(Redirected from Janine Melnitz)
Original ''Ghostbusters'' film poster
'''Ghostbusters''' is a science fantasy series created in 1984. The first film was titled ''
Ghostbusters'', and was released on June 8th, 1984 by
Columbia Pictures. The film became a pop culture phenomenon, leading to a sequel, three television shows, various video games and other merchandise.
After the release of ''Ghostbusters'', various other Ghostbusters products were developed including a novel, a comic series, video games, action figures, trading cards, and other merchandise, all set within the fictional Ghostbusters reality.
Development
The concept was inspired by
Dan Aykroyd's own fascination with the paranormal, and it was conceived by Aykroyd as a vehicle for himself and friend and fellow ''
Saturday Night Live'' alum
John Belushi.
[1] Aykroyd came up with ''Ghostbusters'' after reading an article about quantum physics and parapsychology in the American Society of Psychical Research Journal and then watching movies like ''Ghostchasers''. Aykroyd thought, "Let's redo one of those old ghost comedies, but let's use the research that's being done today. Even at that time, there was plausible research that could point to a device that could capture ectoplasm or materialization; at least visually."
[2]
The original story as written by Aykroyd was much more ambitious -- and unfocused -- than what would be eventually filmed; in Aykroyd's original vision, a group of Ghostbusters would travel through time, space and other dimensions taking on huge
ghosts (of which the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man was just one of many). Also, the Ghostbusters wore
S.W.A.T.-like outfits and used wands instead of Proton Packs to fight the ghosts; ''Ghostbusters''
storyboards show them wearing
riotsquad-type
helmets with movable transparent
visors.
[3] The original draft of the script written by Aykroyd was very large, compared to a "phone book" by director
Ivan Reitman.
[4]
Aykroyd pitched his story to director / producer
Ivan Reitman, who liked the basic idea but immediately saw the budgetary impossibilities demanded by Aykroyd's first draft. At Reitman's suggestion, the story was given a major overhaul, eventually evolving into the final
screenplay which Aykroyd and Ramis hammered out over the course of a few months in a
Martha's Vineyard bomb shelter (according to Ramis on the DVD Commentary Track for the movie). Aykroyd and Ramis initially wrote the script with roles written especially for Belushi,
Eddie Murphy and
John Candy. However, Belushi died due to a drug overdose during the writing of the screenplay, and neither Murphy nor Candy could commit to the movie due to prior engagements, so Aykroyd and Ramis shifted some of these changes around and polished a basic, yet sci-fi oriented screenplay for their final draft.
In addition to Aykroyd's high-concept basic premise and Ramis' skill at grounding the fantastic elements with a realistic setting, the film benefits from Bill Murray's semi-improvisational performance as Peter Venkman, the character initially intended for Belushi. The extent of Murray's improvisation while delivering his lines varies wildly with every re-telling of the making of the film; some say he never even read the script, and improvised so much he deserves a writing credit, while others insist that he only improvised a few lines, and used his deadpan comic delivery to make scripted lines seem spontaneous.
With the first DVD release of the film on the 15th anniversary of the original theatrical release, many original concepts of the film were revealed, based on the storyboard artwork: Louis Tully was originally to be a
conservative man in a
business suit played by comedian
John Candy, but Candy was unable to commit to the role. The role was taken by Rick Moranis, portraying Louis as a
geek. Gozer was originally going to appear in the form of
Ivo Shandor as a slender, unremarkable man in a suit played by
Paul Reubens.
[5] In the end, the role was played by Yugoslavian model Slavitza Jovan, whose Eastern European accent (later dubbed by
Paddi Edwards) caused "choose and perish" to sound like "Jews and berries".
Winston Zeddemore was written with
Eddie Murphy in mind, but he had to decline the role as he was filming ''
Beverly Hills Cop'' at the same time. When Murphy had the role, Zeddemore was going to be hired much earlier in the film, and would accompany the trio on their hunt for
Slimer at the hotel and be slimed in place of Peter Venkman. When
Ernie Hudson took over, it was decided that he be brought in later to indicate how the Ghostbusters were struggling to keep up with the outbreak of ghosts.
Gozer's temple was the biggest and most expensive set ever to be constructed at that time. In order to properly light it and create the physical effects for the set, other stages needed to be shut down and all their power diverted over to the set. The hallway sets for the Sedgewick Hotel were originally built for the movie ''
Rich and Famous'' in 1981 and patterned after the
Algonquin Hotel in New York City, where Reitman originally wanted to do the hotel bust.
The Biltmore Hotel was chosen because the large lobby allowed for a
tracking shot of the Ghostbusters in complete gear for the first time. Dana Barrett and Louis Tully's apartments were constructed across two stages and were actually on the other side of their doors in the hallway, an unusual move in filmmaking.
A problem arose during filming when it was discovered that a show was produced in 1975 by
Filmation for
CBS called ''
The Ghost Busters'', starring
Larry Storch and
Forrest Tucker. (It should be noted that this show's title is written as two words instead of one word like the 1984 movie.)
Columbia Pictures prepared a list of alternative names just in case the rights could not be secured, but during the filming of the crowd for the final battle, the extras were all chanting "Ghostbusters", which inspired the producers to insist that the studio buy the rights to the name. For the test screening of ''Ghostbusters'', half of the ghost effects were missing, not yet having been completed by the production team. The audience response was still enthusiastic, and the ghost elements were completed for the official theatrical release shortly thereafter.
Technology
''Ghostbusters equipment'' is the equipment used by the Ghostbusters in the
1984 film and all subsequent ''Ghostbusters'' fiction used to aid in the capture and containment of
ghosts.
Proton pack
:''For full information, see
Proton pack.''
The main equipment used by the Ghostbusters to capture ghosts is the
Proton Pack: a reportedly unlicensed nuclear accelerator which fires a
proton stream that polarizes with the negatively charged energy of a ghost allowing it to be held in the stream while active. The proton packs' particle throwers were originally portrayed as wands worn on each arm. In current versions, it consists of a
hand-held wand ("Proton Gun" or particle thrower) connected to a backpack-sized
particle accelerator.
