Ghost Story (Widescreen)
- Starring: Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
- Director: John Irvin
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Description
This 1981 John Irvin picture constitutes an adaptation of Peter Straub's colossal, bestselling novel. The central plot -- shared by both book and film -- revolves around the four elderly members of the Chowder Society (Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and John Houseman), who gather in each other's drawing rooms each winter to sip cognac and spin elaborate ghost stories. The four men also share a dark secret far more unsettling than fiction -- a secret which has literally come back to haunt them, as well as their own adult offspring. Each man is visited by a hideous specter bearing the likeness of a young woman (Alice Krige) they accidentally killed 50 years ago when spurning her mischievous sexual advances. Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Features
- Genre: Suspense & Thriller
- Category: Haunted House Film
- Theme: Ghosts, Haunted By the Past
- Release Date: September 07, 2004
- Rating: R (Restricted)Rating Opens in New Window - Adult Language, Graphic Violence, Mild Violence, Not For Children, Nudity, Violence
- Studio: Universal Studios
- Lead Actors: Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., John Houseman, Craig Wasson
- Supporting Actors: Lance Helcomb, Patricia Neal, Alice Krige, Jacqueline Brookes, Miguel Fernandes, Mark Chamberlin, Tim Choate, Kurt Johnson, Ken Olin, Brad Sullivan
- Director: John Irvin
- Picture Format: Widescreen
- Run Time: 1 hr 51 min
- Subtitle Language: English, French, Spanish
- Format: DVD
Additional Information
- DPCI: 246-00-7495
- ASIN: B002I8P5M0
- Catalog #: 11334619
- Item can not be gift wrapped.
Shipping & Policies
- You may return this item to any Target store.Opens in New Window
- Shipping & Delivery InformationOpens in New Window
- Estimated Ship Dimensions : 7.58 inches length x 5.5 inches width x 0.59 inches height
- Estimated Ship Weight: 0.27 pound.
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Expert Reviews
Arriving at the end of arguably the most fertile decade of horror filmmaking, John Irvin's Ghost Story (1981) proves that even the lesser-known genre entries could be quite chilling. In fact, elements that might have detracted from this film's scare factor -- a score that's too bombastic, and a starring role for the 82-year-old Fred Astaire -- do nothing of the sort. Irvin's smart, tension-sustaining visual setups and James Alexander's haunting sound design, each prepare the viewer, but not completely, for the surprisingly sophisticated gore effects from makeup artist Dick Smith. Even if it weren't for all this, the presence of the singular Alice Krige would be unsettling enough. Playing the beautiful specter, Krige makes marvelous use of that lifeless stare, wicked half smile, and disembodied voice -- characteristics that later made her the ideal choice to play the Borg Queen in Star Trek: First Contact. Even though convincing enough special effects did not yet exist, Krige leaves a viewer feeling that her face might split open into ghoulish horror at any moment. The film's effectiveness is especially surprising given that it contains two lengthy flashbacks -- which fly in the face of the genre's usual need for immediacy -- and features a cast of primarily senior citizens (John Houseman and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. accompany Astaire). The dedication of these professionals makes Ghost Story more than just a good ghost story, but something classy and memorable as well. Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide