After seeing what a lackluster bunch of athletes the Godolphin track team is made up of, new coach Steve Walker ( Dean Jones ) has his doubts that he can whip them into shape for the new season and begins to despair. Just look at that despondent face....but by thunder! Why should he despair when he has the aid of that incorrgible rum-guzzlin' rascal of a pirate, Captain Blackbeard ( Peter Ustinov ), to help him win the upcoming tournament?
A rare still from the 1967 Walt Disney comedy Blackbeard's Ghost.
I just watched BLACKBEARD'S GHOST earlier this year for the first time! I can't imagine a more amusing Blackbeard than Ustinov. I wonder how many Disney live action films included scene of sporting events? There's the basketball game in THE ABSENT-MINDED PROFESSOR, the football game in SON OF FLUBBER, GUS, THE WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETE....
ReplyDeleteUstinov certainly was amusing. The first time we watched Blackbeard's Ghost we thought it terribly long and dragged out, but we've since watched it five more times and enjoy it more and more with each subsequent viewing. All of the Disney films have a way of growing on you. Medfield College was Disney's fictional college full of spunky - but rather air-headed lads. I'm not sure why they changed the name to Godolphin for this outing, unless its because of the unique location this film had. Wasn't Elsa Lanchester a delight in the movie too?
DeleteThe intention of this comment is to let you know that I've nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award!! Just check out my post for all the rules and have fun with it. http://moviedavid.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-versatile-blogger-i.html
ReplyDeleteWa-hey! Thanks for the nomination David! We've never considered ourselves very versatile but we certainly do have an eclectic selection of film topics. ;-)
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