Ghost Story (1981)

Four successful elderly gentlemen, members of the Chowder Society, share a gruesome, 50-year old secret. When one of Edward Wanderley's twin sons dies in a bizarre accident, the group ... See full summary »

Director:

John Irvin

Writers:

Lawrence D. Cohen, Peter Straub (novel)

Stars:

Fred Astaire, John Houseman, Craig Wasson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Four successful elderly gentlemen, members of the Chowder Society, share a gruesome, 50-year old secret. When one of Edward Wanderley's twin sons dies in a bizarre accident, the group begins to see a pattern of frightening events developing.

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Plot Keywords:

ghost story | ghost | picture | accident | secret | 

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Taglines:

The time has come to tell the tale.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cuento de fantasmas

Filming Locations:

Albany, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The picture was nominated for the Best Horror Film Saturn Award in 1982.

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Goofs

With David's naked plunge through the window, not only does the towel disappear but in the distant long shot of him falling from the building, there is no broken window.

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Quotes

Eva: Dance with me, you little toad.

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Connections

Referenced in Horror Business (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Sweetheart of Sigma Chi"
Written by F. Dudleigh Vernor and Byron D. Stokes
Performed by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians

User Reviews

"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