Other Ghost-catching devices
The
Slime Blower is seen and developed in the movie ''
Ghostbusters II'', this piece of equipment is a metal tank strapped to the back of its user, with an attached sprayer used to project streams of the psychomagnetheric "mood slime" that has emotionally been positively reinforced, rather than negatively. A toy Slime Blower was released with the Kenner Real Ghostbusters toyline, known as the Ecto-Charger Pack.
Unique to the ''Ghostbusters'' comics, the "Ecto-Splat" is a
flamethrower-like device similar to the Slime Blower. It fires a hard jet of
ectoplasm, which can damage or break up ghosts. As it fires it makes a
noise spelled "zzzax".
Ghost Hunting
A PKE meter is a handheld device, used in locating and measuring 'P'sycho-'K'inetic 'E'nergy, which is a unique environmental byproduct emitted by ghosts. The Giga meter is a device similar to the PKE meter, featured in
Ghostbusters II. As explained by Egon in the original script, the Giga meter measures PKE in GeV, or giga-electron-volts. Ecto-Goggles, sometimes known as "Spectro-Visor" this is a special pair of goggles that visually traces PKE readings. They are particularly useful in helping its wearer see normally invisible ghosts and it can also be used to assist in tracking ghosts within a visible field of search. There is also a "Ghost Sniffer" only seen (incorrectly) used by Peter Venkman thus far. A toy Ghost Sniffer was released as part of the Kenner Real Ghostbusters toyline, known as the Ghost Nabber.
Containment
The ghosts the Ghostbusters catch are housed at their retrofitted fire house. The building also houses their offices and residence. The building used in the movie has become a real-world
New York City tourist attraction.
[6]
Ghost trap
This is a box with a split, hinged lid, remote-controlled by a simple pedal switch, attached to the end of the box by a long
cable. When a
ghost is brought close to the trap (usually by means of the proton pack, though not necessarily), the ghost trap is activated by the foot switch. Its lid then opens, and a
force field draws the ghost inside. Characters are advised to refrain from looking directly at the trap when it is activated. The ghost can then be transported to the larger, more permanent containment unit. More than one ghost can be stored in a trap, but has never been established how many or for how long a ghost can be held. It has also been suggested that a captured ghost can be released by a Ghostbuster from the ghost trap voluntarily by opening it again. This was not explicitly shown in the movies, but the animated series showed this to be true several times. The ''
Real Ghostbusters'' animated series also expanded on the Ghost trap greatly, showing that more powerful ghosts must be quickly sent to the containment unit or they may break free of the trap and that if more than one ghost is caught in the trap at once, they merge into a single entity and cannot be divided. In the ''
Extreme Ghostbusters'' episode "Back in the Saddle", the team converted a dump truck into a giant "ecto trap" in order to capture a
massive
being that was devouring the city.
Ecto-Containment Unit
Also referred to as the "Containment System." This is the large containment facility in the basement of the Ghostbusters' headquarters. It was developed after Dr. Spengler and Dr. Stantz made their first actual contact with the
ghost of a librarian in the basement of the
New York Public Library. According to
data from that experience, they theorize that because a ghost's ionization rate is constant, they could capture and hold it indefinitely. This idea makes the Ghostbuster business possible. All captured ghosts are stored in this containment unit. The containment unit has an easy-access slot, into which is placed a full ghost trap; after two buttons are pressed in sequence, and a lever pulled, the ghost is pumped from the trap into the unit's containment field. After completing these steps, a
green light attached to the containment system briefly activates, denoting a successful containment. Thus the rule: "When the light is green, the trap is clean."
It should be noted that the containment system seen in the cartoon is radically different from the one found in the original movie ''
Ghostbusters'' (Though the hatch in both versions is nearly if not completely identical). In the movie, the device is simply installed into a cramped basement area of the old firehouse, built into the
concrete wall. However, in the cartoon, the basement is a sprawling,
two-story, warehouse-like space, with the large,
red, cylindrical containment unit given new prominence. The reason given in the cartoon series for these changes is that improvements were made to prevent any further complications like those which occur in the movie, such as the system reaching maximum capacity, or
EPA lackey Walter Peck's ordering the system powered down, releasing all contained ghosts into
New York City. To this end, the basement of the
Ghostbusters' headquarters is expanded, and the containment unit upgraded in
size and
technology, with a back-up
power source to prevent sudden shut-downs. However, the company once must resort to a bicycle attached to an electrical turbine during a serious power loss to maintain the protection grid while they struggled to restore power. Furthermore, in the TV series, the Ghostbusters also work at developing more permanent disposal solutions such as dimensional portals where ghosts could be deposited in other
planes of
reality.
Transport
The Ectomobile.
The 'Ectomobile' is a 1959
Cadillac Miller-Meteor limo-style endloader
combination car (
hearse/
ambulance) used in the
1984 film ''
Ghostbusters'' and other Ghostbusters fiction.
This vehicle was purchased by
Ray Stantz for the relatively high price of $4800 (over $9400 when scaled up for inflation) in a poor state of repair. In Stantz' own words, it needed "suspension work and shocks,
brakes, brake pads, lining, steering box, transmission, rear-end (interruption by
Venkman inquiring as to the aforementioned price), new rings, mufflers, and a little wiring."
After the necessary reconstruction, it was used to carry the team's ghost-capturing equipment, as well as transporting the Ghostbusters through
New York City. It has a distinctive siren wail. Its features include a special pull-out rack in the rear containing the staff's
proton packs, which facilitates a quick retrieval without the complication of having to reach into the vehicle's rear. There are also various gadgets mounted on the top, whose function is never revealed in the movies. Fans speculate that the equipment includes heavy-duty anti-ghost weaponry and defenses. The book ''Making Ghostbusters'' describes a deleted scene where a police officer places a ticket on the Ectomobile only to have it instantly burn to ashes.
Earlier versions of scripts written by
Dan Aykroyd for the first ''Ghostbusters'' also included mentions of the Ectomobile having the power of
interdimensional travel. The shooting script for the movie described the Ectomobile as being
black, with
purple and
white strobe lights that gave the vehicle a "purple
aura".
