High Spirits (film)
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| High Spirits | |
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 High Spirits original theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Neil Jordan |
| Produced by | David Saunders Stephen Woolley |
| Written by | Neil Jordan |
| Starring | Peter O'Toole Steve Guttenberg |
| Music by | George Fenton |
| Cinematography | Alex Thomson |
| Distributed by | MGM |
| Release date(s) | 1988 |
| Running time | 99 min. |
| Country | UK / USA |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
High Spirits is an 1988 comedy film directed by Neil Jordan.
Set in a remote Irish castle, High Spirits is a topsy-turvy comedy with thematic leanings towards Ireland's rich folklore regarding ghosts and spirits.
[edit] Plot
Peter O'Toole is Peter Plunkett, the owner of a dilapidated Irish castle which acts as a bed and breakfast supplying the only employment for the local villagers. Owing money to an American businessman, Plunkett has the idea to turn the castle into "The most haunted castle in Europe" for the tourist trade. He and his wacky staff of Irish characters set about creating ghost costumes and effects for their first group of American lodgers.
At first annoyed by the inept hauntings, the American guests (including Steve Guttenberg in his prime, Beverly D'Angelo, Connie Booth and Jennifer Tilly) soon get what they paid for as the genuine ghosts of Castle Plunkett take umbrage with being cheaply exploited and stage a full scale paranormal event.
Two of the castle's ghosts, Mary Plunkett and Martin Brogan (played by Daryl Hannah and Liam Neeson) become romantically entangled with Guttenberg and D'Angelo's characters. This romantic twist is the focus of most of the plot.
