Il fantasma del pirata Barbanera

Fun Disney-fantasy comedy about a pirate/ghost that returns to our time. Enjoyable story that mingles adventure , fantasy , slapdash and amusement . One of Disney's best live-action comedies , this stars Peter Ustinov in the title role as Blackbeard , he has been cursed by his spouse who was an evil witch , so that he will never die . The phantom is suspended between worlds after a curse was put on him by his ex-wife . When a sympathetic trainer named Steve Walker (Dean Jones) arrives in the coastal little town called Godolphin he attends a charity sale and buys an antique bed warmer. After that , Steve discovers a hidden spell and after reading it out aloud he conjures up the title character and he only can see the fantastic pirate , being one important trouble , no one will believe him . The only way to "break" the curse is to do a good act for once in his life . As the notorious pirate is a ghost who has to prevent his descendants from becoming a gambling casino . Meanwhile , an ancient hotel run by some old ladies called ¨Daughters of Buccaneers¨( Elsa Lanchester and others ) of Godolphin little town is under threat of foreclosure from nasty gambling mobster who wishes to construite a house game on the location . As the coach Steve and the gorgeous Jo Anne (Suzanne Pleshette ) help protect his descendants' home from being taken over by racketeers who want to make it casino , both of whom along with the 400-year-old ghost romp around in the motel threatened with closure.

This slapstick fantasy Disney is plenty of adventure , imagination , comedy ad lots of fun . This is a likable sort of a kiddies' adaptation of a ¨ghost story¨ and another attempt for repeat the Mary Poppins magic . Peter Ustinov as the titular phantom of the title is terrific , he steals the show , as himself grins, grunts and botchers around which makes him all the more endearing . Many of the gags are good , but the movie sometimes drags . Highlights of the movie result to be the amusing scenes in which the pirate uses his powers to aid the young runners to gain competitions and fun final at the house game . Well produced by Bill Walsh , colorfully photographed by Edward Colman and lively musical score by Robert Brunner ; the three of them customary experts on Disney fantasy home . The motion picture is well directed by usual craftsman from Disney productions named Robert Steveson who achieved for the famous company its greatest successes such as ¨Mary Poppins¨ , ¨Bednobs and broomsticks , ¨Gnome-mobile¨, ¨Herbie rides again¨ , ¨Absent-minded professor¨, ¨Son of Flubber¨, ¨Shaggy DA¨ , ¨That darn cat¨ , ¨One of our dinosaurs is missing¨ and many others . Rating : Acceptable , 6,5 , worthwhile watching . Amusing and engaging film with effective combination of primitive special effects , live action , adventure , fantasy and humor . The children will get a kick out of this Disney film .

I'm going through the Disney Plus catalog chronologically, and I've recently hit the years when Dean Jones is in basically everything. This was one of my personal favorites growing up. On rewatching these films, I think That Darn Cat is better, but this one is still pretty darn good. It's certainly superior to The Ugly Dachshund, where Jones and Suzanne Pleshette have seemingly no chemistry. In this, their relationship is less integral to the plot, but they work much better together.

Of course, the real draw for the movie and the reason I loved it so much as a child, is the unhinged performance by Peter Ustinov as Blackbeard. It's honestly a little hard to describe his affectations: a lot of shouting, weird noises, and a real commitment to the portrayal of Blackbeard as a drunkard on an emotional roller coaster. It's delightful.

This Ustinov performance is one of the few I saw of him. The amazing ease and wit with which he performs is admirable. Who would have thought that a classic role such as a pirate could be filled in with such dignity. The story itself is a patchwork of silly situations all centring around the fund raising for a group of old ladies. The whole cast is up for a good laugh (I suspect Ustinov has something to do with this) and this gives the movie some swagger. The sets and effect used in the movie are amateurish, BUT this is what makes the movie all the more gullible. Although this might at first seem a movie to be seen on TV on a rainy Saturday afternoon, I recommend you go to the videostore and enjoy it on a Friday night before you go out.

Is this good or bad? I'm genuinely not even sure, but it's hard to doubt that it does suitably entertain.

It constantly hops between cringe/chucklesome and overacted/finely acted. The plot is mindless and impossible to take seriously, though the shenanigans that occur are mostly amusing. It would be a lot worse off without the likeable leads, that's for certain.

Peter Ustinov brings fun as Blackbeard, sometimes his acting is a little too over the top for my personal liking but he has more funny moments than lame ones. He and Dean Jones (Steve) join up well enough, as does Jones with Suzanne Pleshette (Jo Anne) - as already seen two years prior in 'The Ugly Dachshund'.

Not what I had expected, I come away probably wanting something different from 'Blackbeard's Ghost'. However, there is humour in there that's just about enjoyable.

The new Godolphin College track coach, Steve Walker, spends his first night in town at Blackbeard's Inn where he inadvertently summons the ghost of Blackbeard. Blackbeard is cursed to roam through limbo, making life miserable for Walker in the process, unless he can do one good deed to send him on his way to the other side. Helping Godolphin win the big track meet (and saving the Inn in the process) might just be the good deed he needs.

The 60s and early 70s were a prime-time for live action Disney movies like Blackbeard's Ghost. These were good, clean, family films with real actors, real stories, and real comedy. I hadn't seen it in years and maybe it's a nostalgia thing for me, but I found it just as entertaining and fun as ever. A lot of the comedy may be the obvious slapstick type, but it works nonetheless. The entire track meet is a hoot. I suppose my favorite bit may have been the baton pass mix-up during the relay race. Pretty funny stuff. The acting in Blackbeard's Ghost is first rate. Ustinov is very good as Blackbeard. His overacting is exactly what the role calls for. Everyman Dean Jones and the stunning Suzanne Pleshette make the perfect Disney couple. You can't help but root for them. Finally, Elsa Lanchester steals every scene she appears in. A couple of times I found her laugh-out-loud funny. It's a nice cast. Throw in the rousing, very Disney-esque Heart of Oak pirate sing-a-long and you've got a winner.

I doubt a movie like Blackbeard's Ghost would be made today. Ustinov doesn't come close to the image Disney's promoting these days. Too bad, because today's kids and families are missing out.

8/10