The license plate.
This vehicle is also known as "ECTO-1" (because of its custom ECTO-1 licence plate shown in the original movie), which was the name used on ''
The Real Ghostbusters'', the animated show based on the movie.
A miniature replica of the vehicle was mass-produced as a childrens' toy. The toy version of this vehicle has sold approx. 1,000,000+ units worldwide. Polar Lights released a 1/24 scale model kit of the Ecto-1 in 2002.
Throughout other Ghostbusters fiction, a number of other Ectomobiles were introduced.
★ Ecto-1a : An upgraded version of the Ecto-1, seen only in ''
Ghostbusters II'', which included more technical equipment placed on the roof of the chassis. Most noticeably this upgrade included digital announcement boards on each side of the vehicle's roof, broadcasting Ghostbuster advertisements, specials, and their phone number. Also, the logo was updated on the doors and back entrance of the ambulance.
★ Ecto-2 : A small open-topped two-seater
helicopter seen in the cartoons and the comic based on them as well as a toy. The toy's stern end had a
pistol-type grip and trigger to let a child playing with it hold it in the air and make its
rotor spin; this grip and trigger are copied in the comic despite the resulting
aerodynamic unnaturalness.
★ Ecto-3 : There have been 3 vehicles with this name:-
★
★ a motorized
unicycle and
sidecar that slips into Ecto-1's rear fender in the Real Ghostbusters episode ''The Joke's on Ray''.
★
★ a time-distortion
jet-like vehicle invented by Egon in the comics. This vehicle was renamed the 'Ecto-4' after the cartoon's unicycle version debuted.
★
★ a
go-kart-like vehicle seen as a toy.
★ Ecto-Bomber : An
airplane seen in "The Slob" based off the Kenner toy. The name comes from the toy, it was not mentioned in the episode it was in.
★ "Extreme" Ecto-1 : This vehicle is a slightly different variant on car from ''The Real Ghostbusters'' as seen on the ''
Extreme Ghostbusters'' TV series. The vehicle is equipped with a more 'modern' selection of detection equipment and emergency lights. It resembles a 1970's Cadillac hearse.
★ Ecto-Ichi: A extremely high tech six wheeled Ectomobile used by the Ghostbusters in Japan. it is capable of flight and traveling on water.
The Ectomobile is never named on-screen. The word "Ectomobile" was only used in the song "Cleaning Up The Town" from the film's soundtrack. Originally the filmmakers planned to have the Ecto-1 be painted black. The color of the vehicle was later changed to white when it was decided a black car would be too difficult to see during night scenes. The Ectomobile was originally going to be a much more high tech vehicle, with an almost artificial intelligence. Three cars have played the vehicle in the movies; the third 1959 Miller-Meteor was purchased after the second died during shooting of ''Ghostbusters II''. The black Miller-Meteor seen at the beginning of the first movie was leased and used only for that scene and never converted. Later this car was purchased by the studio and completely converted to a full Ecto-1 for touring. It now resides in a car museum in Volo, Illinois, and is for sale (see below). 'Ecto-1A' was originally scripted as 'Ecto-2', and one reference to this remains in the movie. When
Bill Murray as Dr.
Peter Venkman is standing outside of his apartment and the car pulls up, you can just make out the words ''Ecto-2'' on the license plate. Both Ectomobiles are currently sitting in a Sony pictures studios backlot in a rapidly deteriorating condition, the Ecto 1a having served as an attraction at the Universal studios "Spooktackular" stage show. Currently an Ecto 1 replica is held for sale at about $150,000. This is not the original car, but a replica made by
George Barris (who has been known to falsely assert himself as having a hand in designing the original film car.) At one point there was a
''Ghostbusters'' video game in development which featured a more modern version of the Ectomobile, based off a stretched Chrysler 300C.
Other technology
The upcoming ''Ghostbusters III'' includes the Ghostbusters developing a machine to transport themselves to an alternate
Manhattan to save New York.
[7]
Major Characters
Peter Venkman
Peter Venkman is the most prominently featured Ghostbuster in the films. He was portrayed by
Bill Murray in both the live action films, and was voiced in the animated series first by
Lorenzo Music and then by
Dave Coulier.
Born in
Brooklyn, New York, Peter is one of three doctors of
parapsychology on the team, though he also holds a Ph.D. in
psychology. In the movies, he is characterized by his flippant persona, his lackadaisical approach to his profession, and his womanizing demeanor; of the three doctors in the Ghostbusters, he is the least committed to the academic and scientific side of their profession, and tends to regard his field, in the words of his employer in the first film, as "a dodge or hustle". However, he possesses more common sense than either
Ray Stantz or
Egon Spengler. In ''Ghostbusters II'', following the break-up of the team, he hosts a psychic-themed talk show on local television.
In ''
The Real Ghostbusters'' series, Peter's womanizing is toned down somewhat, but he retains his dry wit and sarcastic demeanor. While not the official leader of the group, Venkman often makes the decision of whether the Ghostbusters will take a case or not. He is originally opposed to the idea of
Slimer living in the firehouse, but quickly develops a love-hate relationship with the
ghost.
The ''Real Ghostbusters'' episodes "Venkman's Ghost Repellers", "Cold Cash and Hot Water", and "Treasure of the Sierra Tamale" feature Peter's father, a con-man who failed to earn
money in other ways and was always away on business at Christmas, as mentioned in "X-mas Marks The Spot". Peter has claimed to be born under the astrological sign Scorpio, as mentioned in "Mean Green Teen Machine". In "Last Train to Oblivion", one of Peter's favorite hobbies is trains; he used to dream about driving a big locomotive when he was a child and studied engineering in college for
two years before finding out it had nothing to do with trains.
Two of the actors who played Venkman also shared another role.
Lorenzo Music provided the voice of the popular cartoon cat
Garfield in his animated specials and the television series ''
television series'' in the 1980s and 1990s.
Bill Murray later took over the role in two live-action feature films following Music's death.
