High Spirits (1988)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Neil Jordan

Writer (WGA):

Neil Jordan (written by)

Release Date:

18 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Horror | Romance

Tagline:

He's an American. She's a ghost. Vacation romances are always a hassle.

Plot:

When Peter Plunkett's Irish castle turned hotel is about to be repossesed, he decides to spice up the...

Plot Keywords:

Ghost | Dead Coming Alive | Magic Soul | Haunted Mansion | Cult Favorite

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Peter O'Toole	...	Peter Plunkett
Donal McCann	...	Eamon
Mary Coughlan	...	Katie
Liz Smith	...	Mrs. Plunkett
Tom Hickey	...	Sampson
Tony Rohr	...	Christy
Hilary Reynolds	...	Patricia
Isolde Cazelet	...	Julia
Little John	...	Gateman
Steve Guttenberg	...	Jack Crawford
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Sharon Brogan Crawford
Jennifer Tilly	...	Miranda
Peter Gallagher	...	Brother Tony
Martin Ferrero	...	Malcolm
Connie Booth	...	Marge

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Finland:S | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:12 | Iceland:L | Spain:T | USA:PG-13 (certificate #29466) | Argentina:13 | West Germany:12 | Australia:M | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Dromore Castle, Askeaton, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland

Company:

Palace Pictures

Trivia:

Liz Smith was cast at short notice after the original choice was too ill to work.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: During the final dance sequence, Beverly D'Angelo accidentally knocks Daryl Hannah's hand making her spill her champagne on the floor. Daryl briefly makes a face before continuing the dance.

Quotes:

Katie: [hanging from the castle awning] The things I do for you!
Peter Plunkett: [looking on as the bus recklessly drives away] Deeply appreciated... oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Scary Movie 2 (2001)

Glue can't hold everything, but it does its share...

Peter O'Toole is hysterical in this film, and quite easily, is the glue that holds it together (contrary to popular opinion). While this film suffers its share of problems, (such as a few holes in the plot, a little shoddy acting here and there) it makes me laugh as few other movies have. O'Toole's drunken wisdom and fights with his drunken, ghost-talking mother are great. Steve Guttenberg does fine, Daryl Hannah is okay. The Irish country side is lovelyand haunting (incidentally, the movie was filmed in a castle in Limerick,Ireland, where Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes grew up); the set ofthe castle itself is the stuff that fairy tales are made of. The effort that the staff makes to haunt the cynical guests is great, in particular the Lady Godiva/Broggan Banshee fiasco.

While the whole spouse-swapping aspect of the movie is a little hazy, Beverly D'Angelo and Liam Neeson are grand. The entire plot is somewhat goofy, as are some of the transitions to get from Point A to Point B, but it is the humor that keeps it alive. It received terrible reviews, but it's absolutely worth a viewing if you're ever in the mood for something a little absurd that will make you chuckle.