CASPER
US, 1995, 100 minutes, Colour.
Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle, Devon Sawa.
Directed by Brad Silberling.
Casper, the friendly ghost, was very popular as a cartoon and in the television series. This film is a one-off, a feature film giving Casper more screen time and the possibilities for character development, even though he appears as the broad-stroked animated ghost.
The film has an opening for adults to be interested with the focus on a gruff and greedy woman, Cathy Moriarty, along with her comic lawyer, Eric Idle, inheriting a rundown mansion but finding that it has the possibility of hidden treasure. This leads them to the mansion where they immediately experience the haunting, the mischievous ghosts.
When the heiress contacts the Ghostbusters Dr James Harvey, Bill Pullman, to do something about the ghosts, he agrees and takes his young daughter, Kat, Christina Ricci, both of whom are mourning the death of her mother.
While there is some ghost busting, there are also plenty of tricks from mischievous ghosts. But the key to the film is the character of Casper, a young ghost, lonely, wanting friends, trying to remember his past, but becoming happily involved with Kat. Casper is voiced by Devon Sawa.
The films directed by Brad Silberling, principally a television director but who also made City of Angels and Moonlight Mile.
1. The popularity of the cartoon? Film, television? A 1990s adaptation and filling out the story and characters?
2. The colour photography, the special effects, the sinister house, the interiors, the comic ghosts, Casper, tricks and playfulness? The musical score?
3. The situation with Carrigan and her lawyer, the reading of the will, the cavalier attitude of the lawyer, Carrigan and the death of her father, her expectations, being left the mansion? The lawyer, his presence, support, her bossing him around? The decision to go to the mansion? The map and the indication of treasure? Going into the house, the experience of the ghosts, their fears?
4. Carrigan and her hiring Dr Harvey, the sadness of his wife’s death, caring for Kat, his role as a Ghostbuster? The personal story, the journey to the house, going into the house?
5. Kat, her age, death of her mother, love her father? Accompanying him? Moving from place to place and its effect on her? The response to the house? The ghosts? To Casper?
6. Casper, the cartoon presentation, the voice? The film focusing on his own story, loneliness, remembering his life? The scenes with
the toys? Encountering Kat, the relationship with her? Blossoming? The effect on Kat?
7. The uncles, their names, the comic effect, mischievous?
8. The resolution, for Dr Harvey and for Kat, the Casper?
9. A variation on a contemporary fairytale?
