An American-International picture, presented by James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff. U.S. release: April 1966. 82 minutes. (The M- G-M DVD rates 10/10).
SYNOPSIS: Showman Karloff leaves his million-dollar estate to Kirk, Kelly and Walley, but Rathbone, White, O'Hara and Rubin want the loot for themselves. Matters are complicated by the invasion of an inept gang of bikies and a do-gooder teenage ghost.
COMMENT: Although billed as a guest, Rathbone is actually a major player in this labored farce. Despite plodding, pedestrian direction and unfunny dialogue, the film still manages to held one's interest, thanks mainly to the game efforts of the players (particularly Quinn O'Hara) and the use of American-International's standing horror sets (which certainly give the movie "class").
The songs also are catchy enough, although it's Nancy Sinatra who provides the stand-out number, "Geronimo". She then, alas, disappears as the spotlight shifts to the nubile Quinn O'Hara. I'm not complaining, but it would have been nice to see more of Nancy as well. Karloff fans will also be disappointed as the king of menace is given little to do but comment on the action from time to time.
Oddly, although everything has been thrown into the pot in a desperate attempt to make the picture as appealing as possible, contemporary audiences stayed away. For all its heavy-handedness, however, the movie bears at least a little bemused watching. And it's an absolute must- see for Nancy Sinatra and Quinn O'Hara fans.
SYNOPSIS: Showman Karloff leaves his million-dollar estate to Kirk, Kelly and Walley, but Rathbone, White, O'Hara and Rubin want the loot for themselves. Matters are complicated by the invasion of an inept gang of bikies and a do-gooder teenage ghost.
COMMENT: Although billed as a guest, Rathbone is actually a major player in this labored farce. Despite plodding, pedestrian direction and unfunny dialogue, the film still manages to held one's interest, thanks mainly to the game efforts of the players (particularly Quinn O'Hara) and the use of American-International's standing horror sets (which certainly give the movie "class").
The songs also are catchy enough, although it's Nancy Sinatra who provides the stand-out number, "Geronimo". She then, alas, disappears as the spotlight shifts to the nubile Quinn O'Hara. I'm not complaining, but it would have been nice to see more of Nancy as well. Karloff fans will also be disappointed as the king of menace is given little to do but comment on the action from time to time.
Oddly, although everything has been thrown into the pot in a desperate attempt to make the picture as appealing as possible, contemporary audiences stayed away. For all its heavy-handedness, however, the movie bears at least a little bemused watching. And it's an absolute must- see for Nancy Sinatra and Quinn O'Hara fans.