Ghostbusters (1984)

Three former parapsychology professors set up shop as a unique ghost removal service.

Director:

Ivan Reitman

Writers:

Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis

Stars:

Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Murray	...	Dr. Peter Venkman
Dan Aykroyd	...	Dr. Raymond Stantz
Sigourney Weaver	...	Dana Barrett
Harold Ramis	...	Dr. Egon Spengler
Rick Moranis	...	Louis Tully
Annie Potts	...	Janine Melnitz
William Atherton	...	Walter Peck
Ernie Hudson	...	Winston Zeddemore
David Margulies	...	Mayor
Steven Tash	...	Male Student
Jennifer Runyon	...	Female Student
Slavitza Jovan	...	Gozer
Michael Ensign	...	Hotel Manager
Alice Drummond	...	Librarian
Jordan Charney	...	Dean Yeager

Storyline

Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler work at Columbia University. where they delve into the paranormal and fiddle with many unethical experiments on their students. As they are kicked out of the University, they really understand the paranormal and go into business for themselves. Under the new snazzy business name of 'Ghostbusters', and living in the old firehouse building they work out of, they are called to rid New York City of paranormal phenomenon at everyone's whim. - for a price. They make national press as the media reports the Ghostbusters are the cause of it all. Thrown in jail by the EPA, the mayor takes a chance and calls on them to help save the city. Unbeknownst to all, a long dead Gozer worshiper (Evo Shandor) erected a downtown apartment building which is the cause of all the paranormal activity. They find out the building could resurrect the ancient Hittite god, Gozer, and bring an end to all of humanity. Who are you gonna call to stop this terrible ...

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Plot Keywords:

ghost | ghostbuster | university | scientist | paranormal investigation team | 

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Taglines:

Let's get slimed one more time. [re-release]

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

After this film, Bill Murray took a lengthy break from acting and moved to Paris. Murray considered retiring altogether before he was cast in Scrooged (1988).

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Goofs

After Dana and Venkman meet and set their date, Dana walks away with the violinist. As they walk, the violinist's violin case goes from by his right side to tucked under his left arm between shots.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dr. Peter Venkman: All right, I'm gonna turn over the next card. Concentrate... I want you to tell me what you think it is.

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Crazy Credits

Opening titles give the name of the movie as "Ghost Busters" (two words). But in nearly all media/ads and even packaging/casing for home video releases, it is spelled as "Ghostbusters" (one word).

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Alternate Versions

In addition to the legendary change from Stantz calling Walter Peck "dickless" to "Wally Wick," numerous other scenes were shot in alternate, broadcast-friendly versions for television. As the Ghostbusters emerge from the Sedgewick ballroom after catching the green ghost (Slimer) Venkman's "We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!" line was changed to "What a knockabout of pure fun that was!" Venkman's claim in the mayor's office that Walter Peck "has no dick" was changed to call him "some kind of rodent, I don't know which," Zeddmore's claim to have seen "stuff" rather than "sh*t" that'll turn you white, and Egon's later outburst of "sh*t" at the Keymaster's disappearance was changed to a milder "oh, no!"

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Connections

Featured in Honest Trailers: Fantastic Four (2015) (2015)

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Soundtracks

Magic
Written by Mick Smiley
Produced by Keith Forsey
Performed by Mick Smiley

User Reviews

Film Has Endured the 80's and Stayed Sharp Through the 90's

Bill Murray is one of the best wise guys in the business. I was amazed to find out on the GHOSTBUSTERS 15th Anniversary DVD that Murray had little to do with the dialogue his classicly blase, fiercely cynical 'Dr. Venkman' cuts loose throughout this good comedy. Credit Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis with "getting into Bill's mind" as Ramis puts it and presenting Murray with a gag-a-second character. Murray also lends his own comic genius through his delivery and facial gestures (especially with his classic cross-eyed, curled-lip look). Together with a fun premise and above average special effects, GHOSTBUSTERS will never be a relic of the 80's and should always be a refreshingly humorous spook show.

Murray rules the screen, mauling his geeky para-psychologist partners and hitting on a young blonde while conducting shock therapy experiments on her. Aykroyd uses his standard machine gun delivery of obscure (or should I say made up) facts and anecdotes and Ramis is just enough for the ultra-dork 'Egon'. The funniest element in GHOSTBUSTERS happens to be Rick Moranis in a splendid role as a small-time accountant who has parties for clients only and becomes mixed up in some extremely supernatural events. Along with Sigourney Weaver, Moranis has the most difficult physical tasks to topple.

This was a picture I loved when I was a kid. I must have went some 12 to 15 years before I saw it again and I was alarmingly impressed. It has endured. The special effects are not only good, but they are comedic and add even more laughs throughout the 'Busters turbulent jobs. The DVD version has tons of goodies included and is an essential addition to any Saturday Night Live fan's movie library. SNL is the very essence and reason for GHOSTBUSTERS, where Murray and Aykroyd starred. Director Ivan Reitman created his meal ticket here and can pretty much do any comedy he wants now.

It is a shame John Belushi was not around to play one of the 'Busters, for he was originally cast. The movie is already well-paced and engaging so just imagine how frenzied the pace would have been with Belushi. Regardless, GHOSTBUSTERS is one for the kids, teens, and adults alike. It has spanned these phases for me and still works wonderfully.

RATING: ***

Details

Official Sites:

Columbia Pictures Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 June 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ghostbusters

Filming Locations:

Lincoln Center, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,578,151, 10 June 1984

Gross USA:

$243,187,079

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$296,425,473

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Delphi Films, Black Rhino Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints) Dolby Atmos (Blu-ray release)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1