Raymond "Ray" Stantz
Raymond "Ray" Stantz (born 1959 in the Bronx, according to ''
Real Ghostbusters'' episodes "It's About Time" and "Citizen Ghost") is a member of the Ghostbusters. He was played by
Dan Aykroyd in the films ''
Ghostbusters'', ''
Ghostbusters II'', and ''
Casper'', and was voiced by
Frank Welker in the
animated television series ''
The Real Ghostbusters''. He is one of the three doctors of
parapsychology on the team, along with Dr.
Peter Venkman and Dr.
Egon Spengler.
Ray is considered the "heart" of the Ghostbusters by the other members of the team. He is an expert on paranormal
history and
metallurgy. He is characterized by his almost childlike enthusiasm towards his work and his forthright acceptance of
paranormal activity, though he expresses
skepticism toward
Christianity. He is known for his
wordy and overly technical explanations of scientific and paranormal phenomena. Ray, along with Egon, is responsible for pioneering the Ghostbusters' theories and designing and building the equipment used for catching and containing
ghosts.
Aykroyd made an appearance with Murray as Ghostbusters for a critically ill child whose dream was to meet them.
[8] Aykroyd did a cameo as Stantz in the movie version of ''
Casper''.
[9]
Egon Spengler
Egon Spengler is a member of the Ghostbusters, and one of the three doctors of
parapsychology on the team. Egon is portrayed by
Harold Ramis in the films ''
Ghostbusters'' and ''
Ghostbusters II'', and voiced by
Maurice LaMarche in the
animated television series ''
The Real Ghostbusters'' and later ''
Extreme Ghostbusters''. Before the movie was released, ''American Cinematographer'' described Egon as "maniacal" based on reading the script.
[10] Ramis credits the part as launching his acting career, as up to that point he had been a director and writer.
[11]
Bespectacled, awkward, and laconic, Egon is the member of the team responsible for the main theoretical framework for their
paranormal studies. Being addicted to
science, he is the creator of the
Ghostbusters' equipment along with Dr.
Ray Stantz. Egon is the most serious and straightforward member of the team. Of his hobbies, he states that he collects "
spores,
molds, and
fungus", and claims that as a child the only toy he ever had was "part of a
Slinky", which he straightened. As implied in the first movie, Egon apparently has an affection for sweets and candy. He once attempted self-
trepanation, but was stopped by
Peter Venkman. He is the
love interest of
Janine Melnitz, the Ghostbusters' secretary, in the first film and both animated series (''
Ghostbusters II'' excluded their romance due to Ramis' dislike of the subplot). Egon is the only original Ghostbuster to return for the ''
Extreme Ghostbusters'' series.
Winston Zeddemore
Winston Zeddemore was played by
Ernie Hudson in both movies and was voiced by
Arsenio Hall in the first season of ''
The Real Ghostbusters''.
Buster Jones provided Winston's voice in the remaining seasons, and he reprised the role in a cameo on ''
Extreme Ghostbusters''. He is a Ghostbuster, but unlike the other members of the team, he is not a scientist with a background in the paranormal. (The novelisation notes he is a former Marine.) He is hired later in the company's existence when their business begins to pick up. However, despite not sharing the educational credentials of his coworkers, Winston often serves as a
voice of
reason and displays far more common sense than the other Ghostbusters.
Described as the "everyman" of the
Ghostbusters, Winston is hired as a member seemingly because he is the only applicant at the time. When applying for the job as a Ghostbuster he is questioned extensively by
Janine Melnitz as to whether he believes in a large number of supernatural occurrences and beings. He replies, "If there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything you say." When he is introduced to
Ray Stantz, Ray's response is, "Beautiful. You're hired." In one episode of the ''Real Ghostbusters'' cartoon, Winston mentions that he did not believe in the supernatural before becoming a Ghostbuster, which shows that he was only looking for a lucrative job. Nevertheless, he accepts the
existence of the paranormal once he witnesses it firsthand, even stating that "these things are real" and that he has "seen shit that will turn you ''white''".
In the original script Winston was intended as the smartest and most capable of the Ghostbusters. He held multiple degrees and was a Ph.D as well as being an ex-marine, making him more suited for the job than the original three. This was discussed in detail in the commentary on the DVD of the original movie; no explanation was given for the change in his character, but it was likely that to make him a blue-collar, "everyman" type of character would provide a common person's response to the supernatural happenings witnessed by the group.
Winston is the only Ghostbuster ever shown actually at the wheel of
Ecto-1 for more than a few moments in the two films. As a result, he is almost always shown driving the car in the ''Real Ghostbusters'' cartoon. According to
J. Michael Straczynski, network consultants demanded that Winston be depicted as the "driver".
[12]
Janine Melnitz
Janine Melnitz, the Ghostbusters' secretary, was played by
Annie Potts in both movies, and was voiced by
Laura Summer and
Kath Soucie in ''
The Real Ghostbusters'' and
Pat Musick in ''
Extreme Ghostbusters''. Over time, the Ghostbusters have come to count on Janine, not only for her work as a secretary keeping the business afloat, but also for help against ghosts. On numerous occasions, Janine has been forced to join the Ghostbusters as a teammate. In ''
Ghostbusters II'',
Peter Venkman assigns her to baby-sit Dana Barrett's infant son Oscar.
Throughout most ''Ghostbusters'' media, Janine is often displayed as having a romantic attraction to
Egon Spengler. This is shown in the first movie and more prominently in the ''Real Ghostbusters'' cartoons. In ''
Ghostbusters II'', however, she becomes involved with
Louis Tully, who has become the team's financial advisor and lawyer. Despite this, Janine retains her attraction to Egon throughout the entire ''Real Ghostbusters'' series, and even into the ''Extreme Ghostbusters'' series.
Season 3 of ''The Real Ghostbusters'' features several changes to the character of Janine: a new voice actor, a new character design, and a softened personality. In the season 5 episode "Janine, You've Changed", it is revealed that her changes were the result of her wishes to a "makeoverus lotsabucks" (the name likely a swipe at the network;
J. Michael Straczynski, the writer of the episode, resigned from the series before Season 3 over several show changes). Egon defeats the creature's hold over Janine. Strangely, by the time of ''Extreme Ghostbusters'', Janine has apparently reverted back to the way she was before Season 2 (note that the NOW and Marvel UK comics ignored the changes completely).
