Alan Rafkin

in 1870, bumbling Philadelphia-based dentist Jesse W. Haywood (Don Knotts) travels west to set up a practice in the frontier. There, he meets Penelope Cushings (Barbara Rhoades), a pretty bandit who has agreed to investigate an Indian gun-smuggling operation in exchange for her freedom. When their wagon train is attacked, Penelope shoots several Indians dead. However, Jesse falsely assumes it was his errant gunshots that saved the wagon, and soon earns a reputation as a great gunslinger.

Figuring the answers to the mystery lie in the old Simmons mansion, so Luther Heggs (Knotts) visits the estate at the witching hour of midnight. Certain he's seen a ghost, Luther writes a story which makes front page news-and brings on a libel suit from the mansion's owner. When the trial judge orders an investigation=and no apparition appears-Luther is branded a fraud. That is, until he and his devoted girlfriend team up to uncover the mystery of the hauntings-and the true murderer-in this timeless comedy classic.