What movie was Gordon Lightfoot referring to in the song "If You Could
Read My Mind" by the lyric: ""just like an old time movie 'bout a
ghost from a wishing well."

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 03 Sep 2006 00:14 PDT

Although I haven't been able verify that this is indeed the movie
Gordon Lightfoot was referring to, it has been indicated the movie is
"The Time of Their Lives" with Abbott and Costello.

http://experts.about.com/q/1416/3292446.htm

See post number 430: 
http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=15603


Abbott & Costello: Time of Their Lives / Movie (1946)
"Costello is considered a traitor and sentenced to live in a well
until he as a ghost can prove that he wasn't a traitor. He haunts Bud
Abbott who plays a great great grandson of the man who betrayed
Costello until he finally helps Costello...who plays a tinker, prove
his innocence..."
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0783240562?v=glance


"...Costello plays a tinker who ends up being mistaken as a traitor.
The real traitor (Abbott) sets him up for the fall. He and a woman are
killed and dumped in a well, cursed to the crack of doom or until
proof otherwise is found."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039037/usercomments


Please let me know if this suffices as an answer to your question.

Best regards,
Rainbow

Hello...

I wrote to the keeper of the official Gordon Lightfoot website
(lightfoot.ca) and according to them:

"Lightfoot has said there was no specific movie - just a general reference to
old movies.

Take Care,

Wayne"

Sorry...too clarify...lightfoot.ca 'claims' to be the official (it is
the most complete and up to date) but there is no official site per
se.  Many sites refer back to this one as the official.