High Spirits is a 1988 fantasy comedy film written and directed by Neil Jordan and starring Steve Guttenberg, Daryl Hannah, Beverly D'Angelo, Liam Neeson and Peter O'Toole. It is an Irish, British and American co-production.
| High Spirits | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Neil Jordan |
| Written by | Neil Jordan |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Alex Thomson |
| Edited by | Michael Bradsell |
| Music by | George Fenton |
Production company | Vision PDG |
| Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Running time | 99 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
| Budget | $15 million [1] |
| Box office | $8.5 million (US) |
Set in a remote Irish castle called Dromore Castle, County Limerick, High Spirits is a topsy-turvy comedy with thematic leanings towards Ireland's rich folklore regarding ghosts and spirits, where the castle starts to come to life with the help of such denizens.
Plot
editCash-strapped Peter Plunkett has converted his ancestral home, the dilapidated Castle Plunkett, into a bed and breakfast ever since the death of his father 10 years prior. Owing money to an Irish-American businessman named Jim Brogan who attempts to move the castle to Malibu and convert it into a theme park called "Irish World" unless they come up with the money within three weeks time before facing foreclosure, Plunkett attempts to turn the castle into "the most haunted castle in Europe" for the tourist trade. Inspired by his mother, Lavinia's stories about the castle being haunted mostly by their Plunkett ancestors including his late father, he and his wacky Irish staff set about creating ghostly costumes and effects for their first group of American guests.
Guests include Jack Crawford and his apathetic Irish-American wife, Sharon having arrived for their supposed second honeymoon, cynical parapsychologist, Malcolm Clay accompanied by his wife, Marge and their three children: Wendy, Woody, and Graham in order to prove the possible existence of ghosts in the castle, temporarily celibate Miranda, and timid priest, Brother Tony for a vacation before taking his final vows. After a staged haunting gone completely wrong on their first night and Clay threatening to expose this sham, Jack is initially shocked to discover that Plunkett and his staff are going to lose their castle within the remaining two weeks left to Jim Brogan as he reveals that the latter is actually his father-in-law, thus, making him realize that his wife, Sharon actually lied to him by using their second honeymoon for her father on a matter of business.
Later, after a few drinks with Plunkett, Jack comes across two real ghosts: one of them being Plunkett's six-times great-grand cousin, Mary Plunkett (whose painting Jack admired earlier in the evening) and the other, her newly wedded husband, Martin Brogan having a scuffle. The latter stabs her to death with his knife in a jealous fury under false accusations of infidelidy, a constant "loop" that has been going on each night for nearly 200 years. When the ghosts re-enact the scene again, Jack inadvertently interrupts the "loop" by getting in the way. Suddenly, Mary becomes enamored of him.
Having learned about the current situation with the castle, all the ghosts including Plunkett's father decide to give the Americans exactly what they came here for by staging a real full-scale paranormal event. On the verge of leaving the castle, the ghosts strip the Americans half-naked, sabotage their only means of transport, knock the phone lines out, and force them back into the castle through a manifested thunderstorm whereas Jack is spirited away then brought to Mary Plunkett by her talking horse, Reynaldo where he learns of the story behind her murder and that her marriage to Martin was actually an unhappy one arranged by her father. Throughout the day, both the guests and hotel staff begin to experience and suffer all kinds of real but harmless hauntings including Sharon who eventually finds herself enamored of Martin. Even Plunkett comes face-to-face with his estranged ghostly father. Realizing how much Jack truly loves and cares about Mary, Plunkett's mother decides to help him out by handing him a book on high spirits that reveals that true love can actually bring the dead back to life on Halloween night (which is tomorrow night and the one night of every year where ghosts turn into flesh) so long as the lovers don't go so far as to making physical love amid the dangers of it.
On Halloween night, both Plunkett, his staff, and the guests experience and suffer more hauntings. Jack and Mary begin to share a romantic moment before making love. However, Jack finally discovers the dangers for performing such an act with a ghost on Halloween night when he sees that Mary has become a living but rotting old corpse. After a prolonged chase, Sharon finally gives in and professes her true love to Martin whereas Jack gives Mary a kiss of true love which restores her original youth despite his slight disgust and reluctance. As dawn approaches, when Sharon aims to embrace Martin in her arms, she accidentally falls out the window and dies and Mary suddenly disappears. However, when Jack lies by what appears to be his wife's corpse whose death he mourns for, he suddenly finds out to his happiness that the "corpse" is actually Mary, in Sharon's clothes, having finally been resurrected before they share another kiss. Sharon, now a ghost in Mary's wedding dress, shares a kiss with Martin before they vanish.
Despite the shocking experience, the guests have actually enjoyed their stay at the hotel and Clay promises Plunkett to recommend his castle as "the most haunted castle in the world" before they leave, thus, saving Plunkett and his staff from financial ruin. Brother Tony has resigned from his state of priesthood after throwing away his collar to pursue a romantic relationship with Miranda. Jack, having decided to stay, shares a dance with Mary before proposing to her. Martin and Sharon appear and the two couples dance together.
Cast
edit- Daryl Hannah as Mary Plunkett Brogan
- Peter O'Toole as Peter Plunkett
- Steve Guttenberg as Jack Crawford
- Beverly D'Angelo as Sharon Brogan Crawford
- Liam Neeson as Martin Brogan
- Jennifer Tilly as Miranda
- Peter Gallagher as Brother Tony
- Ray McAnally as Plunkett Senior
- Martin Ferrero as Malcolm Clay
- Connie Booth as Marge Clay
- Donal McCann as Eamon
- Liz Smith as Lavinia Plunkett
- Mary Coughlan as Katie
- Ruby Buchanan as Great Aunt Nan
- Isolde Cazelet as Julia
- Aimée Delamain as Great Granny Plunkett
- Tom Hickey as Sampson
- Krista Hornish as Wendy Clay
- Little John as Gateman
- Preston Lockwood as Great Uncle Peter
- Paul O'Sullivan as Graham Clay
- Hilary Reynolds as Patricia
- Tony Rohr as Christy
- Matthew Wright as Woody Clay
Reception
editThe film received negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a 31% rating based on 16 reviews.[2]
Home media
editScream Factory released the film on Blu-ray Disc in 2015.[3] It was packaged as a double feature with Vampire's Kiss on February 13, 2015.[4] The film was released on Blu-ray from Final Cut on August 24, 2020 in the UK.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Jones, Alan (1989). "High Spirits". Cinefantastique. Fourth Castle Micromedia. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ "High Spirits (1988)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ ""VAMPIRE'S KISS" / "HIGH SPIRITS" Double Feature". Archived from the original on 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2015-02-10.
- ^ Vampire's Kiss / High Spirits (Blu-ray Double Feature)