Blackbeard's Ghost

Blackbeard's Ghost follows a playful pirate spirit who returns to help his distant descendant, Emily Stowecroft, who runs a small group home for seniors. When scheming developers push Emily and her friends out so they can build a crooked casino, the ghost stirs up mischief to level the playing field. By tapping into Captain Blackbeard's powers, the apparition brings chaos and charm, guiding Emily through the threat with a wink and a warning. A well meaning but anxious man named Steve Walker gets caught in the middle after accidentally summoning the legendary buccaneer, leading to a comic tug of war between greed and goodwill that tests friendships and community loyalties. The film also celebrates standing up for home and neighbors.

Released by Disney in 1968 and directed by Robert Stevenson, Blackbeard's Ghost draws on an original screenplay by Don DaGradi, Ben Stahl and Bill Walsh. The family friendly fantasy blends comic scares with a light hearted pirate fantasy for kids.

Critically the film sat comfortably in Disney's mid range for 1960s live action comedies, offering breezy humor with a gentle moral about community and looking out for the vulnerable. It plays with spectral mishaps and good natured romance while keeping a warm, welcoming tone for families.

Featuring Peter Ustinov as Blackbeard, Elsa Lanchester and a breezy Dean Jones, the film became a memorable fixture of 1960s family entertainment and a touchstone for Disney live action fare that mixes folklore with pratfall comedy. It still gets cited as nostalgic light hearted piracy that still warms future viewers.

Box office data is not provided in the available materials. The film, though modest in earnings, remains a cheerful reminder of Disney's late 1960s family oriented fantasy cinema. Its light hearted tone and playful performances continue to charm generations today.