A Ghost of a Chance (1967 film)

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A Ghost of a Chance
Ghost of a Chance film Opening titles (1967).jpg
Directed by Jan Darnley-Smith
Screenplay byPatricia Latham
Produced by George H. Brown
Starring
Production
company
Release date
  • 1967 (1967)
Running time
50 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

A Ghost of a Chance is a 1967 British children's film directed by Jan Darnley-Smith and starring Jimmy Edwards, Patricia Hayes, Graham Stark, Terry Scott and Bernard Cribbins. [1] [2] It was written by Patricia Latham based on a story by Ed Harper, and produced for the Children's Film Foundation.

Contents

Plot

Jane, John and Mike want to start a youth club in the old ramshackle Hermitage House. However the Mayor's assistant, in cahoots with a crooked builder, want to demolish the house and sell its contents for scrap. With the help of elderly eccentric Miss Woollie and the two friendly ghosts that live in the house, the children succeed in saving it from demolition.

Cast

The children

The adults

Reception

Kine Weekly wrote: "A jolly bit of magical fun, this should amuse youngsters of most ages. ... With a cast that any feature comedy would be proud to boast, this delightful little fantasy has been made in the best tradition of knockabout farce and a most entertaining variety of physical indignities has been dreamt up for the talented team of 'villains,' headed by Ronnie Barker, Terry Scott and Bernard Cribbins. The benevolent ghosts are played with gusto by Jimmy Edwards and Graham Stark." [3]

Variety wrote that the film had: "a stellar cast that would do credit to any topline feature film." [4]

Vic Pratt wrote for the British Film Institute: "In CFF films – eerily like real life nowadays – switched-on kids have to battle to sort out society’s problems, because most adults are too corrupt, or just too plain dumb, to do the right thing for themselves. In this slightly subversive spectral stonker, clued-up youngsters enlist the aid of friendly ghosts at their local haunted mansion to see off money-mad property developers. Eccentric activist Miss Woollie (Patricia Hayes) is on hand to help out too, while bumbling corporate stooges Ron and Perry (Bernard Cribbins and Terry Scott) fall foul of possessed digger machines." [5]

Critic Derek Winnert wrote: "A Ghost of a Chance is a mild but amusing spiritual farce aimed at a young audience ... Exceptionally nice adults Jimmy Edwards, Bernard Cribbins, Patricia Hayes, Graham Stark, Terry Scott, and Ronnie Barker shine in spirited performances, the main reason to watch the film." [6]

Home media

A Ghost of a Chance is included on the DVD Children’s Film Foundation Bumper Box Vol 2 (2020). [5]

References

  1. ↑ "Ghost of a Chance". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "A Ghost of a Chance". Children's Film Foundation Films Catalogue. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  3. ↑ "Ghost of a Chance". Kine Weekly . 614 (3175): 16. 17 August 1968. ProQuest   2585311889.
  4. ↑ "Ghost of a Chance". Variety . 252 (3): 22. 4 September 1968. ProQuest   1017161672.
  5. 1 2 Pratt, Vic (19 April 2024). "Children's Film Foundation: 10 fabulous films from the home of kid-based hijinks". British Film Institute . Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  6. ↑ Winnert, Derek (9 July 2025). "Ghost of a Chance". derekwinnert.com. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
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