Rating: 
Summary: "And they used Bon Ami!"
Review: In 1966, Alan Rafkin directed one of the best Don Knott's comedies entitled "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken". Set in a fictional town in Kansas, Don Knotts plays the nervous and shy Luther Heggs, who works as a typesetter for the town's local newspaper. More than anything, Luther wants to become a full-fledged newspaper reporter, but his manager, George Beckett (Dick Sargent, who played the second Darrin Stevens in the 1964-1972 TV series "Bewitched"), won't promote him. Located in the town is the abandoned Simmon's house where several murders occurred 20 years earlier. The local townsfolk believe the house is haunted because eerie organ music can be heard coming from it every midnight. (The music was composed by Vic Mizzy, who composed music for many films, as well as TV series such as "The Addams Family", "Green Acres" and "Quincy" to name a few.)Luther is challenged to spend one night in the abandoned Simmon's house. With knees a-knocking and teeth a-chattering, Luther enters the Simmon's house with sleeping bag in hand. What ensues is some of the best Don Knotts acting and comedy ever seen as Luther is scared and runs from the house. He is quickly hailed as a town hero, especially by several older ladies, many of which live in the same boarding house as Luther: Mrs. Halcyon Maxwell (Reta Shaw, who played Mrs. Brill in the 1964 classic "Mary Poppins", as well as the occasional Aunt Hagatha in "Bewitched"), Mrs. Natalie Miller (Lurene Tuttle, who played Eliza Chambers in the 1960 classic "Psycho"), Mrs. Hutchinson (Jesslyn Fax), and Mrs. Cobb (Nydia Westman). Other notable characters in the film include Luther's girlfriend Alma Parker (Joan Staley), Kelsey (Liam Redmond), Ollie Weaver (Skip Homeier) and Nicholas Simmons (Philip Ober). "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" is a classic comedy that is not dated and continues to entertain young and old alike. I rate the film with 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend purchase of the film on widescreen DVD!
Rating:
Summary: Great Film Finally Reaches DVD
Review: This is one of my all time favorite films and very entertaining. The other reviews here cover that well. The new dvd version was one that I had been waiting for and it's great that it is presented in widescreen format. However, the did not improve the audio into Dolby. It is a mono track which is unfortunate. They should have improved the sound. The only true extra is the original trailer. I give the film 5 stars, but the dvd sountrack is only a 1 star. Nevertheless, I'm glad it is at least out on dvd.
Rating:
Summary: Knotts So Funny!
Review: Spooky fun in the vein of Bob Hope's "Ghost Breakers", built around the considerable comic talents of Don Knotts. Knotts plays a timid would-be reporter in a small Kansas town who is given the challenge of spending the night in the local haunted house, site of a reported murder-suicide twenty years earlier. Teeth chattering and legs quaking, our hapless hero encounters screeching cats, sliding bookcases, secret staircases, an organ that plays by itself, a bleeding portrait ... all the classic features of any self-respecting "murder mansion". Lionized for his bravery, Knotts becomes the town hero, only to have the rug pulled out from under him when the ghosts later fail to reappear. Of course it all ends well, with Knotts solving an old mystery and yep! even winning The Girl. (Did you doubt it?!) Although Knotts' kinetic performance is the centerpiece of the film, he's helped along by a marvelous supporting cast, members of which will be delightfully familiar to fans of 1960's and 1970's TV sitcoms, including Dick Sergeant and Sandra Gould of "Bewitched", Reta Shaw from "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir", Lurene Tuttle of "Julia", and many other beloved faces. Joan Staley makes an appealing leading lady, and director Alan Rafkin keeps the comedy moving right along, with one or two genuine shivers added to the proceedings. The end result is a well-loved cult comedy that holds up well under repeated viewings. Universal's DVD release features an excellent film-to-video transfer with exceptional picture and sound. The colors are crisp and bright, just the way I remembered them being when I first saw the movie in a theatre as a kid. The Original Theatrical Trailer is included and adds to the fun. This DVD is definitely one to own, so that its many pleasures can be enjoyed again and again.
Rating:
Summary: A Don Knotts Must See!
Review: What can I say. The music is perfect, the supporting cast spot on and the added bonus of the trailer all combine to make this a must have for Don Knotts fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Halloween Fun
Review: "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" takes the familiar story of the haunted house at the end of the neighborhood and turns it into something that is comical and timeless. The film is filled with believable characters, a cheerful small town atosmphere, and a fun Halloween feel, not unlike "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" or "Munster, Go Home". It is great to finally have this Don Knotts' treasure on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Comedy
Review: A true homage to the haunted house films we all grew up watching. Don is in rare form as the natural chicken to have to spend a night in the old Simpson house. Great supporting stars and a humorous running gag of someone yelling "Atta boy, Luther!" everytime Don's trying to explain himself. Also, vintage Knotts in the scene where he has to recite a speech at a picnic, and already nervous, loses his notes to the wind. Anyone who only knows Don's work from Three's Company or even Andy Griffith, this is a must-buy. The best of Don's films, apologies to all the Limpet fans out there.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite comedies of the 1960's!
Review: I think this is Don Knotts at his best! And it is one of only two films Don did at Universal that was shot in WIDESCREEN! The other was SHAKIEST GUN IN THE WEST. This will only be the second time THE GHOST AND MR. CHICKEN gets released in letterboxed form for home viewing (it was previously on Laserdsic). If you have never seen this outside of it's television broadcast or VHS tape, you will be seeing a new version of this movie. Cuts & pans seen on TV will now become one shot with both people in the same frame at opposite sides of the picture. A must-get WIDESCREEN DVD!
Rating:
Summary: BEST DON KNOTTS film!
Review: I love all his films BUT this is the BEST! Also, the BEST VIC MIZZY Soundtrack and the soundtrack is coming out on CD to go along with the NEW DVD from PERCEPTO! I knew this would happen one day...glad that one day is here! Rick Goldschmidt
Rating:
Summary: Attaboy Luther!
Review: Great great movie. Did you know that Tom Bosley was the man who yelled "Attaboy Luther" throughout the movie?
Tom Bosley was the Dad in Happy Days. Not a big part and uncredited in the show but very memorable. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Finally A Gem From My Childhood on DVD
Review: This movie won my heart back in 1966 when it was released and I saw it when I was 12 years old. It entertained me then and later on in life, I enjoyed it more being able to understand some of the jokes meant for adults. Don Knotts gives a great performance as a shy, bumbling, frightened reporter wannabe, who from the opening credits begins to lay the goundwork for that character. Along with the unmistakable music of Vic Mizzy, who also did the Addams Family Theme song. The supporting cast are also terrific including Dick Sargent (who played the 2nd Darren on Bewitched) and Rita Shaw playing the after life believing Mrs. Halcyon Maxwell. I am so glad this will be released in the Wide Screen format because it will be like seeing it again at the theater in 1966. Also, this movie is great for kids and fun for adults.
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