The Ghost And Mr. Chicken Was Essentially Mayberry On The Big Screen

by: Nina Ross
May 28, 2023

Source: MeTV

After Don Knotts departed from The Andy Griffith Show in the mid-1960s, his absence was deeply felt by fans. However, they were fortunate that Knotts’ first film following his departure was The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, a side-splitting comedy that brought together many beloved characters from Mayberry onto the big screen, including our favorite departing deputy. The movie also featured over a dozen actors and actresses whom we had originally encountered in Mayberry, and this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the numerous connections between this feature film and the cherished classic TV series.

Notably, both writers of The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, James Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum, were responsible for crafting some of the finest episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. They deserve credit for memorable episodes like “The Bank Job,” “High Noon in Mayberry,” “Mountain Wedding,” and “Citizen’s Arrest.” In their first successful movie, they not only enlisted character actors from Mayberry but also drew inspiration from Harvey Bullock, a veteran writer of The Andy Griffith Show, specifically referencing his screenplay for the episode “The Haunted House” as an influence for The Ghost and Mr. Chicken’s plot.

To demonstrate the film’s striking resemblance to Mayberry, we have compiled a photo series below, showcasing screenshots of actors who portrayed notable characters from the show. Simply click on each photo to unveil the actor’s most recognizable role from The Andy Griffith Show.

Lastly, whenever you hear someone exclaiming “Attaboy, Luther!” throughout the movie, that’s writer Everett Greenbaum uttering the catchphrase that, for a while, became a popular inside joke among friends. It serves as a testament to the writers’ ability on The Andy Griffith Show to strike a chord with audiences.