Customer Reviews

Blackbeard's Ghost

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I enjoyed the movie. Ustinov was soo funny he made the movie for me. Of course the movie is pretty inane, but I knew that before I bought it. What I didn't know is that the DVD quality is the worst I have ever seen. The sound also had scratches and pops. The picture is faded and streaked. I like these kinds of movies, but I now look to the reviews before I buy Disney movies. For the cost I think they could restore them (and in general make them widescreen).

I ordered this film as part of a "return to childhood" excursion as this was one of those movies that haunted my memory... Fun , fun, fun.. family entertainment and full of the magic that we, or at least I, remembered and treasured about the Disney live action films. The special effects though somewhat dated by our current standards of CG animations and digital effects, were wonderous and still magical. Definitely a treasure that will not remain buried in my collection.

Yet again, another title I would have been happy to surrender my money for, but I refuse to cater to this insulting breed of DVD release. I paid to see these flicks in the theatre, paid again to see them on the Disney Channel, paid for the VHS release, and now they would have gotten money from me yet again. For all of the money I have put in their pockets, am I unreasonable to expect the full width of the screen? Or a trailer? How about a cleaned up print?

Apparently, it's too much bother and Disney doesn't care enough to make their catalog releases the treasured valentines they should be for the films' fans. Other studios manage to treat their older titles with some respect, but Disney seems to only be interested in shovelware, resulting in nothing more than the VHS edition on a disc. No thank you, I'll pass.

Now, should they decide to completely exploit the people who make them rich yet again (by releasing "Special Edition" versions of these titles), I shall only have to buy them once. Otherwise, my VHS copies will have to suffice. In my massive DVD library, the only company that seems to be unrepresented is Disney. It breaks my heart, but it's their one-dimensional buffoonery that is at fault. I recommend all buyers boycott these releases.

I am so disappointed. I have crystal childhood memories of sitting in a darkened theater as the tale of Blackbeard's Ghost was told. All the silliness and charm of Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones, and the wonderful Suzanne Pleshette are present in this release on DVD, but sadly, Disney has really screwed up on this one. Not only is the film not offered in it's widescreen format, nor are there any interesting extras on the disc (not even the trailer!) but absolutely NO care has been taken in transferring the film to DVD. The picture quality is mediocre at best, with obvious scratches and even frequent instances when a peculiar purple haze passes over the screen. Disney should be embarrassed. Rent it - don't buy it.

I am so ashamed to be a fan of this film as this release will upset any person who gets it. Disney MUST release a wide-screen version with extras! What's the point of a DVD if not to expereince some extras (even trailer, etc) and widescreen. AVOID AND TEACH DISNEY A LESSON!

I am so ashamed to be a fan of this film as this release will upset any person who gets it. Disney MUST release a wide-screen version with extras! What's the point of a DVD if not to expereince some extras (even trailer, etc) and widescreen. AVOID AND TEACH DISNEY A LESSON!

While not a great moment in movie history, Blackbeard's Ghost is a fun film for families and stars the always-great Peter Ustinov. I had been looking forward to it's release on DVD as the print I had on VHS was so terrible, I felt surely that the DVD would offer a better print (and based on the quality of the prints on the recently-released Vault Disney titles I had purchased, I felt even more assured that it would). I was sooooo disappointed today when I received my copy of Blackbeard's Ghost. Of all of the DVDs I have purchased from a name studio, this has to be the worst I have ever seen. The print used seems to be the same as the one used for the old VHS I have. The picture contrast is terrible. The print itself is full of scratches and blemishes and the picture is very grainy. Worst of all it is presented in full screen (I seem to remember reading it would be widescreen when it was first announced), which leaves parts of the picture lopped off. An example of this is when Dean Jones' character is talking to a student while driving and the right half of Jones' face is missing while the left half of the student's is gone. The biggest example of the low quality of the print used is the opening titles. Since the film was not presented in widescreen (although it wouldn't have been too wide, I'm sure), the opening credits are "squished" up, with the picture being presented slightly off-center, leaving about a 1 1/2 inch black space up the left side of my screen. I know this film is not considered a classic by most, but I was hoping Disney would have thought it was and done better than this. Maybe some day they will.

I remember watching this movie in class in 1973 and just loved this. Watching it again brought back a lot of memories. I just love these old Disney movies. They do not make them like this anymore. Dean Jones should make more movies.

If you want a really good laugh buy this movie, the actors did an amazing job, I loved this movie. Donna Laverdiere

Steve Walker (Dean Jones) is the new track coach. Looks like track is a joke. However, Steve is determined to change that but only in an above board effort. Seems that Blackbeard's decedents including Emily Stowecroft (Elsa Lanchester) are about to lose their heritage to an unscrupulous gangster. Steve would like to help them also, again in an honorable fashion. Steve whom is full of high morals accidently conjures Blackbeard's Ghost (Peter Ustinov). The ghost has a different take on life. Yet he needs to change his wicked ways if he is ever to get out of limbo.

The fun part of the movie is watching the interaction between Steve and Captain Blackbeard. What is funnier is that only Steve can see Blackbird so what could be a love interest between Steve and School psychiatrist Jo Anne Baker (Suzanne Pleshette) may be in jeopardy.

This looks like a direct transferee form a video. It is in 1.33:1 Full Screen format and fuzzy around the edges. However, the film is so much fun you will not care.

John Goldfarb Please Come Home (1965)~ Peter Ustinov

The Shaggy D.A.