Ghost Story

Overview

"John Irvin's big-screen adaptation of Peter Straub's horror novel Ghost Story arrives on DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence, but this film has never looked better on home video."

Product Details

Release Date:	09/07/2004
UPC:	0025192010125
Original Release:	1981
Rating:	R
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:51:00
Sales rank:	3,525

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Fred Astaire	Ricky Hawthorne
Melvyn Douglas	Dr. John Jaffrey
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.	Edward Charles Wanderley
John Houseman	Sears James
Craig Wasson	Don/David Wanderley
Alice Krige	Alma/Eva
Jacqueline Brookes	Milly
Patricia Neal	Stella
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
Guy Boyd	Omar Norris
Robert Burr	Peterson
Helena Carroll	Mrs. Meredith
Robin Curtis	Rea Dedham
Breon Gorman	Nettie Dedham
Cagle D. Green	Eva's Ghost
Kyra Carleton	Eva's Ghost
James Greene	The Postman
Ruth Hunt	Florence
Virginia P. Bingham	Sears' Mother
Deborah Offner	Helen Kayon
Russell Bletzer	Reverend Wilkinson
Alfred Curven	Man in the Coffin
Michael O'Neill	Churchill
William F. Conway	Sears' Father
Terrance Mario Carnes	The Waiter
Hugh Hires	Student Solt
Raymond J. Quinn	Ricky's Father
Barbara von Zastrow	Ricky's Mother
Edward F. Dillon	The Judge
Alvin W. Fretz	The Coroner
Lance Helcomb	Fenny Bate
Douglas Fairbanks	Actor
Philippe Sarde	Composer

Technical Credits

Lawrence D. Cohen

John Irvin	Director
Lawrence D. Cohen	Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Dick Smith	Special Effects
Burt Weissbourd	Producer
Albert J. Whitlock	Special Effects
Jim Alexander	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial 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.