Ghost Story (1981)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

John Irvin

Writers:

Lawrence D. Cohen (writer)
Peter Straub (novel)

Release Date:

18 December 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Tagline:

The time has come to tell the tale.

Plot:

Four successful elderly gentlemen, members of the Chowder Society, share a gruesome, 50-year old secret...

Plot Keywords:

Secret | Accident | Curse | Female Frontal Nudity | Fall From Height

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Fred Astaire	...	Ricky Hawthorne
Melvyn Douglas	...	Dr. John Jaffrey
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.	...	Edward Charles Wanderley
John Houseman	...	Sears James
Craig Wasson	...	Don Wanderley / David Wanderley
Patricia Neal	...	Stella Hawthorne
Alice Krige	...	Eva Galli / Alma Mobley
Jacqueline Brookes	...	Milly
Miguel Fernandes	...	Gregory Bate
Lance Holcomb	...	Fenny Bate
Mark Chamberlin	...	Young Jaffrey
Tim Choate	...	Young Hawthorne
Kurt Johnson	...	Young Wanderley
Ken Olin	...	Young James
Brad Sullivan	...	Sheriff Hardesty

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | West Germany:16 | Spain:18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Albany, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Melvyn Douglas (Dr. John Jaffery) is actually mentioned in the novel on which the movie is based.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ricky is having the car dragged up from the lake, it changes between day and night several times.

Quotes:

Don: Well, what happened to her?
Sears James: Well, that's obvious, isn't it?
Ricky Hawthorne: We killed her.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in What Lies Beneath (2000)

Soundtrack:

Sweetheart of Sigma Chi

"An intelligent scary movie, a classic treasure, worth your time."

I just finished viewing this film, sadly a faded print, little treasure for the fifth time, since its release in 1981. Its worth your time and attention. The cinema-photography is excellent. The film's musical score is excellent. Performances are often brilliant, as only seasoned actors can be. It must have been fun to work on this project. The new actors are equally great, especially Alice who plays Alma, the starring role.The young man who is the male lead, went on to become famous, as you will see in the famous faces of the other young men as well. What a great break for them all, to work with such seasoned legends. Alice is a rare flower, English actor who is now a major star.

This film was a work of love and you can feel it. The camera angles make the film spooky and scary. Even after five times, I was still surprised and jumped again. Bravo. Worth buying this film as a classic for your collections. "The Haunting of Hill House" comes to mind here.

The music is first rate and added so much to the plot and its eerie story. With the camera work, clever original shots, the story takes on a great level of artistry. BRAVO on the little jewel. SARGE IN Colorado