BLACKBEARD'S GHOST
US, 1967, 107 minutes, Colour.
Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones, Suzanne Pleshette, Elsa Lanchester.
Directed by Robert Stevenson.
Blackbeard's Ghost: So you, like the men of the 18th. century, thought Blackbeard was warming himself in Hell. You're wrong. He was in Limbo till he made this most successful comeback as Blackbeard's Ghost. The film's rather slow start shows that today things are a bit dull, but once Blackbeard arrives in the form of Peter Ustinov, the humorous pace is on. It's the old Invisible Man situation over again. With a nice blending of now we see him, now we don't, the film proves that even old situations need never be dull. Highlights are Blackbeard's part in the campus athletics carnival, his casino skill and his smashing up the local thugs. Peter Ustinov is no ordinary Blackbeard. His comic sense, his mobile face, his voice are most enjoyable. A family film, suitable for adults too.
1. The popularity of Disney film? Family entertainment? The qualities: pleasantness, whimsy, fantasy? The appeal of this film to young audiences, adults?
2. The presuppositions about pirate film and audience familiarity, satirising them? The gentle mocking of the pirate traditions, American college traditions? Romance?
3. The background of Godolphin - a small town, the pirate traditions, the bay, the inns, the hotel looking like Blackbeard's ship, the small college and its competitiveness, gangsters and the quibbling on legal rights for casinos? The atmosphere of America, the '60s?
4. The importance of colour photography, the atmosphere of the town? The special effects especially for Blackbeard's presence, the use of Invisible Man conventions: the sports, the gambling, the fights, Blackbeard in the restaurant? Audience familiarity with these - and the eager anticipation of accidents etc, and the enjoyment of their happening?
5. Peter Ustinov's strength as Blackbeard - the explanation of the curse, his continued drinking. the 18th. century pirate trying to get used to the 20th. century. his reaction to the car, the motor cycle? His being hurt by Steve's reaction? His wanting to help? His attachment to the old ladies? His gambling on Godolphin's role in the sports events - and his manoeuvres to make them win? His behaviour in the restaurant? His reaction to the gambling and his helping the winning? The fights with the gangsters? A three-dimensional character -dress, manner of speaking, feelings? His being hurt by Steve, his friendship with Jo-Anne? His appearance at the end and his happily returning to his ship? The quality of this impersonation of Blackbeard?
6. Steve as hero - his driving into the town, his attraction towards Joanne, his defying the gangsters, his role in the auction? The old ladies and the fortunetelling sequence? His tiredness, the incantation and Blackbeard's appearance? His continued talking to him (and the humour of others not seeing him and his behaving as if he were talking with Blackbeard, singing etc.?), his role as coach, the hopelessness of the members? The dinner and the interaction with Joanne? His principles being tested during the sports event? The gambling? The burning of the mortgage and the happy ending with Jo-Anne? The conventional clean-cut American hero?
7. Jo-Anne? and her role at Godolphin, her place at the auction, her taunting of Steve? Her working with the Dean, the football coach? Her trying to observe Steve and her worry about him? The dinner, the bet? Her enjoying the gambling? The final seeing of Blackbeard and the happy ending? The American heroine?
8. The old ladies and their pirate tradition, their needs, the money, their presence at the sports, the finale?
9. Seymour and the crooks? The spoofing of the gangster types? The final fights?
10. The Dean and his attitude towards the college. towards the sports, his final clash with the football coach? The football coach and his size and presumption? The other characters and their contribution - for example the waiter with all his accidents?
11. Conventional material made enjoyable - with the Disney values?
