Attaboy, Luther!

The Ghost and Mr. Chicken gave Don Knotts his first major role since The Andy Griffith Show. The Incredible Mr. Limpet was made during a hiatus, but anything since was made after he left the show. Although I haven’t watched The Andy Griffith Show, I am familiar with Knotts’ charming goofiness. My mom thought I’d enjoy The Ghost and Mr. Chicken since it’s another unconventional horror comedy. The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is not at all what I was expecting.

I was expecting a supernatural buddy comedy where Knotts is haunted by a mischievous ghost, but that isn’t the case at all. Knotts actually plays local laughing stock Luther Heggs. Luther is a typesetter who wants to prove himself as a serious reporter. He gets his chance when asked to stay one night in a haunted house on the anniversary of a murder-suicide. Luther is an entertaining chicken who gets into all sorts of frightened antics.

The haunting is spooky, but the upbeat music keeps things fun. Though it seems like the ghost is real, most of the movie is about Luther trying to prove his story to a courtroom and superstitious citizens of Rachel City, Kansas. There’s also a cute love story between Luther and Joan Staley as his above average love interest Alma. The funniest running gag involves a random off-screen voice shouting “Attaboy, Luther!” every few minutes. The Ghost and Mr. Chicken scares up more than a few laughs.

Luther Heggs gets scared