High Spirits (1988)

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 | Demon | Zombie | Nun | Lingerie Slip

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
Krista Hornish	...	Wendy
Matthew Wright	...	Woody
Paul O'Sullivan	...	Graham
Daryl Hannah	...	Mary Plunkett Brogan
Liam Neeson	...	Martin Brogan
Ray McAnally	...	Plunkett Senior
Aimée Delamain	...	Great Granny Plunkett (as Aimee Delamain)
Ruby Buchanan	...	Great Aunt Man
Preston Lockwood	...	Great Uncle Peter

Directed by
Neil Jordan

Writing credits (WGA)
Neil Jordan		(written by)

Produced by
Mark Damon	....	executive producer
Moshe Diamant	....	executive producer
Nik Powell	....	co-producer
Selwyn Roberts	....	co-producer
Eduard Sarlui	....	executive producer
David Saunders	....	producer
Jon Turtle	....	associate producer
Stephen Woolley	....	producer

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
Alex Thomson

Film Editing by
Michael Bradsell

Production Design by
Anton Furst

Art Direction by
Nigel Phelps

Set Decoration by
Barbara Drake

Costume Design by
Emma Porteus		(as Emma Porteous)

Makeup Department
Joan Carpenter	....	hair stylist
Nick Dudman	....	special makeup effects artist
Daphne Martin	....	hair stylist
Barbara Ritchie	....	key hair stylist
Christopher Tucker	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Hugh Harlow	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Brock	....	second assistant director
Patrick Clayton	....	first assistant director
Tim Lewis	....	third assistant director
Derek Meddings	....	special effects unit director
Gareth Tandy	....	first assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Emma Harrison	....	scenic artist
Paul Purdy	....	chargehand stand-by props
Keith Short	....	sculptor
Annie Siggins	....	assistant art director: Ireland
Adrian Start	....	head of department painter
Alan Tomkins	....	art director: Ireland
Leslie Tomkins	....	supervising art director (as Les Tomkins)

Sound Department
Colin Chapman	....	sound editor
David John	....	sound mixer
Gerard McCann	....	assistant sound editor
John Poyner	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Steve Crawley	....	special wire technician
Robert Harman	....	special wire specialist (as Bob Harman)
Mark Meddings	....	special effects supervisor
Michele Tandy	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Angus Bickerton	....	motion control (animation cameraman)
Susie Ford	....	visual effects production coordinator
Derek Meddings	....	special visual effects
Janice Body	....	rotoscope artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Gillian Aldam	....	stunts
Ellie Bertram	....	stunts
Andy Bradford	....	stunts
Helen Caldwell	....	stunts
Stuart Clark	....	stunts
Abbi Collins	....	stunts
Tom Delmar	....	stunt double: Steve Guttenberg
Tom Delmar	....	stunts
Tracey Eddon	....	stunts
Sadie Eden	....	stunts
Steve Elliott	....	stunts
Terry English	....	stunts
Dorothy Ford	....	stunts
Elaine Ford	....	stunts
Sarah Franzl	....	stunts
Martin Grace	....	stunt coordinator
Martin Grace	....	stunts
Reg Harding	....	stunts
Paul Heasman	....	stunts
Tom Hegarty	....	stunts
Jazzer Jeyes	....	stunts
Wayne Michaels	....	stunts
Valentino Musetti	....	stunts
Eddie Powell	....	stunts
Lee Sheward	....	stunts
Colin Skeaping	....	stunts
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts
Bill Weston	....	stunts
Jason White	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
George Boner	....	best boy
Phillip Contomichalos	....	assistant camera
Phillip Contomichalos	....	camera trainee
Graham Driscoll	....	electrician
Kevin Fraser	....	crane grip
Roy Larner	....	gaffer
Wayne Leach	....	electrician
Terry Mcguinness	....	electrician
Eamonn O'Keeffe	....	focus puller
Mike Roberts	....	camera operator
Jimmy Terry	....	electrician
Chyna Thomson	....	second assistant camera
John Ward	....	Steadicam operator
Paul Wells	....	electrician
Peter Hodgson	....	video assist operator: dailies (uncredited)
Carlos Melville	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Abi Cohen	....	casting assistant
Susie Figgis	....	United Kingdom casting
Janet Hirshenson	....	United States casting
Jane Jenkins	....	United States casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amelia Davies	....	wardrobe assistant
Colin Wilson	....	costume supervisor

Music Department
George Fenton	....	conductor
George Fenton	....	orchestrator
Paul Mottram	....	orchestrator
Gerry O'Riordan	....	assistant music engineer
Christopher Palmer	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
John Sergeant	....	action vehicles

Other crew
Micha Bergese	....	choreographer
Terry English	....	armor designer
Susan Johnson	....	assistant to producers
Tony Miller	....	production accountant
Richard Morrison	....	title designer
Pat Rambaut	....	script supervisor
Roy Street	....	horse master
Li Chin Tye	....	unit nurse

Production Companies

• Palace Pictures
• Vision PDG

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Media Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Cineplex Odeon Films (1988) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Constantin-Filmverleih (1989) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1989) (Spain) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Bavaria Musik-Studios  music recording
• Damson Studios  title opticals
• Graunke Symphony Orchestra  orchestra
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Location Caterers, The  catering

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:

Peter Plunkett: [sees large bricks coming out of the wall behind him as he drinks] What is going on here? Eamon? Why are chunks of masonry floating about?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Wrongfully Accused (1998)

Good movie, could've been A LOT better.

I liked this movie. It had its funny moments, it had its semi-serious moments. I liked the ghosts the best. Especially Liam Neeson's character Martin. Him and Peter O'Toole were the best things about this movie. They definitively could've cast Steve Guttenburg and Daryll Hannah's characters better. The best part is Liam Neeson and Beverly D'Angelo in the shower...I love that part.