A couple and their teenage son rent a haunted New England seaside house, and their summer vacation turns into a ghost-hunt.A couple and their teenage son rent a haunted New England seaside house, and their summer vacation turns into a ghost-hunt.A couple and their teenage son rent a haunted New England seaside house, and their summer vacation turns into a ghost-hunt.
William Castle
- Mr. Hymer
- (uncredited)
Byron Foulger
- Drug Store Owner
- (uncredited)
Harvey Lembeck
- Capt. Pederson
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe novel this movie was based on, "the Visitors" by Nathaniel Benchley, was published with art by Charles Addams, whose "Addams Family" comics were the basis for the TV series which made "Spirit is Willing" co-star John Astin a star. Furthermore, director William Castle previously worked directly with Addams, as the cartoonist provided drawings for Castle's 1963 film "The Old Dark House".
- GoofsWhen Ben is in the bathroom preparing to go to bed the first night, he walks out wearing slippers, when he enters the bedroom he is bare foot.
- Quotes
Ben Powell: Look, you can't afford a new car.
Steve Powell: But dad, neither can you but you drive one.
Ben Powell: I'm too poor to drive an old car.
- Crazy creditsThe people in this movie are fictitious. Only the ghosts are real.
- ConnectionsReferenced in All the Way Down (1968)
Featured review
I too thought I dreamed this movie
I saw this on late night TV as a teenager, and remember certain cast members. That was the only way I was able to find this film in the database. I cross referenced Mary Wickes with the butterfly collector on a Gilligan's Island episode. His name escaped me then, but it is John McGiver. Recently I bought a copy of the original book, and it was well written. The basic plot is the same, but Castle's comedic treatment did take away from the scarier aspects of the story. Incidentally Nathaniel Benchley, the author of the book was the father of Jaws author Peter Benchley. Humorist Robert Benchley was Nathaniel's own father. I keep requesting this to play on Turner Classic Movies to play it, but I doubt it is classic enough. Maybe if they do a b-series of William Castle gimmick films it will fit the format. Paramount handles distribution of it. Maybe it will come out on DVD some day...
***Update*** I bought the eastern European import DVD from a Florida company, and watched it today. It is as amusing as I remember -- very much in the "spirit" of the madcap sixties decade in which it was made.
As is often the case, it pales in comparison to the original media. But that argument is so old its cliché. I'd like to see the book made into a true horror movie, but that's for a different forum than this. If this movie ever is released on DVD in the USA, I expect it to go straight to the $5.50 discount bin. But I do bet it gets snatched up by people like us. Us being the people that look up this movie on IMDb.
***Update*** I bought the eastern European import DVD from a Florida company, and watched it today. It is as amusing as I remember -- very much in the "spirit" of the madcap sixties decade in which it was made.
As is often the case, it pales in comparison to the original media. But that argument is so old its cliché. I'd like to see the book made into a true horror movie, but that's for a different forum than this. If this movie ever is released on DVD in the USA, I expect it to go straight to the $5.50 discount bin. But I do bet it gets snatched up by people like us. Us being the people that look up this movie on IMDb.
helpful•122
- fillipsk
- Aug 4, 2006
- How long is The Spirit Is Willing?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1
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By what name was The Spirit Is Willing (1967) officially released in Canada in English?
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