Ghost Dad (1990)

Elliot Hopper is a widower with three children, he is currently working on a deal. It seems like his wife illness was very costly and this deal could put them out of the red. However he ... See full summary »

Director:

Sidney Poitier

Writers:

Brent Maddock (story), S.S. Wilson (story),

Stars:

Bill Cosby, Kimberly Russell, Denise Nicholas

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Cosby	...	Elliot Hopper
Kimberly Russell	...	Diane Hopper
Denise Nicholas	...	Joan
Ian Bannen	...	Sir Edith Moser
Christine Ebersole	...	Carol
Barry Corbin	...	Mr. Emery Collins
Salim Grant	...	Danny Hopper
Brooke Fontaine	...	Amanda Hopper
Dakin Matthews	...	Mr. Seymour
Dana Ashbrook	...	Tony Ricker
Omar Gooding	...	Stuart
Raynor Scheine	...	Curtis Burch, the Cabbie
Arnold Stang	...	Mr. Cohen, elderly patient
Brian Stokes Mitchell	...	Teacher (as Brian Mitchell)
Lisa Mene Nemacheck	...	Jonelle

Storyline

Elliot Hopper is a widower with three children, he is currently working on a deal. It seems like his wife illness was very costly and this deal could put them out of the red. However he gets into a cab that is driven by a maniac, and Elliot crashes and the next thing he knows he is floating around and finds himself in the lab of a scientist who studies paranormal. Elliot asks the scientist to send him back so that he could finish the deal and make sure that his children are taken cared of.

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Plot Keywords:

widower | african american | father son relationship | father daughter relationship | ghost | 

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Taglines:

Ahh... the joys of transparenthood.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 June 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Duch taty

Filming Locations:

Boise, Idaho, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$24,707,633 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

SAH Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Steve Martin was originally set to star as Elliot Hopper with John Badham directing.

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Goofs

Position of Elliot's daughters hair, when they first see Elliot as a ghost.

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Quotes

Diane Hopper: Look, Romeo and Juliet. That's love. He... he took poison for her! What have you ever done for me?
Elliot Hopper: Ate the Spaghetti-Os.
[Diane groans]

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Connections

Referenced in Bob's Burgers: Crawl Space (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Strong As Steel"
Written by Diane Warren
Performed by Gladys Knight
Produced by A.Z. Groove for Groove Specialist Productions
Courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

The HOLY GRAIL of Supernatural Comedies

After the colossal artistic and commercial triumph of Leonard: Part 6, "The Cos" decided to make his next film a more organic, "Art-House" picture and proves once again that he has the cinematic midas touch. In a premise that might seem silly in other hands, Cosby and director Sidney Portier deftly weave a tightly knit tapestry of familial melodrama and undead hijinks. The lush cinematography lends a documentary feel to the proceedings, a much needed dose of gritty reality which helps immeasurably when dealing with the afterlife. Cosby's bravura performance is both ferocious and demure in equal measure, but always REAL. Also, the underlying message of fatherly responsibility seems remarkably apt in these times of the "Baby Boy" syndrome. An often overlooked masterpiece in the Cosby canon, Ghost Dad is without a doubt a labour of love from one of the cinemas greatest pioneers.