Monday, October 27, 2008

Manic Monday - ghost



Mo's word for Manic Monday is GHOST















All black and white photos are production photos.




Ghost was made in 1990, 18 years ago! It was a sexy, many-tissues film that I fell in love with. It was the first time I saw Tony Goldwyn the actor that played the bad guy, Carl Bruner. He has since gone on to directing episodes of well-know TV shows, Grey's Anatomy, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Dexter, and many others. He continues acting in film and TV.

Whoopi Goldberg played Oda Mae Brown, the person who talked to the ghost, Patrick Swayze. Whoopi won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar that year for the role. Oda Mae Brown was ranked 95 on the list of the best movie characters of all time by Premiere Magazine.

*Several actors including Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, Tom Cruise, Kevin Bacon, Bruce Willis (who, at the time, was married to already-cast star Demi Moore), Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin turned down the role of Sam. Paul Hogan was also among the long list of actors to decline the lead role. Paul Hogan instead made Almost an Angel.

Nicole Kidman and Madonna auditioned for the role of Molly but were both rejected. Molly Ringwald auditioned and won the role but turned it down at her agent's request, a decision she has since regretted. Meg Ryan also turned down the role. According to the "Remembering the Magic" featurette on the DVD, Tina Turner was originally cast in the role of Oda Mae.

Of course the film's most well-know iconic love scene, where Sam helps Molly on a potter's wheel and begins kissing her as "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers plays, has been parodied numerous times.

On the television program Siskel & Ebert, the film received a split review, Roger Ebert gave the film a "thumbs down" rating and said the film was "unintelligent and corny" while Gene Siskel said the film was "flawed but rich and romantic" and recommended it. The film grossed over $200 million in the US,[2] and $500 million worldwide and currently has a score of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes.

*Wikipedia




theteach

25 comments:

Durward Discussion said...

I think you left out a sentence. Oda Mae wasn't the ghost, she was the one who could talk to the ghost played by Patrick Swayze. It is a wonderfully romantic movie and the pottery scene is classic.

anthonynorth said...

Ah, a perfect movie. Enjoyed this post.

~Just Me Miranda~ said...

Oh I loved this movie. I watched it just the other night on tv too.

Maria's Space said...

I honestly couldn't see Meg Ryan in this movie.

I could watch Ghost again and again.

Babs (Beetle) said...

I loved this movie, and I've watched it about three times so far! I loved Whoopi Goldberg in it also, then I love Whoopi Goldberg in anything :O)

I have something for you on my Beetle blog.

MyMaracas said...

Corny or not, I love that movie too. This was a fun post!

Grandma Faith said...

This is a fantastic post about a classic movie. I enjoyed it. Thanks, Faith

Polly said...

I loved Ghost. I don't know about you, but I am so happy that the cast was the way it was. (Tina Turner...ew can you even imagine anyone BUT Whoopie in that role!!?)

Loved the post.

Queen-Size funny bone said...

whoopi is looking pretty sexy there.

Dianne said...

love the B&Ws

one of my favorite movies

Anonymous said...

Great post, Mary. I too loved/love this movie. I bet any of the people that turned down rolls came to regret it as this really went big time.

I honor a 'late/great' on my post today.

Gemma Wiseman said...

I am ashamed to say that I have not seen the movie. This quite surprises me seeing I claim to love the work of Whoopi Goldberg!

Interesting post!

Anonymous said...

I wonder if those guys are kicking themselves for not taking that role, but the casting turned out perfectly. One of my favorite romances!

Anonymous said...

I saw this movie many times during that time and until last year I saw it again.

I agree that pottery scene is memorable as well as whoopi and demi's kissing scene at my age then when this movie came out. :)

Linda said...

Ah yes, I remember this film and crying over it several times. What a great take on the theme this week!

I went a slightly different direction than the supernatural myself in my post though I did slip in one 'ghostly' picture.

Suzie said...

Great movie

Unknown said...

Knew someone would post about this movie which was great.
I posted about WI most haunted house.

Putz said...

yes it was a good movie but why did you pick it out of all the movies out there??????????i don't like demi mooore ...she is toooo sexy, too forward, too confident...she makes me nervous...like madonna does...maybe it is the outspokenness

Putz said...

oh i finally figured out why you picked this particular movie...halloween is friday ...ghosts...halloween...get it????

eastcoastlife said...

I love this movie Ghost! I watched it 5 times! It is such a sad movie.
*teary eye*

Unknown said...

Happy MM! It was a wonderful movie. I've never liked Tony Goldwyn since that movie came out (smile)...

I invite your blog readers to see reaction of American Ghosts to our upcoming election for POTUS!

peace, Villager

Anonymous said...

Oh, this was a great movie! Nice job. :)

Travis Cody said...

I remember this little movie caught so many people by surprise. I enjoyed it.

Dirkjogt said...

I love this film, certainly the scene with 'unchained melody' never to forget. I have seen the film many many times and could watch it again and again.

Julie said...

Awww man! I love this movie! All the little tidbits were very interesting too! Thanks!