Customer Reviews

High Spirits [VHS]

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have loved this film since I was 9! HIGH SPIRITS is a whimsical comedy-fantasy from the visionary director Neil Jordan starring a superb cast.

Peter Plunkett (Peter O'Toole) is the owner of Castle Plunkett, a gloomy castle set in the Irish countryside. In order to get the money-hungry Brogan family off his back, he decides to advertise the castle as the most-haunted place on the Emerald Isle (with the hotel staff doubling as the spirits)!.

Among the cynical tourists that arrive are Jack (Steve Guttenberg) and his valium-guzzling wife Sharon (Beverly D'Angelo); a scientist of the paranormal (Martin Ferrero), his wife (Connie Booth) and their children; the chaste Brother Tony (Peter Gallagher) and the sexy Miranda (Jennifer Tilly).

The "ghosts" are soon discovered to be fake, thus enraging the REAL ghosts of the castle who decide to make a little mischief for themselves! Jack finds himself falling in love with the elusive Mary Plunkett (Daryl Hannah), while Sharon is unwittingly courted by Mary's husband, the dead Martin Brogan (Liam Neeson).

Director Neil Jordan envisioned a "Midsummer Night's Dream"-type atmosphere for this film with partner-swapping and people being seduced by other-worldly beings. However, producers soon had other things in mind and significantly re-edited the movie to their own vision. Cast members came from the set complaining that the producers had enfuriated Jordan with their antics, forcing him to walk off the project.

However, the film is a constant delight, and this long-awaited DVD release will surely be relished by fans of the film.

The DVD includes both the widescreen and full-frame versions of the film as well as the trailer.

Despite the critics views, I love this movie.... Peter O'Toole is wonderful as a titled Irishman trying to keep his family castle by infesting it with home-made ghosts (the castle staff) to attract an international, phantom-following clietele. A bickering couple from America (Steve Guttenberg and Beverly D'Angelo) discover that there really are authentic ghostly denizens of the castle (Liam Neeson and Daryl Hannah--- he murdered her 200 years before in a fit of jealous passion, and they are doomed repeatedly to reenact the event)-- Steve Guttenberg falls for Daryl, and Liam is randy for Beverly D'Angelo. Peter O'Toole's relationship with his dear old deceased Dad-- wonderful... Entertaining(at times hilarious!), engaging and original; A Might-Have-Been-Great, but still WAY Entertaining movie--- and one I was lucky enough to find on video!

Neil Jordon has recreated the aura of Shakespeare's classic and set it within a beautifully haunting castle (whose exterior is the exquisitely picturesque Dromore Castle in Ireland's County Limerick). Here, the clash of cultures, Irish and American, and mortality, alive and Undead, are intricately woven with the comedy of conflicting personal interests -- and all set amidst the castle's dusty-and-dilapidated, labyrinthine passageways; passageways which inevitably lead to fulfillment and renewal. How could the professional film critics not see the enchantment! For those who are, at heart, a youth again, looking expectantly on a new day's adventure, or an adult, who knows the excitement of true love conquering limitless boundaries, this movie is for you. It is equal to any comedy written by the English Bard!

I just bought this dvd because I have loved this movie for goodness knows how long and now my daughter loves it. This is good, charming, innocent fun...and it's so interesting to see current "big" stars like Liam Neeson and Peter Gallagher in something waaaaay before they were famous. (As well as seeing stars of the day and wondering "where are they now": Darryl Hannah, Steve Guttenberg, Beverly D'Angelo. Even Jennifer Tilly is working more visibly these days.

The plot is pretty good, the dialogue funny...Peter O'Toole is fabulous (the drinking scene with Steve Guttenberg is hilarious as is the opening scene where he is on the phone with Jim Brogan and clarifying just what his name is NOT).

It's cheesy fun because, let's face it...it's not the best production in the world. First of all, Darryl Hannah's attempt at an Irish accent is...aah, somewhat laughable most of the time. Steve Guttenberg is a little hammy (newsflash anyone?), but it works for his character. The special effects, were, I'm sure, terrific in 1988 when the movie was made, but by today's standards are very antiquated, yet somehow add to the charm of this film.

