“Beetlejuice” (1988) starring Michael Keaton, Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin / Z-View
Beetlejuice (1988)
Director: Tim Burton
Screenplay: Michael McDowell, Warren Skaaren; story by Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson
Stars: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder and Glenn Shadix.
Tagline: In This House… If You’ve Seen One Ghost… You Haven’t Seen Them All.
The Plot…
Adam and Barbara Maitland are almost home when they swerve to avoid hitting a dog. Their car goes over a bridge and into the river.
When Adam and Barbara wake up they’re home.
And dead.
Adam and Barbara are now ghosts in their country home. When their house is sold, the new owners are a New York real estate developer, his wife who considers herself an artist and their goth daughter.
Adam and Barbara hate changes made to the house by the new owners. So they decide to scare the new family into moving. That doesn’t work so Adam and Barbara decide they’ll move on. But because of afterlife red tape and bureaucracy, Adam and Barbara can’t leave their former house for 125 years. The afterlife is like nothing they could have imagined.
Adam and Barbara learn about Betelgeuse, a self-proclaimed bio-exorcist. Despite warnings that Betlegeuse is a rude, crude, spirit that cannot be trusted, Adam and Barbara decide to ask for his help.
Be careful what you ask for… you just might get it.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Beetlejuice was nominated and won one Academy Award for Best Make-up – Ve Neill, Steve LaPorte, and Robert Short.
Catherine O’Hara met her future husband, Bo Welch who was production designer for Beetlejuice, during filming.
Tim Burton originally wanted Sammy Davis, Jr. to play Beetlejuice. The studio wouldn’t agree.
Sylvia Sidney plays a smoking ghost with a hole in her throat through which she exhales smoke. Sadly Ms. Sidney died from throat cancer at the age of 88.
Geena Davis is so cute in this film.
Michael Keaton is perfect as Beetlejuice.
Beetlejuice (1988) rates 4 of 5 stars.
