Ghosts 

Oswald Alving is dying. His mother is anxious to keep the precise nature of his illness a secret.

Director:

Elijah Moshinsky

Writers:

Henrik Ibsen (play), Michael Meyer (translation)

Stars:

Judi Dench, Michael Gambon, Kenneth Branagh

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Judi Dench	...	Mrs. Alving
Michael Gambon	...	Pastor Manders
Kenneth Branagh	...	Oswald
Freddie Jones	...	Engstrand
Natasha Richardson	...	Regina

Storyline

Oswald Alving is dying. His mother is anxious to keep the precise nature of his illness a secret.

---

Plot Keywords:

based on play | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 June 1987 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Famous actors in an early performance.

The presence of the younger Judi Dench as Mrs. Alving assures a strong actress in the central role. She is wonderful, and is every inch the mother figure. The surprise is possibly the young Kenneth Branagh, before Hamlet and his other movies. He looks properly gaunt, and builds Oswald into a tragic figure just before the collapse. Michael Gambon (years before Harry Potter's Dumbledore) is sympathetic as the vicar/pastor. He almost makes the mention of insurance in act one work (one of the mechanics that Ibsen didn't disguise very well). He trades tirades with Dench and Branagh without a flinch less drama. The beautiful Miss Richardson finds just the right touch for her scenes, while her "father" was fresh off his appearance in the Elephant Man. This should be made available on DVD, it's that good.