O Fantasma e o Covarde

I remember watching this movie back in the 1960's with my twin sister Tammy and being frightened when Don Knott's character Luther was alone in the haunted Simmon's Mansion. Now that I am grown I realize the movie was not scary at all, but instead is just a lot of fun. This movie is very funny and by far the best film Don Knotts ever made. Whenever I watch this movie (I own the VHS tape) it takes me back to a more innocent time. I also own The Love God, The Relunctant Astronaut, The Shakiest Gun in the West, and How to Frame a Fig, all starring Don Knotts, but this is my favorite movie of his. This is a great family film, and brings back wonderful childhood memories.

As the spunky, witty typesetter of the local newspaper who is sometimes afraid of his own shadow, Don Knotts goes up against the local legendary haunted house, a garden-shears-carrying nemesis, and a real true to life bad guy in this funny, quirky, endearing mystery from Universal's 1966 archives.

"Everything I ever needed to know about life, I learned from the Ghost and Mr. Chicken." the Fiend :.

This is an excellent, wholesome horror/comedy featuring many of your favorite members of the "Mayberry" bunch. It's delightful entertainment for the whole family, and one of Knotts's best performances as the underdog with the stout heart and quaky knees.

And best of all, the ending is a bit of a surprise.

This was my favorite movie as a child, and it rates a 9/10 from...

the Fiend :.

The movie trailers refer to Don Knotts' character, Luther Heggs, as the bravest coward and I think that is an accurate description. Although scared to death, Luther agrees to spend the night in the old Simmons house and stands up to the surly nephew Nicholas Simmons. As usual Don Knotts is hilarious. Several times it looks as if his eyes are going to pop out of their sockets. There is an excellent supporting cast with many very recognizable character actors, among them Dick Sargent (Miles Beckett, Luther's Editor), Reta Shaw (Mrs. Maxwell), Lurene Tuttle (Mrs. Miller), Charles Lane (Mr. Witlow, Nick Simmons' attorney), and of course Ellen Corby (Miss Tremaine). Although they were not credited for their roles there were Hope Summer and Hal Smith, two of Don Knotts' "Andy Griffith Show" co-stars made guest appearances. I saw this film in the when it came out in 1966. I suppose, like me, it's a little dated, but still worth watching. I have it on VHS and watch it when I need a good chuckle. More video rental places should keep classics like this on their shelves.

The first film Don Knotts made after leaving Mayberry to sign a multi-film contract with Universal, I first saw "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" as a tiny tot when it played in support of "Munsters, Go Home" at the drive-in, and it was so funny I forgot all about the severe sunburn I had acquired at the beach earlier in the day. And now, 37 years later, it's still hilarious. An adult, especially a college graduate who majored in English, isn't supposed to admit that "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" is one of his favorite films, at least not without embarrassment at his lack of "sophistication," but I admit it with pride. Knotts may not have had a film career on a par with Laurel and Hardy, but he's their equal in my book and this is his best film. It even manages to be genuinely spooky at times (that organ music-yikes!). This is a comedy classic, and a family film in the best sense of the word.

I haven't ever heard anything about this movie. But once in a while taking a chance with one of the older movies gives one a fun experience like with this amusing comedy.

The movie isn't scary. It is just a comedy. But I am sure watching it for a child can be both funny and scary, and it is family friendly to watch with a kid as well. If kids are willing to watch old movies these days of course.

I am pretty sure this is the first movie with Don Knotts that I watched. And I was impressed by his comedic skills. He is great in physical comedy where he can make his faces and movements alone be pretty funny.

The haunted house as well as comedy scenes seem to be typical of that time. This also includes the court scene that brought a lot of laughter, the elevator scene which also showed Don Knott's great performance as well as the communism joke that made me laugh and pretty excited when I thought about the times when it was made.