GHOSTBUSTERS

US, 1984, 100 minutes, Colour.
Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, William Atherton, Ernie Hudson.
Directed by Ivan Reitman.

Ghostbusters was one of the biggest box office successes of 1984. it is an amusing comedy relying on special effects for the presence of ghosts and spirits, for getting rid of them. It is also a humorous spoof on a variety of films from The Exorcist to Q the Winged Serpent.

The film was written by Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd who had worked in Saturday Night Live with Bill Murray and director lvan Reitman. They had between them been responsible for such films as National Lampoon's Animal house, Caddyshack, Stripes, Meatballs. Dan Aykroyd teamed often with John Belushi in such comedies as 1984, The Blues Brothers, Neighbours. He also made his mark in the comedy Trading Places. Murray was a star of Tootsie and the lead in a remake of The Razor's Edge. They are very good comedians - but have left Murray in the limelight for this film. The female lead is Sigourney Weaver, the survivor or Alien and the star of Eyewitness and The Year of Living Dangerously.

The film doesn't remain much in the mind afterwards - but it is amusing while on screen. The popular song (popularised by video) is by Ray Parker Jr. and the incidental music by Elmer Bernstein.

1. The success and popularity of the film in 1984? The United States? World wide?

2. The quality of the comedy? Spoof, sight gags, verbal jokes, imagination? The spoof of horror and supernatural films: The Exorcist, The Sentinel, Q the Winged Serpent etc.? The need for poking fun at the serious supernatural films?

3. Panavision, New York locations? The lavish style? The Ghostbuster headquarters, the public library, the streets? Dana's art deco apartment building? The special effects for ghosts, for the ghostbusting, for the horror presence of the gods? The monsters and the finale? The humour of the giant marshmallow man? Enjoyable special effects?

4. The musical score and atmosphere, the theme music? The prologue – with the library incidents and the title?

5. Audience interest in parapsychology? The credibility of this kind of behaviour? The '80s and the pervading interest in parapsychological behaviour and experiences? The jargon? Turning it into a science? Study, ancient mythology, the influence of films?

6. Pete and his work, the tests that he carried out - favouring the girl, not favouring the young man? Ray and his knowledge? Igor and his skills? Their black helper? The library and the effects, their losing their job at the university. the setting up of Ghostbusters?

7. Looking over the apartment, Ray wanting it, the pole? The office, the laconic secretary - and her enthusiasm when calls came? The humour in the ghostbusting at the restaurant - the ghost in the corridors, going downstairs into the banquet room, gobbling the food? The chandelier and the mess? Trapping the ghost? Putting all the ghosts in the incinerator? The critique of the Committee for the Protection of the Environment? The officious representative and his antagonism?

8. Dana as the attractive heroine? Her musical background? The apartment? Louey and his forever trying to chat her up - and being locked out? Bringing the food home, the eggs cooking on the table, the god in the fridge? Consulting the Ghostbusters? Pete and his attraction? His going to visit her home? Her musician friend and Pete hanging around? Her phone call to her mother? Her becoming possessed - with the satire on The Exorcist?

9. The theories of ancient religions, the god taking over, the building and its being possessed, the animals, the key and the lock? Louey being chased - the humour of the chase and his being possessed? Dana and her Exorcist behaviour - her levitation, voice etc.?

10. The ghosts let loose, the Ghostbusters and their confrontation? Their being imprisoned - and going to the Mayor? The official arguing with the Mayor? The appearance of the goddess? The marshmallow man and his eventual splattering? The happy ending?

11. The background of religion, texts - and the use of the apocalypse and biblical overtones? The card, the prayer?

12. The deadpan humour, the jokes, the farce - a successful blend echoing interests of the '80s and satirising them?