Keep an eye out for the "bloopers" in the movie...things I wonder if the producers just felt no one would notice in a theater (did they ever dream this movie might be watched one day, over and over again, in someone's home?) or did they just lack the funds/time to reshoot?:

1. Well, you can't really miss the horse's, um, endowment in the scene where Steve Guttenberg falls from the tree.

2. When Darryl Hannah and Steve are chatting by the tree (she's praying to be released from her wedding vows), you can see the netting in her wig...her "hair" was twisted quite prettily, but left the wig infrastructure quite visible.

3. When the squid arm reaches out to grab Woody (one of the kids), he has to bend his head down to let the squid arm grab him...all while struggling to get away from the monster.

4. In the scene where Beverly D'Angelo, Steve Guttenberg, Liam Neeson and Darryl Hannah are in the bed-chamber where Liam's character kills his wife, the imposing, sturdy marble mantlepiece wobbles quite unsturdily when Beverly D'Angelo bumps into it.

5. The bus falling into the lake is very clearly a model, that goes without saying....but it's funny because in the interior scenes everyone is panicking, yet from the outside the bus/model is quiet and empty.

I'm sure there are other things I haven't listed, so have fun watching the movie, not just for the incontinuities, but for the story and atmosphere itself. The Irish cast absolutely steals the "shaggin'" movie and the performances of some of the minor characters (Liam's ghots..."Eamon", "Malcom"...the cook) are really terrific. If you like ghosts, if you like rich sets (the castle is fabulous), and a fairly original and charming plot, and you go into it just to have fun, you'll truly enjoy this film. The soundtrack is great too!

P.s. A bit of academic fun: what's the significance of the title of the book which Peter O'Toole uses as a step stool to hang himself?

A lot of great 1980s movies are finding their way onto DVD lately. It makes my heart smile to see that a good DVD copy of High Sprits will help this movie live on through the ages. This movie is a wonderful comedy with some spooky twists. This one is a must see for ghost enthusiasts. A+

This movie, starring Peter O'Toole and Seve Guttenburg and Darryl Hannah, is a fantastic comedy to entertain the whole family. Though Darryl is "tupped", nothing is seen on screen. This movie is a truly great comedy, sure to get at least a chuckle out of almost anybody. :)

High Spirits is the kind of movie that the whole family can enjoy. Although the title would indicate that this may be a ghost story, there is nothing to fear. The ghost sequences are only the slightest bit "creepy" and soon lose all their edge when we meet the ghosts themselves. (Liam Neeson and Daryl Hannah) Most folks would probably not mind being haunted by one of these two!

This movie has two BIG things going for it. Number one is the cast, all of whom just shine. Big names of Guttenberg, Hannah, Neeson, D'angelo and most notably O'toole can almost guarantee a good time. Peter O'toole, as always, is especially endearing.

The other thing this movie has is pure charm. Its a good old fashioned almost disneyesque kind of film. Its a love story with enough fun in it to keep everybody entertained. Its MAIN charm comes from the setting. A quaint old "haunted" Irish castle where the servants have a beautiful old fashioned brogue. I found myself wishing I was there on several ocassions. Some will say it is insipid and has no social value. This is true. Its just good old fashioned movie fun. Sit back, kick off your shoes and enjoy. :)

This is one of the funniest films I've ever seen. Peter O'Toole and this amazing cast have cooked up a class-act comedy with lots of spooks galore. A must have for the comic collector!

Peter O'Toole, Steve Guttenberg and Daryl Hannah star
in this 1988 comedy. A group of people stay at an Irish
castle expecting it to be haunted and discover it really
is. I've always enjoyed this film and this dvd has good
picture and sound, but only the trailer. I recommend
this good ghost comedy.

This is a great movie. Peter O'Toole is very funny and I enjoyed seeing a young Lian Neeson. The DVD arrived in great shape. I would recomend this movie to anyone who likes comedies and is interested in ghosts and the possibilities of life after death.