GHOST

US, 1990, 127 minutes, Colour.
Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Goldwyn, Vincent Schiavelli.
Directed by Jerry Zucker.

Ghost was one of the most popular box office films of 1990 (along with the romantic Pretty Woman). It indicates that the American public, and the English-speaking public, were rather more keen on something soft with humour and romance rather than the spectacular action blockbusters for the holiday audiences.

The film was written and directed by Jerry Zucker, one of the team who wrote and directed the successful Flying High films as well as Ruthless People.

Patrick Swayze offers a more sympathetic performance as the Wall Street businessman who is murdered but who acts as a guardian angel for his girlfriend, attractively played by Demi Moore. There is a very funny performance by Whoopi Goldberg as a medium who is able to hear Swayze but not see him. Anthony Goldwyn is an effective and suave villain.

There is nothing particularly new about a ghost who returns to protect a loved one and to solve a murder mystery. However, it is all done in a light and romantic style (with a Maurice Jarre score as well as the use of the '50s `Unchained Melody'.

This is the kind of film that appeals to most audiences - one would have to be something of a stone not to be affected by it.

1. Popular box office success? Summing up the '80s? The traditions of the romance, of the ghost story?

2. The New York settings? The blend of the comic and the thriller? The use of `Unchained Melody'? Maurice Jarre's musical score and romantic theme?

3. The world of ghosts, plausibility? Audience believing in ghosts? The special effects, the passing-through techniques, the creatures from Hell, the light from Heaven?

4. Sam and his relationship with his girlfriend? Pleasant, loving? Moving, Carl's help? Their life together, Sam's work and Wall Street, going to work, his style? The jokes with Carl in the elevator, friendship? The question of money, Sam doing some detective work? Going to see Macbeth, the attack in the street? The proposal of marriage, the hopes dashed?

5. Sam and the experience of dying, going out of the body and watching? His girlfriend's grief? At the hospital, meeting the dead man? Looking after his girlfriend? In an in-between state? The explanation of the man on the subway? His inability to touch? The impact of his funeral? The aftermath, sighting the murderer, following him? The encounter with Oda Mae and the laughter? Communicating with her? Going to the police? The girlfriend and offering the clues? Carl and his relationship with the girl, his sexual advances and her rejection? Following Carl, discovering the truth? His disgust? The danger, the need for protection? Getting the help of Oda Mae, the encounters with the girlfriend, trying to give clues, `Ditto?' The plan with the cheque, Oda Mae and her impersonation? The confrontation with Carl? The fight, the murderer and his going to Hell? Carl and his also being taken to Hell? Sam's finally being heard and seen? The heavenly light - and the pathos of the goodbye?

6. The girlfriend and her relationship with Sam, in love with him, sharing, the moving apartment, the design, her pottery? The death and her grief? Carl and his support? Sexual advance? The arrival of Oda Mae, her clues? Going to the police, finding Oda Mae's criminal background? The seeing of Oda Mae in the bank, with Carl, the growing sense of danger, the final fight, her being saved - and seeing Sam? The sadness of the farewell?

7. Whoopi Goldberg as Oda Mae: with her sisters, the waiting room, her performance at the seance, her being possessed, her not being able to control things, hearing Sam but not seeing him? Her record and the reaction of the police? Sam persuading her, tormenting her by singing? The phone call, going to see the girlfriend, the cup of coffee and offering her the clues, `Ditto'? Her being possessed again? The agreement with the impersonation, carrying it off, the $4,000,000, giving it away to the nuns? The danger, her escaping? Helping the girlfriend, finally seeing Sam?

8. The world of the Bronx, the tough types, murderers? Oda Mae and the black and Hispanic community? The types in the waiting room and their hopes? Her performance of the seances and communication with the dead - with the comic touch?

9. Carl as smooth operator, friendship, helping with the moving, the jokes in the elevator, the yuppy and the money deals, the drugs? The panic, covering up? Comforting the girlfriend, the sexual advance? The deal with Eddie, Sam discovering the truth? His panic, the computers, the phone calls, the timing, Rita Miller withdrawing the money, the threats, the final fight and his death?

10. Eddie as the assassin, the attack in the street, seeing him at home, with Carl, the final fight?

11. The world of Wall Street and money deals, drug dealing?

12. The traditional religious themes of Heaven and Hell? Sin and responsibility? Judgment? Ghosts, protection - and the touch of the guardian angel?