MovieChat Forums > The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) Discussion > Based on Andy Griffith episode??

Based on Andy Griffith episode??

posted 18 years ago by YankeeDood
7 replies | jump to latest

I am just wondering if this movie was inspired by that classic episode in Andy Griffith where Barney (Knotts) must investigate an old spook house in Mayberry.
I remember him walking around the house and the paintings watching him.
The character who played "Otis" was also in this movie in an identical role as the town drunk.

Whatever the case, I admire both the movie and the show. Hopefully I can buy "Mr. Chicken" on DVD or record it off satellite tv around Halloween. It's a must-have for haunted house nostalgists.

-L31

[–] jrs-8 18 years ago

It may have been inspired by that episode and I saw in an interview that Andy Griffith helped develope the story even though he took no credit for it.

As for the actor who played Otis being in this you have to remember that they were a close knit family on the show so seeing anyone from the show (and remember that Aunt Bee's best friend Clara also appears in the movie) is no surprise.

I own the DVD and watching it at Halloween is a must.

[–] tdf5g 18 years ago

There are about a dozen or so actors that appear in TGAMC that also appeared on The Andy Griffith Show.

[–] porfle 15 years ago

And as for the title, it's a takeoff on the title of the film THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR. Although I actually didn't notice that until just a few years ago!

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[–] MedioSiglo 14 years ago

Luther had many of Barney's mannerisms and facial expressions so I did enjoy watching Don Knotts performing as Barney's "twin in Rachel, Kansas."

Why ain't you at the garden party you heathen?

[–] ridgerunner72160-609-362419 9 years ago

I agree. When Barney did the karate thing with his hands and then tells Alma how his whole body is a weapon, I thought to myself "This is Barney bragging to Thelma Lou"...LOL.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mojo2004 8 years ago

I am just wondering if this movie was inspired by that classic episode in Andy Griffith where Barney (Knotts) must investigate an old spook house in Mayberry.
I remember him walking around the house and the paintings watching him.
The character who played "Otis" was also in this movie in an identical role as the town drunk.

Whatever the case, I admire both the movie and the show. Hopefully I can buy "Mr. Chicken" on DVD or record it off satellite tv around Halloween. It's a must-have for haunted house nostalgists.

Yes it was. Andy Griffith suggested they expand on that episode 'The Haunted House' (s4 #2) in a film because Knotts had a 5 film deal with Universal and had done 1 already. The film was directed by Alan Rafkin with a screenplay by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum; all three men had been associated with the success of The Andy Griffith Show. It's plain to see that they simply gave the 'Barney Fife' character a different name. But it worked. Fans loved Don Knotts as Barney and missed him a lot after he left the show.

Besides Hal Smith , the film had a number of character actors who were all known for their roles on TAGS even if it was just one time:

Hope Summers played Clara Edwards

Reta Shaw played Barney's vocal coach, Mrs Poultice & a convict, Big Maude

Ellen Corby played Mrs Lesh a used car dealer

Burt Mustin played Judd a recurring character

Charles Lane played Mr Frisby the bottlegger/farmer

Lurene Tuttle -was the shoplifter

James Millhollin-Mr Finch

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