Janine's character was changed at the suggestion of consultants, who said that they wanted to change the shape of Janine's glasses (which they thought would frighten children), and change her from a feisty character to the "mother" of the Ghostbusters group. This, among other reasons, was why writer
J. Michael Straczynski left ''The Real Ghostbusters''.
[12]
Louis Tully
Louis Tully is an accountant and a friend of Dana Barrett, played by
Rick Moranis in ''
Ghostbusters'' and ''
Ghostbusters II'' and voiced by
Rodger Bumpass in the ''
Slimer! And the Real Ghostbusters'' animated series. Along with Dana, he is possessed by the two
demons who open the interdimensional gate to bring Gozer to
Earth in the first ''Ghostbusters'' film. In ''Ghostbusters II'', he is revealed to have earned a law degree at night school and represents the Ghostbusters at their trial. He later dons a Ghostbuster jumpsuit and proton pack to help defeat the evil ghost of Vigo the Carpathian. After the release of ''Ghostbusters II'', Louis became a semi-regular character on ''Slimer! And the Real Ghostbusters'' as the Ghostbusters' legal and financial adviser. ''Ghostbusters'', like many films on which Moranis has worked, had him improvising some of his lines.
[14]
Slimer
''Slimer'' is a
fictional green ghost featured in the 1984 supernatural
comedy movie ''
Ghostbusters'' (as well as its 1989 sequel, ''
Ghostbusters II)'', whose popularity soared from the subsequent
spinoff animated
television series ''
The Real Ghostbusters''. Slimer later starred in his own 'Slimer!' cartoons when ''The Real Ghostbusters'' was extended to a one-
hour format. Slimer also appeared as a representative of ''The Real Ghostbusters'' in the animated anti-drug television special, ''
Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue''. According to the terminology of the movie, Slimer is technically a "focused, non-terminal repeating phantasm", or a "class-five full-roaming vapor". For years the rumor has traveled
Hollywood that Slimer was an homage to
John Belushi, based on his character "Bluto" from ''
Animal House''. Belushi's
death prevented him from playing the starring role in ''Ghostbusters''; a role later assumed by his long-time
friend Bill Murray. In an endearing, yet strangely dark, moment of
comedy, Murray's character, Peter Venkman, is struck down by Slimer. Venkman's use of the phrase "He slimed me..." instantly created a new
verb; ''to
slime'', which endures as popular
slang. In the first movie, Slimer was voiced by the film's director
Ivan Reitman, while
Frank Welker voiced the green ghost in ''The Real Ghostbusters''. In the short-lived late 1990s cartoon ''
Extreme Ghostbusters'', Slimer's voice was provided by
Billy West.
Slimer's
personality is that of a frivolous creature who is the only one amused by his own jokes. He is shown haunting a hotel room, where he frightens clients before being captured by the Ghostbusters.
In the cartoon series ''The Real Ghostbusters'', it is explained how Slimer became an official member and mascot of the Ghostbusters. Venkman tells a reporter that Slimer helped him and the rest of the gang defeat ghostly versions of themselves; therefore they decided to keep him as a pet. In the series it is stated that Slimer stayed with them "for strictly scientific reasons" by Egon Spengler. In addition, Slimer is a good friend (if the only friend) of
Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, who seems to act like an older brother to him. Slimer loves to eat almost anything, though his particular favorites are
ice cream and
pizza. However, it was revealed in the
XGB episode ''Fear Itself'' that he is terrified of steamed
Broccoli. Slimer's role on ''The Real Ghostbusters'' was expanded to make the show more "kid friendly" and hence the show was renamed ''Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters'' and was extended to a one-hour format. The show now featured 'Slimer!' cartoon segments, focusing on the exploits of Slimer with some new characters, including neighborhood pets to the owner of the Sedgwick Hotel of the original movie. These Slimer segments were then followed by a normal Real Ghostbusters cartoon.
In the script for ''Ghostbusters'', Slimer is never actually called by any name, so is never given one. The creature's original moniker was simply 'The Onionhead Ghost', which the film crew semi-officially dubbed him because of his horrible odor, which he used to scare a couple in a scene cut from the original movie. When the cartoon series was produced, in response to the name much given to the character by audiences, the writers renamed the green ghost "Slimer", and the name stuck on all subsequent ''Ghostbusters'' properties, although he was referred to as "Mean Green Ghost" early in the related toy line. He is officially titled "Slimer" in the end credits of ''Ghostbusters II'' although never referred to by that name in the actual film. Within the cartoon series, Ray actually names him "Slimer" to annoy Peter. Slimer was also notably the mascot for the
Hi-C flavor "
Ecto Cooler", which came out shortly after ''The Real Ghostbusters'', and was colored green. Slimer remained on the box well after the Real Ghostbusters was canceled, but left the box In 1997, when the drink was renamed "Shoutin' Orange Tangergreen". Slimer also had a toothpaste called "''Slimer''" Toothpaste. ''SLIMER!'' was briefly published by
NOW Comics, a now-defunct Chicago firm. Artists included Mitch O'Connell and Mark Braun. Writers included Larry Parr who also wrote for the animated series.
The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man
Main articles: Stay Puft Marshmallow Man
The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man
The 'Stay Puft Marshmallow Man' is a character in the movie ''
Ghostbusters'' and the animated series ''
The Real Ghostbusters''. He was the cartoon mascot of the fictitious Stay Puft
Corporation, which produced
marshmallows. He was thought to be a parody of the real-life
Pillsbury Doughboy and the
Michelin tire man.
[15] Dan Aykroyd was the creator of the Marshmallow Man..
[16]
Jonah Goldberg of the
National Review referenced the Marshmallow man as a popular-
culture symbol that people assume is harmless, but can be turned to
evil under certain circumstances.
