The Spirit Is Willing [Blu-ray]

Director: William Castle William Castle

Overview

In this spooky comedy, a couple and their adolescent son move into a quiet New England summer cottage. Soon their arrival, a series of strange and increasingly destructive occurrences begin to happen. Not believing in poltergeists, the puzzled parents immediately suspect their son. The real perpetrators are a trio of angry ghosts who want the cabin all to themselves. When the mortal family refuses to move, the ghostly trio (two women and a man) sink two boats belonging to the couples' wealthy uncle. Once again the poor boy is blamed and this nearly drives him insane for he can see the ghosts. More trouble follows when one of the lady spirits falls in love with the handsome uncle.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/26/2012
UPC:	0887090041201
Original Release:	1967
Rating:	NR
Source:	Olive
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:40:00
Sales rank:	12,281

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Sid Caesar	Ben Powell
Vera Miles	Kate Powell
Barry Gordon	Steve Powell
John McGiver	Uncle George
Cass Daley	Felicity Twitchell
Ricky Cordell	Miles Thorpe
Mary Wickes	Gloria Tritt
Jesse White	Fess Dorple
Robert Donner	Ebenezer Twitchell
Nestor Paiva	Felicity's Father
Doodles Weaver	Booper Mellish
Jay C. Flippen	`Mother'
Jill Townsend	Jenny/Priscilla Weems/Carol Weems
John Astin	Dr. Frieden
Harvey Lembeck	Capt. Pederson
Mickey Deems	Rabbit Warren
Barry J. Gordon	Steve Powell
Vic Mizzy	Composer

Technical Credits

Ben Starr

William Castle	Producer,Director
Farciot Edouart	Special Effects
Paul K. Lerpae	Special Effects
Lee Vasque	Special Effects
Ben Starr	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Horrormeister William Castle occasionally took a turn for the intentionally silly, as in The Spirit Is Willing, which transforms Nathaniel Benchley's chilling original tale into a broad comedy. While Ben Starr's screenplay wouldn't cause Neil Simon or Mel Brooks to watch their comedic backs, it does have a certain goofy charm to it. The basic premise, of course, is hard to mess up; it's perhaps regrettable that Starr and Castle didn't explore it in a more interesting or original manner, but that doesn't keep Spirit from being moderately enjoyable. Castle's direction tries much too hard to be funny, but he does get great help from his talented cast. Sid Caesar, performing a role that he could have done with his eyes closed, gets more laughs from Starr's words than they deserve, and John McGiver is as drolly self-involved as usual. Vera Miles does very well with a poorly written part, and Mary Wickes and Jesse White are as dependable as always. As the lad being tormented by the ghosts, Barry J. Gordon handles himself well. Spirit is probably best appreciated by Castle aficionados, but it's acceptable and unchallenging rainy day viewing for the average viewer, as well.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler