody garden shears in a portrait. He earns a hero’s picnic for his bravery, again small towns have odd ways of celebrating the most mundane of feats, anything good that the local Mayor can praise for more attention is helpful. Soon Nicholas threatens a libel suit, especially when the fidgety bank manager Milo (James Millhollin) can’t sign over the deed as his wife Halcyon (Reta Shaw) owns 51% of the bank and is the head of the Psychic Occult Society and has cosmic bond to the infamous house (which looks like a rendition of Norman Bates’ home leading to an odd courtroom drama with Judge Harley Nast (George Chandler). As for the real killer all is revealed by the end which feels little lie a Scooby-Doo episode that person is…
It only took a swift seventeen days to film using primarily a television crew as they all knew the speed to set up shots and make sure a few retakes were ever needed. The building was originally created in the 1940s it would have an eerie resemblance to that in Psycho, all on a budget of $750,000 and its first week of release on a double bill with Munsters, Go Home [1966] it earned $1.5-million after which it went solo and played for weeks at packed theater houses. Often set decorating isn’t mentioned horror this film owes a nod to both Oliver Emert (Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein [1948]) and John McCarthy Jr. (Fear No Evil [1969]) the meticulous details in the Mansion were exquisitely done well, lending the believability of a home undisturbed for 20-years, the cobweb design appears natural. Rafkin, sadly doesn’t do much for the overall haunting in the movie, especially how he abruptly cuts the end of Luther’s stay at the Simmons’ house, with freeze frame spiraling transition shot commonplace in the mid-60s television shows. It just ruins the atmosphere generated within the confines of the house. Meanwhile the make-up what little that was needed had the skillful had of Bud Westmore (Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff [1949]), however the importance of the music from Vic Mizzy, achieves a last impression, so much that its cherished piece played by many organists, a ghost theme based from song Mr. Ghost Goes to Town by Hudson-Delange Orchestra from June 1936, and had redone by others, the clear influence is easily noticeable on his haunted organ theme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPad47e8gNI
This is a perfect movie to watch with young children or fans of old-fashioned comedic performances, especially those like Jim Carrey, and his rubber-like movements, as Knotts trembles like a light branch in a ferocious windstorm along with bulging eyes. His attributes for physical comedy sell his role very well and his timing is equally enjoyable with the scenes of slurping soup while standing and delivering a nervous public speech. Therefore, the movie is pleasing for a return to yesteryear, and likely for everyone’s enjoyment, though there’s one fleeting moment that a real ghost exists when at a wedding the church organ plays the haunted theme, and the camera pans the cast in fearful shock.
TAGLINES:
- G-G-GUARANTEED! YOU’LL BE SCARED UNTIL YOU LAUGH YOURSELF SILLY! (original theatrical poster – all caps)
- He’s in the middle of a mystery. Without a clue.
- You’ll be so scared – You’ll laugh yourself silly!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059221/
IMDb rating: 7.2/10
Baron’s Rating: 7.0/10