[17]
The costume was created by Bill Bryan using miniatures, optical compositing and Bill Bryan himself in the latex suit.
[18] His image has been found in a microscopic etching on a 1988 Mac computer chip.
[19]
In the film, an ancient
Sumerian god called Gozer arrives atop an
apartment building on
Central Park West in
New York City, where it tells the Ghostbusters that the next thing they think of will be the form Gozer will assume to destroy their world. Despite their efforts to clear their
minds,
Ray Stanz imagines the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. As he explains, Mr. Stay Puft "just popped in there" as "something that could never possibly destroy us." Moments later a giant (
34.3
meters tall) Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is seen walking towards the apartment building. The Ghostbusters shoot at Stay Puft with their
proton packs; setting him on
fire, but not stopping his advance. The Ghostbusters eventually stop Stay Puft when Egon suggests that the Ghostbusters cross their proton pack streams as they fire at Gozer's portal—although Egon himself had warned them early in the film that crossing the proton streams "would be bad," he does assure them that there is a very slim chance in this case that they could survive. The plan succeeds in causing "total protonic reversal", destroying the gate. The explosion generated by the event incinerates the Stay Puft man, raining molten marshmallow down onto the roof of the skyscraper and on the street below.
The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man also appears in the animated series ''
The Real Ghostbusters'', contradicting the events of the original film. No explanation is offered as to how Mr. Stay Puft, originally the
incarnation of
Gozer, became an
entity in his own right. Although Stay Puft was portrayed originally as a mindless monster in "Cry Uncle", by later episodes he had become a kind-
hearted, almost childlike figure. Again, this change is never fully explained, save a vague reference by Peter that he is "all better now" when a police officer reminds him of Stay Puft's previous rampages. Mr. Stay Puft soon became an ally to the team, helping the Ghostbusters defeat enemies too powerful to fight on their own. The character was voiced by
John Stocker, and later by
Frank Welker.
Over the years, a moderate amount of merchandise has focused around the character and has become an icon for the ''Ghostbusters'' film. A number of
McDonald's Happy Meal toys have featured the character. To coincide with the film's release,
Kenner released an
action figure with limited articulation that included rotation in the
head and
arms in
1986. A Japanese vinyl kit of the character was also released by Tsukuda as was Kenner's plush Marshmallow Man.
In 2004, company
NECA licensed the ''Ghostbusters'' franchise to produce a number of modern Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (and other ''Ghostbusters'' related) merchandise such as a Bobble-head toy, a resin statue, and a 15 inch
roto-cast plastic action figure. The NECA version of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man displayed a more menacing and evil version of the character compared to that of Kenner's, which portrayed the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man as a more gentle looking figure. This was probably what he would have looked like as he was destroying New York.
He has been referenced several times in popular culture. On the television series ''
Lost'', one of the nicknames
Sawyer gives
Hurley is 'Stay Puft', due to his weight. On the MTV Show ''
Viva La Bam'',
Don Vito is referred to as the Stay Puft Man due to his weight. The movie ''
Shrek 2'' includes a scene with a giant gingerbread man named Mongo that is intended as a spoof of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. In the
Homestar Runner Halloween toon "Homestarloween Party", one of the characters,
Pom Pom, dressed up as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man for his Halloween costume.
The person inside the Stay Puft costume during shooting was the costume's creator, Bill Bryan. According to the ''Ghostbusters'' DVD special features, the 10 second scene of Stay Puft climbing the building while on fire cost almost $100,000. The first take was ruined when the costume caught fire too quickly and Bill Bryan had to be extinguished. A new suit had to be constructed, at the cost of around $50,000 a piece. Originally, when Mr. Stay Puft is destroyed in the movie, there was a scene in which, in addition to the marshmallow goo, Mr. Stay Puft's hat also falls to the ground. The scene was ultimately cut due to the "hat", a large cloth replica that works much like a parachute, was deemed too unrealistic. In the scene where the containment grid is shutdown in the first film, a Stay Puft poster can be briefly seen on a wall. The earliest design of Mr. Stay Puft had a head resembling that of a cartoon-like man with a scary-looking
face; this was scrapped and replaced with the more recognizable marshmallow-shaped head. Mr. Stay Puft was also featured in several of the Ghostbusters video games.
Movies
Ghostbusters
Main articles: Ghostbusters
'''Ghostbusters''' is a
1984 sci-fi comedy film about three eccentric
New York City parapsychologists. After they are fired from a university, they start their own business investigating and capturing
ghosts. It was released in the
United States on
June 8,
1984, starring
Bill Murray,
Dan Aykroyd,
Harold Ramis,
Rick Moranis,
Sigourney Weaver,
Annie Potts and
Ernie Hudson. The film grossed approximately
USD$240 million in the U.S. and over $50 million abroad during its theatrical run, more than the second ''
Indiana Jones'' installment, making it easily the most successful film of that year, and the most successful comedy of the 1980s. The
American Film Institute ranked it 28th in its list of the top 100 comedies of all time (in their "AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs" list).
[20] In
2005,
IGN voted ''Ghostbusters'' the greatest comedy ever.
[21] In
2006,
Bravo ranked ''Ghostbusters'' 76 on their "100 Funniest Movies" list.
[22]
Ghostbusters II
Main articles: Ghostbusters II
After the success of the first film and the animated series, ''
The Real Ghostbusters'',
Columbia Pictures pressured the producers to make a sequel. However, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and
Ivan Reitman were uncomfortable with this as the original film was intended to be conclusive and they wished to work on other projects. Eventually, they agreed and created a script. Reportedly, some of the cast and crew were ultimately dissatisfied with the film as well as its box office reception.
Ghostbusters III
During his interview with CISN Country,
Dan Aykroyd announced that 'Ghostbusters III: Hellbent' will be CGI. "I can do all the things I wanted to do for much, much less money," he stated. Aykroyd wrote the script, which was described by
IGN as being "too technical", with a new team of Ghostbusters that were not clearly delineated and had no group conflict or leading personalities.
[23] Bill Murray has been thought to have held up the making of a third Ghostbusters movie, despite Aykroyd's enthusiasm, due to his desire not to do another live action movie and his dislike of sequels.
