Blackbeard's Ghost
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (July 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
Blackbeard's Ghost is a live-action 1968 Disney film starring Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette. It is based upon the novel of the same name written by Ben Stahl.
[edit] Plot
The film depicts struggling track coach Steve Walker, who has recently been hired on in an attempt to salvage the skill-less track team of Godolphin College. With the pivotal track meet only a few weeks removed from the present time, Walker shows little hope of developing the seemingly worthless team.
After a chance encounter with a scrap of paper containing the spells of Captain Blackbeard's tenth wife Aldetha (a well-known witch), Walker conjures up the ghost of Blackbeard himself (Ustinov), a socially-inappropriate drunkard whose contempt for humanity has damned him to an existence in limbo, unless he can perform some good deed that may break the curse.
The two are bound to one another by the power of the spell; as a result, Steve must deal with the antics of the wayward pirate while attempting a romantic relationship with an attractive Godolphin professor, Jo Anne Baker (Pleshette); reviving Godolphin's track team; and thwarting the greedy exploits of local crime boss Silky Seymour, who wishes to seize the hotel at which Steve Walker received Aldetha's writings. This proves very difficult, as only Steve Walker is able to see or hear Blackbeard's ghost. Ultimately, Silky Seymour is humiliatingly and finally trounced, leaving Steve Walker, the Godolphin track team, and Jo Anne Baker to fulfill their respective desires. Having revealed Blackbeard to his hero-worshipping descendants, the innkeepers who are Steve Walker's hosts, Steve Walker abets his departure to the afterlife. There, Blackbeard joins his former crews.
[edit] Cast
|
|
* Billed in opening credits, but not closing credits; not credited with specific rôle on-screen. These parts can now be identified: Herb Vigran (Danny Oly); William Fawcett (Mr. Ainsworth, the bank official); Betty Bronson, Elsie Baker, Kathryn Minner, Sara Taft (Old ladies).
