August 25th, 2011
05:12 PM ET
The Throwback: 'Ghost' musical set to haunt BroadwayHollywood producers aren't the only ones reaching back in time for inspiration. The 1990 film "Ghost" has been adapted into a musical currently running on London's West End, and will hit the Broadway stage in early 2012. In the film, Sam and Molly (Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore) are walking home when Sam is gunned down in the street in a seemingly botched robbery. Stuck between worlds, Sam soon realizes his death was a premeditated murder plotted by his best friend and colleague, Carl (Tony Goldwyn). He sticks by Molly's side, unbeknownst to her, when he realizes she's in danger. When Sam finds that storefront clairvoyant Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg) can hear him, he uses Brown to contact Molly.
Seeing "Ghost" in the theater at the age of 12, I was given false hope that all Manhattanites live in huge loft apartments (confirmed later by NBC's "Friends" and "Mad About You") and that Japanese apple pears are available on every street corner. It also made me think New York City was much more dangerous than it actually is. I've lived in Manhattan for seven years, and in reality, my apartment is smaller than my cubicle, I have yet to eat a Japanese apple pear, and I've never even HEARD a gunshot, let alone witnessed a shooting. I have yet to find out whether "Ghost's" take on the afterlife is true or not. I sure hope I never get visited by those TERRIFYING shadow-demons. Often described as a romance/fantasy/thriller, "Ghost" is rarely recognized for what it really is - a comedy. Most of the comic relief was provided by Whoopi Goldberg, who more than earned her Oscar. Who can forget her one-liners such as, "Molly, you in danger girl"; "Damn baby, what'd you do to yo hair?" and "I know you don't think I'm giving this $4 million to a bunch of nuns!" I remember re-enacting the less-famous "What'd the doctor say about your cough" elevator scene with my best friend in junior high. "Ghost" won the Oscar for best original screenplay, and of course Goldberg won the best supporting actress Academy Award. The stage show, which is currently running in London's Piccadilly Theatre, features all-new original music, save for the film's iconic pottery wheel scene song, "Unchained Melody." Sadly, "I'm Henry the VIII, I am" does not appear on the cast recording. Too bad the pottery craze that art supply stores were no doubt banking on didn't quite sweep the nation... but perhaps "Ghost" did lead, in part, to the idea of humans having romantic relationships with supernatural beings, e.g. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Twilight." What's your favorite scene from "Ghost?" What are some of your other favorite tales of supernatural romance?
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I work in a bank and I always think of Woopi at the bank when I issue a large cashier's check.
Im Heanry the eight I am, Henry the eight I am I am, I got married to the widow next door, she's been married seven times before. Second verse same as the first! love it!!!!
I have two favorite parts. The unchained melody scene in the beginning and then the end where Molly says ditto =)
That is on of my all time favorite movies!!!!
I like when Sam first realizes Oda Mae can hear him and chases her around in her shop. "Oda Mae say something." "Sam
Wheat!" With that said, I'm not sure
I'm interested in
Seeing it in musical
form. Do they sing
Unchained melody as they make love or does someone else sing it for them? Creepy! I would probably bust out laughing at the parts that aren't supposed to be funny. Do Carl and Willie Lopez sing or the shadow figures when they're carried away? I'll stick to the movie I think- hoping Hollywood doesn't remake it also.
"Oh he's a handsome man.". "Handsome?". "Mrs. Santiago, in our father's kingdom we are all handsome." LOL!
The Ghost and Mrs Muir
Best supernatural romance ever.
I signed the wrong name
the movie was okay. not a classic. definitely not worth turning inta a musical.
"I'm Henry the Eighth I Am" was another comic delight in Ghost and should be on the soundtrack esp. since the show is in England and England has Kings & Queens.
Definately the funniest scenes were:Oda Mae and the check (all scenes) and Sam moving the chairs in the office as Carl tries to access the bank acct. The most romantic were: The pottery scene and Oda Mae/Sam dancing w/Molly towards the end (tissue fest!)
Ghost is a great classic! I dont know what inertiaman is smoking!
Ghost was a big friggin ball of cheese. Hated that movie. And Pretty Woman too. There I said it.
Whoopie holding onto the check not wanting to give it the nun.
no more new ideas. can't you idiots come up with some new shyte?
I LOVE Ghost! It's a classic. I remember wathcing it when i was little and being so scared by the "spirits" that came and took Carl away.
Whoopie walking pigeon toed in high heels.
This will be a flop. Whoopie is no more than a non-talented shytpile.