[24] However, he has now signed on to make the movie now that it will be CGI.
[25] Harold Ramis is already attached.
Sigourney Weaver has not expressed enthusiasm at doing another sequel.
[26] Harold Ramis mentioned in 2005 that he wanted
Ben Stiller to take
Bill Murray's part in the then titled 'Ghostbusters in Hell'.
[27][28] The plot was to follow the three Ghostbusters attempting to find a replacement for
Bill Murray's character while dealing with ghosts rejected from
hell.
[29] Aykroyd later elaborated, now that Murray is on board, that in the movie "We go to the hell side of Manhattan, downtown, Foley Square. It's all where the cops are--they are all blue minotaurs. Central Park is this huge peat mine with green demons there, surrounded by black onyx thousand-foot high apartment buildings with classic red devils, very wealthy. We go and visit a Donald Trump-like character who is Mr. Sifler. Luke Sifler. Lu-cifer. So we meet the devil in it".
[30] Jason Reitman, the son of Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman, has stated little interest in directing the movie.
[31]
Television shows
The Real Ghostbusters
Main articles: The Real Ghostbusters
''The Real Ghostbusters'' was an American animated television series. The series ran from 1986 to 1991, and was produced by Columbia Pictures Television (now Sony Pictures Television), DiC Entertainment and Coca-Cola. "The Real" was added to the title over a dispute with Filmation and its Ghostbusters properties. The series continues the adventures of paranormal investigators Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr. Egon Spengler, Winston Zeddemore, Dr. Ray Stantz, their secretary Janine Melnitz and their mascot ghost Slimer. ''The Real Ghostbusters'' was nominated for an
Emmy.
[32]
Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters
When the show's producers began to see the youth appeal of the character Slimer, he began to be featured more prominently. In 1988, the series was retooled and renamed ''Slimer! and the Real Ghostbusters''. The show now featured an hourlong format with a typical Ghostbusters episode leading into a more kid-friendly "Slimer" cartoon. As the series progressed, the regular Ghostbusters episodes started to become lighter in tone so as not to frighten the growing child fanbase. Additionally, the characterizations became more one-dimensional, and the animation became more Hanna Barbera-esque. More changes went on behind the scenes as well with the departure of Straczynski.
Dave Coulier of ''
Full House'' fame came on to fill the role of Peter,
Buster Jones took over Winston and
Kath Soucie took on Janine. Many of the older fans disliked the switch to more kid-friendly stories and by the turn of the decade, the Ghostbusters franchise was slowly starting to fade out of the public eye. The show was ultimately cancelled in 1991. Straczynski returned to the series for a temporary spell in the 1990 season. The only cast members who remained throughout the entire series were
Frank Welker (voice of Ray Stantz and Slimer) and
Maurice LaMarche (voice of Egon Spengler).
Extreme Ghostbusters
Main articles: Extreme Ghostbusters
''Extreme Ghostbusters'' was a
sequel/
spin-off of ''
The Real Ghostbusters'', airing in the fall of
1997. The show featured a new team of younger Ghostbusters led by veteran Ghostbuster
Egon Spengler, secretary
Janine Melnitz, and the ghost,
Slimer. The premise is similar to the plot of ''
Ghostbusters II''. Set years after the end of ''
The Real Ghostbusters'', lack of supernatural activity has put the Ghostbusters out of business. Each has gone their separate ways, except for Egon, who still lives in the Firehouse to monitor the containment unit, further his studies and teach a class on the paranormal at a local college. When ghosts start to reappear, Egon is forced to recruit his four students as the new Ghostbusters. The new Ghostbusters were Kylie Griffin, a girl
genius and expert on the
occult, Eduardo Rivera, a hip, cynical Latino slacker, Garrett Miller, a wheelchair-bound young
athlete, and Roland Jackson, a studious machinery whiz. The show was given the Los Angeles Commission on Disabilities Award for making its main character disabled but universally relatable.
[33]
Video games
Ghostbusters (Activision)
''Ghostbusters'' box cover (computer game)
''Ghostbusters'' is a licensed game by
Activision based on the
movie of the same name. It was designed by
David Crane, produced by
Brad Fregger, and released for several home computer platforms in
1984, and later for video game console systems, including the
Atari 2600,
Sega Master System and
NES.
The game took 6 weeks to make, notable as most
Commodore 64 games took 8 months. The game was made in such a short time by incorporating portions of a game already in production called "Car Wars". The game was also in production while the movie was being filmed. The game is unique in that besides the chasing and catching of
ghosts, the game also features the running of the Ghostbusters franchise. The player must also stock up on equipment and make money. The game varies in some features depending on what system it was ported to; the
Sega Master System had an on-foot shooting gallery but no animations, while the
NES version had a different ending but inferior graphics.
[34] An
enhanced remake of the Spectrum version was released as freeware for PCs in 2006.
[35]
Real Ghostbusters (arcade game)
''The Real Ghostbusters'' was an arcade game based on the cartoon series of the same name released by
Data East in
1987. The game was later ported to the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum. Up to three players can control members of the
Ghostbusters. The characters are only differentiated by the colors of their uniforms, no effort is made to identify them, although the game's marquee art shows the characters from the cartoon.
The Ghostbusters fight off hordes of nightmarish creatures with energy guns which reduce the monsters to harmless ghosts which can then be captured with beams from their
proton packs. Power-ups available included stronger basic shoots, a force field that makes the Ghostbuster invincible for several seconds, and an item that summons
Slimer to throw himself in the way of attacks.
Ghostbusters II (video game)
''Ghostbusters II'' is the title of a
video game released for several home computer and console systems. The game is loosely based on the
film of the same name.
All home computer editions were published by
Activision. Each home computer game edition of the game is essentially similar, with changes in the quality of graphics and sound. The PC version is the most different one, having been developed by a different company, Dynamix.
