After losing their academic posts at a prestigious university, a team of parapsychologists goes into business as proton-pack-toting “ghostbusters” who exterminate ghouls, hobgoblins and supernatural pests of all stripes. An ad campaign pays off when a knockout cellist hires the squad to purge her swanky digs of demons that appear to be living in her refrigerator.

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Dr. Peter Venkman: Bill Murray
• Dr. Raymond Stantz: Dan Aykroyd
• Dana Barrett: Sigourney Weaver
• Dr. Egon Spengler: Harold Ramis
• Louis Tully: Rick Moranis
• Janine Melnitz: Annie Potts
• Walter Peck: William Atherton
• Winston Zeddemore: Ernie Hudson
• Mayor: David Margulies
• Male Student: Steven Tash
• Female Student: Jennifer Runyon
• Gozer: Slavitza Jovan
• Hotel Manager: Michael Ensign
• Librarian: Alice Drummond
• Dean Yager: Jordan Charney
• Violinist: Timothy Carhart
• Library Administrator: John Rothman
• Archbishop: Tom McDermott
• Self: Roger Grimsby
• Self: Larry King
• Self: Joe Franklin
• Self (voice): Casey Kasem
• Fire Commissioner: John Ring
• Police Commissioner: Norman Matlock
• Police Captain: Joe Cirillo
• Police Seargeant: Joe Schmieg
• Jail Guard: Reginald VelJohnson
• Real Estate Woman: Rhoda Gemignani
• Man at Elevator: Murray Rubin
• Con Edison Man: Larry Dilg
• Coachman: Danny Stone
• Woman at Party: Patty Dworkin
• Tall Woman at Party: Jean Kasem
• Doorman: Lenny Del Genio
• Chambermaid: Frances E. Nealy
• Hot Dog Vendor: Sam Moses
• TV Reporter: Christopher Wynkoop
• Businessman in Cab: Winston May
• Mayor’s Aide: Tommy Hollis
• Louis’s Neighbor: Eda Reiss Merin
• Policeman at Apartment: Ric Mancini
• Mrs. Van Hoffman: Kathryn Janssen
• Reporter: Stanley Grover
• Reporter: Carol Ann Henry
• Reporter: James Hardie
• Reporter: Frantz Turner
• Reporter: Nancy Kelly
• Ted Fleming: Paul Trafas
• Annette Fleming: Cheryl Birchenfield
• Library Ghost: Ruth Oliver
• Dream Ghost: Kymberly Herrin
• Prisoner (uncredited): Larry Bilzarian
• Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (uncredited): Billy Bryan
• Boy at Hot Dog Stand (uncredited): Matteo Cafiso
• Man (uncredited): Larry Chain
• T-Shirt Vendor (uncredited): Frankie Como
• Man Fleeing Marshmallow Man (uncredited): Peter Costanza
• Soldier (uncredited): James ‘Hotfeet’ Davis
• Patrolman Matthews (uncredited): John De Bello
• Gozer (voice) (uncredited): Paddi Edwards
• Redheaded Man (uncredited): Eldo Ray Estes
• Hare Krishna acolyte (uncredited): Brute Force
• Birthday Girl in Tavern on the Green (uncredited): Debbie Gibson
• Student at Columbia University (uncredited): Willow Hale
• Library Patron (uncredited): Jon Hayden
• Man Behind Barricade (uncredited): Ron Jeremy
• Man in Taxi (uncredited): Joseph Marzano
• Man at Library (uncredited): Joe Medjuck
• Reporter (uncredited): Danny Nero
• City Hall Cop (uncredited): Frank Patton III
• Terror Dog (uncredited): Harrison Ray
• Zuul / Slimer (voice) (uncredited): Ivan Reitman
• Prisoner (uncredited): Frank Rivers
• Prisoner (uncredited): Mario Todisco
• Self (uncredited): Bill Walton
• Party Guest (uncredited): Manny Weltman
• Slimer (uncredited): Mark Bryan Wilson

Film Crew:

