Le fantôme de Barbe Noire

Original title: Blackbeard's Ghost

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

7.1K

YOUR RATING

Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones, and Suzanne Pleshette in Le fantôme de Barbe Noire (1968)

Play trailer1:45

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Slapstick Comedy Family Fantasy

Track coach Steve Walker accidentally invokes the spirit of notorious pirate Captain Blackbeard who was believed dead. He must now lay the pirate to rest and save a local hotel from mobster ... Read allTrack coach Steve Walker accidentally invokes the spirit of notorious pirate Captain Blackbeard who was believed dead. He must now lay the pirate to rest and save a local hotel from mobster Silky Seymour, who wants to build a casino.Track coach Steve Walker accidentally invokes the spirit of notorious pirate Captain Blackbeard who was believed dead. He must now lay the pirate to rest and save a local hotel from mobster Silky Seymour, who wants to build a casino.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

7.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 1:45

Trailer

Photos77

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Storyline

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Trivia
Released in 1968, the 250th anniversary of the death of the real-life Blackbeard the Pirate, Edward Teach.

Goofs
When Blackbeard takes a bottle of rum from the bar, Miss Scowcroft can't see him but she should see the bottle floating in the air.

Quotes
[telling Steve Walker about Blackbeard's tenth wife]
Emily Stowecroft: Aldetha was a witch, you know. She never forgave the Captain for denouncing her to the authorities. When they were burning Aldetha at the stake, she put a terrible curse on him. As the flames crept higher and higher, she screeched her dying words:
[raises her voice and startles Steve]
Emily Stowecroft: "*Edward Teach*, sometimes known as Captain Blackbeard, when you come to die, may your body and soul be racked between this world and the next, always to be alone! May this curse hold fast and true, may you be held forevermore in limbo, until such time as there be found in you, most wicked of all villains - "
[laughs maniacally]
Emily Stowecroft: " - some spark of human goodness!"
Emily Stowecroft: [in her calm, normal voice again] Well, good night, Mr. Walker. Sleep well! The dining room will be open for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Please be prompt.

Connections
Featured in L'ami public numéro un: La belle au bois dormant (1971)

Soundtracks
Heart of Oak
(uncredited)
Traditional
Music by William Boyce
Lyrics by David Garrick
Performed by Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette

User reviews61

Featured review

8/10

"By thunder! This raises my blood! There be a time for action! Hang on old ladies, Blackbeard's coming! Up the Jolly Roger!"

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