The Spirit Is Willing

The Spirit Is Willing is a 1967 American horror comedy film directed by William Castle, written by Ben Starr, and starring Sid Caesar, Vera Miles, Barry Gordon, John McGiver, Cass Daley, Ricky Cordell and Mary Wickes. Based on The Visitors by Nathaniel Benchley, it was released in July 1967, by Paramount Pictures. Plot Ben (Sid Caesar) and Kate Powell (Vera Miles) rent a haunted New England house by the sea where their son Steve (Barry Gordon) cops the blame for mayhem caused by the pranks of three mischievous ghosts. Soon after their arrival, a series of strange and increasingly destructive occurrences begin to happen. Not believing in poltergeists, the puzzled parents immediately suspect their son. The real perpetrators are a trio of angry ghosts who want the cabin all to themselves. When the mortal family refuses to move, the ghostly trio (two women and a man) sink two boats belonging to the couples' wealthy uncle. Once again the poor boy is blamed and this nearly drives him insane for he can see the ghosts. More trouble follows when one of the lady spirits falls in love with the uncle. Cast Sid Caesar as Ben Powell Vera Miles as Kate Powell Barry Gordon as Steve Powell John McGiver as Uncle George Cass Daley as Felicity Twitchell Ricky Cordell as Miles Thorpe Mary Wickes as Gloria Tritt Jesse White as Fess Dorple Robert Donner as Ebenezer Twitchell Mickey Deems as Rabbit Warren Nestor Paiva as Felicity's Father Doodles Weaver as Booper Mellish Jay C. Flippen as Mother Jill Townsend as Jenny Pruitt / Priscilla Weems / Carol Weems John Astin as Dr. Frieden William Castle as Mr. Hymer Byron Foulger as Drug Store Owner Harvey Lembeck as Captain Pederson