Watch Blackbeard's Ghost

Blackbeard’s Ghost is a 1968 Disney family comedy that follows the adventures of Steve Walker (played by Dean Jones), a track coach from a small New England college, who stumbles upon the ghost of notorious pirate Blackbeard (played by Peter Ustinov). The film opens with Steve struggling to keep his team from being disbanded due to lack of funding. Hoping to find a way to save the team, he takes a job as a temporary innkeeper at the dilapidated Blackbeard’s Inn, a run-down hotel rumored to be haunted by the infamous pirate who once terrorized the coastal waters of North Carolina.

Upon arriving at the inn, Steve is met with a series of strange occurrences that lead him to believe that Blackbeard’s ghost is indeed haunting the place. Things only get weirder when the ghost himself appears, and Steve is forced to make a deal with him in order to save the team - they must work together to win a track race or else Blackbeard’s ghost will be stuck at the hotel forever.

Steve soon realizes that Blackbeard’s ghost is more of a liability than an asset, as the flamboyant pirate has become addicted to 20th-century pleasures such as television and cheeseburgers, and is more interested in partying than helping Steve win the race. However, as they work together, Steve and Blackbeard develop a reluctant friendship, and Steve must learn to navigate Blackbeard’s quirky personality and powers to succeed.

Along the way, Steve also falls in love with the beautiful innkeeper of the rival hotel, Jo Anne Baker (played by Suzanne Pleshette), who initially challenges Steve’s skepticism about the supernatural but eventually becomes his ally.

The film is a classic Disney comedy, filled with slapstick humor and family-friendly hijinks. It features a standout performance by Peter Ustinov, who plays Blackbeard with a blend of menace, flamboyance, and goofiness. Ustinov’s performance was praised by critics at the time, and he even won a Golden Globe for his role.

Blackbeard’s Ghost also features some memorable sequences, such as a wild night of ghostly revelry at a nearby military base, and a frantic chase scene involving a stolen helicopter.

The film was directed by Robert Stevenson, who had previously directed several other Disney classics such as Mary Poppins and The Love Bug. The script was adapted from a book by Ben Stahl, and was written by Bill Walsh, who had also co-written the script for the popular Disney film The Shaggy Dog.

Although the film was not a box office smash upon its original release, it has since become a cult classic and a beloved film for many Disney fans. It remains a charming and entertaining family comedy that showcases the talents of its cast and crew, and is a must-see for anyone who loves classic Disney films.

Overall, Blackbeard’s Ghost is a fun-filled adventure that combines comedy, romance, and the supernatural in a way that only Disney can. It’s a perfect family film that can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages, and is sure to leave a smile on your face.

Blackbeard's Ghost is a 1968 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 71.