mark.waltz With a bouncy score in the background (similar to the more famous "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken"), we learn the secret of this New England set of ghosts all killed and destined to spend eternity together in 1898. The ghastly looking Cass Daley, desperate for a husband, marries a sea captain desperate to inherit her estate and a bigger ship, and on their wedding night discovers him being a rascal. Butcher knives fly and before you know it, three are dead, their ghostly images doomed to roam the earth until Daley (believe it or not!) looses her virginity! These ghosts aren't like the sea captain from "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir"; the earthlings who come into their presence can actually feel them, not only metaphysically but flesh-wise as well. Almost 70 years after the Maine coastline murder, the ailing Sid Caesar and his wife Vera Miles show up with their embittered teenaged son (Barry Gordon) for a "rest" and when Gordon encounters each of them, pots are thrown through windows, the living room is made a mess and Miles' meddling uncle (John McGiver) is pushed down a flight of stairs, all of the blame put on the innocent teen. The adults don't believe the legend until they meet the look-alike of one of them (Jill Townsend) who explains the story, and from there, Gordon is determined to end the curse, find the ghostly Daley a mate and convince his parents he was innocent of all the mischief they blamed him for. A superb supporting cast includes such fun faces as Jesse White, Mary Wickes and Jay C. Flippen. Wickes proves how perfect she could have been as Tugboat Annie as the rather tough but legend-spouting caretaker who eerily reveals her situation when encountered by the ghosts. She totally reminded me of the famous "Large Marge" sequence from "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" as her story gets more and more dramatic. John Astin of "The Addams Family" plays a visitor who has his share of gay insinuations with Gordon and Astin each believing the other may be living an alternative life-style. The inclusion of this is subtle and not offensive, and amusing through each of them making light-hearted cracks at the other's expense.While not a classic in the comedy horror genre of films like "Arsenic and Old Lace" and the "Topper" series, this is a very amusing film and one of William Castle's better later efforts. Everybody seems to be having a great time, the sets and location photography are ideal, and that musical score by Vic Mizzy (who had earlier wrote the score to "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" as well as several 60's cult classics) will stay in your head long after the movie is over.

jbar19 I really wanted to like this movie. After all, it is a Whos-Who of great comedians (Sid Caesar, Mary Wickes, John Astin, Jesse White and William Castle). But not even these giants can rescue this go-nowhere story.There are no real jokes, it's all a matter of "OH-You-just-missed-seeing-the-ghost" jokes. Vic Mizzy created a great score and the Jill Townsend is a cutie. Plus, there are a few surprising sexual developments that seem risqué for the time period. But that is it.It seems more like an average episode of "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" without the cute dog.Sad. I really looked forward to this one. I even watched it several times to give it a chance. I gave it a 5/10 ONLY because of the great cast.

wjw32 Oh my god! I've been looking for this movie for years and years. I saw it once when I was a teenager (i'm 38 now) and I have never forgotten it,including the catchy tune. All I could remember was felicity and a sinking ship at that end and I've been on the web tonight posting messages to try to learn the title. In doing so, I remembered that Sid Ceasar was in the film. Thanks to this website for removing the splinter from my mind. I have a wonderful Jerry Lewis collection and I'm starting the beach movie collection now; This is definitely a film I would love to own and would love for my daughter to see. If anyone knows how to buy this film, please let me know.

tampasaint Certain movies can stick with you after years and years.I've only seen "The Spirit is Willing" two or three times, probably most often on the CBS Late Night Movies. (That was way back in the Stone Age, when Carson was the only late-night talk show. I was probably in elementary or junior high school and would stay up way too late to watch the movies that started at 10:30 Central time. But enough about that.)"The Spirit is Willing" was one of those silly, harmless comedies so fondly remembered. It had the hapless dad, the loving mother and the teenage son who was smarter than either, except when it came to the romance department.What teenage boy wouldn't want to live in a house with a beautiful and sexy blonde ghost?! Oh, and of course, he had a beautiful blond girlfriend who looked just like the ghost!!This is a movie the way they used to be made! Not hilarious, but definitely funny ... a guilty pleasure. (Now if only it would be re-released!)