• Screenplay: Dan Aykroyd
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Rick Alexander
• Screenplay: Harold Ramis
• Sound Designer: Richard Beggs
• Editor: Sheldon Kahn
• Original Music Composer: Elmer Bernstein
• Set Decoration: Marvin March
• Producer: Ivan Reitman
• Executive Producer: Bernie Brillstein
• Producer: Michael C. Gross
• Director of Photography: László Kovács
• Editor: David E. Blewitt
• Casting: Karen Rea
• Costume Design: Theoni V. Aldredge
• Costume Design: Suzy Benzinger
• Makeup Artist: Leonard Engelman
• Production Manager: John G. Wilson
• Art Direction: John DeCuir Jr.
• Sound Designer: Tom McCarthy Jr.
• Visual Effects: Richard Edlund
• Producer: Joe Medjuck
• Visual Effects Art Director: John Bruno
• Theme Song Performance: Ray Parker, Jr.
• Production Design: John DeCuir
• Gaffer: Richmond L. Aguilar
• Sound Editor: Joseph Holsen
• Sound Editor: Michael P. Redbourn
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Les Fresholtz
• Costume Supervisor: Bruce Ericksen
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Vern Poore
• Sound Editor: John M. Colwell
• Visual Effects Camera: Jim Aupperle
• Sound Editor: Don S. Walden
• Sound Editor: William L. Manger
• Set Designer: George Eckert
• Sound Editor: Jim Bullock

Movie Reviews:

• John Chard: They came, they saw, they briefly conquered the 80s.

  A trio of misfit parapsychologists set up business as Ghostbusters. Ideal really because although slow at first, their business starts to boom as New York comes under threat from a supernatural force.

  Dan Aykroyd had this idea about space Ghostbusters in the future and the plan was to have himself and fellow Blues Brother, John Belushi, star in it. Pitching it to producer and director Ivan Reitman saw the basic concept retained but eventually it became what we now know as Ghostbusters. Co-written with Harold Ramis (also a co-star), Aykroyd’s genesis turned not only into a “monster” smash hit at the box office, but also into a pop-cultural “phenomenon”. In fact it actually is nice to re-visit the film these days without the public euphoria that swamped the movie for what seemed like a decade. T-shirts with the Ghostbusters logo on were everywhere, a telephone number if you rang it would have the Busters on answer phone, whilst the title song from Ray Parker Jr could be heard on the hour every hour on the radio. Even the catch phrase of “who ya gonna call?” was being used by the young, the old and the restless. Marketing genius or cynical tactics covering a sub-standard film?

  Well ultimately the film is really rather ace, it has some problems for sure (the effects were bad back then, never mind now and Ernie Hudson is a token addition to the team) but it’s razor sharp with its wit and has a mass appeal to people of all ages. It’s a basic odd ball’s to the rescue plot, but the differing characterisations and comedy lift it considerably higher than similarly themed films that had come prior to it. That it boasts a bigger budget and Bill Murray of course helps the cause. Murray was brought in after Belushi had left the mortal coil, and promptly owns the film. His Dr. Venkman is a fusion of sarcasm, biting one liners and sees science as a way of getting girls. All of which blends mirthfully with the polar opposites that are Aykroyd’s Stanz and Ramis’ Spengler. Sigourney Weaver lights up the screen as the soon to be possessed, and chased by Venkmen, Dana Barrett and Rick Moranis does meek goof-ball supreme as Louis Tully. There’s also value to be found in the script courtesy of some political nudging as the mayor is aware of vote power, while the human element badness and cynicism comes from William Atherton’s (suitably weasel like) stiff suit Walter Peck.

  Given its success (it made a worldwide profit of almost $262 million) a sequel was inevitable. Amiable enough as it was, it was a pale shadow of the first film and even recycled the ending. So stick with this bad boy then, a fun film for all that serves as a reminder of when the world went Ghostbusters barmy. 8/10

• Peter89Spencer: It was luck that I had this film and the sequel on my NowTV.
  I watched this in the afternoon and it brings me back fond memories. Not too scary but suitable for the spooky month.

  Who ya gonna call?!