The game features several arcade sequences based on the film: Van Horne: the player controls Ray Stantz as he is lowered into an air shaft of the disused Van Horne subway system to collect a sample of slime. He is armed with his
proton pack and other weaponry with which to defend himself against the myriad of ghosts that attack: some will collide or grab him and cause damage, while others will attempt to cut his rope. The player must collect the three segments of the slime scoop, as well as ammo and health, during the descent. Journey to the Museum: the
Statue of Liberty has been brought to life by "mood slime" and is marching toward the
Metropolitan Museum of Art; the player controls a floating fireball (generated from the Statue's torch) which fires horizontal shots and must be used to protect the Statue from swarms of ghosts. Impacts from ghosts (or regeneration of the fireball) uses up precious slime, though it can be replenished from destroyed ghosts. Showdown in the Museum: the player controls the four Ghostbusters individually, armed variously with proton packs and slime dispensers, in an
isometric 3D level. The four heroes must
rappel into the Museum and fight Janosz, Vigo the Carpathian, and finally a possessed Ray, in order to save the world. Some versions also feature a sequence based on the courtroom fight against the ghosts of the Scoleri Brothers.
The American
NES edition of the game (by Activision) is different than all other versions of the game. The game is a single-player
side-scrolling game where the player controls a Ghostbuster through various stages based on the film, making their way to the museum before time runs out. One level involves riding around in the hero's famous car and another level requires the player to control the
Statue of Liberty, shooting fireballs. The player's Ghostbuster character is armed with an unlimited supply of slime that can be shot out of a cannon and ghost traps. The game was noted for being exceptionally hard to complete. Aside from the time limit and sudden death rule for the character, the levels in the game often moved to the left, thus forcing the player to make quick decisions. The final level was especially difficult, not the least of which because the player had to repeat the level four times before the game's final ending would appear. Another criticism was the game's lack of a standard pause feature, which further adds to the challenge of the game.
There was also a version of the game released for the
NES and
Game Boy, entitled '"NEW" Ghostbusters II', developed by
HAL Laboratory and published by Hal and Activision. This was contained within a black packaging (unlike the NES game's blue packaging) and used the same side-scrolling elements but the character had multiple lives before the 'Continue' screen appeared then finally the 'Game Over' screen if all continues were used. The player chooses between the four Ghostbusters (Peter, Egon, Ray and Winston) as well as their accountant Louis. The player chooses their lead character (the one who fires the proton pack by pressing the A button) and also the secondary player who, while pressing B on the controller, releases the trap but this secondary character cannot die nor be controlled, rather the character followed the player's main character around for the entire game. Although being able to select the main and secondary characters, it does not affect gameplay, which is exactly the same no matter what combination is used. There is also a character sprite of Dana, but is unplayable and only appears briefly at the end of one level and in the closing sequence. The characters are drawn with exageratedly large heads, and the graphics and generally more cartoony than in the other games. The game used versions and expansions of the various songs used in the movie for each level. This game also was known by fans for not featuring the car or Statue of Liberty levels seen in the previous version and the final level in the gallery contained Janosz as the boss, being defeated by zapping his clones and trapping them with B until he returned to normal size. The very last "level" was a walk between velvet ropes for a screen until reaching the painting of Vigo. The Game Boy version was released in America without the ''NEW'' monicker.
Activision also made a version of the game for the
Atari 2600 in 1989. However, the then-12 year old system was on its last legs, and knowing the state of the 2600, Activision never released the game. British game company Salu ended up releasing the game in Europe under their name in
1992, despite the fact that Atari had already ended support for the system. Licensing issues have prevented this version of the game from being included on the ''
Activision Anthology'' collections, along with a handul of other titles.
Ghostbusters (Sega video game)
thumb
Ghostbusters was released by
Sega for the
Mega Drive/Genesis on June 29,
1990. It is unrelated to the earlier
Activision game, and is instead a straightforward
run and gun game in which the player takes control of
squat cartoon representations of three of the four
Ghostbusters from the movie, with the noticeable absence of Winston Zeddemore.
Four levels are avaliable initially; after they are completed, a fifth level is unlocked, followed by a sixth and final level. Each level contains a number (usually two) of mid-bosses known as "middle ghosts"; after a middle ghost is defeated, it turns into a small green ghost which can be captured for extra money by luring it over a ghost trap. Between levels, money can be used to buy powerups, such as a 3-way shot or recovery items.
The game takes place between ''
Ghostbusters'' and ''
Ghostbusters II''. The Ghostbusters are down on their luck due to lack of ghost activity, when suddenly several calls begin to pour in from around the city, including the eventual reappearance of the
Stay Puft Marshmallow Man (although dialogue indicates it is not the same one from the movie). After each case, a piece of a stone tablet is collected. The three Ghostbusters piece together the mysterious tablet, inadvertantly opening a portal to "the evil world" and releasing a horde of ghosts. In the end, though, the Ghostbusters manage to retrieve a mystical gem from the evil world and use it with the tablet to close the portal, saving the city.
The Real Ghostbusters, the 1993 Activision videogame
Extreme Ghostbusters
Extreme Ghostbusters was released on April 2nd, 2001 by Light and Shadow Productions for the
Game Boy Color.
[36]
It was originally thought to be intended for multiple consoles and the personal computer.
[37] It includes four playable characters including Kylie, Garett, Roland, and Eduardo. Each character has unique gameplay attributes and may be chosen at any point in the game. Set in New York City, players must defeat and capture ghosts.
[38]
Extreme Ghostbusters: The Ultimate Invasion
It was a 2004 LSP video game.
Ghostbusters (mobile game 2006)
A puzzle game was released in 2006 for cell phones. It was reviewed negatively because of its lack of any references to any of the original ghostbusters, its average gameplay and level design.
[39]
Ghostbusters (2007 mobile game)
Sony has announced that they will develop a mobile game for 2007 in the Ghostbusters universe.
[40]
Ghostbusters (2008 console game)
Screenshot of 2008 game in production
Ghostbusters is an upcoming
video game for
Xbox 360,
Wii, and
PS3. The release date has not yet been set. ZootFly, the company making the game, began developing the game in May 2006 but hit a "bump in the road" with regard to the Ghostbusters copyright in July 2006.
[41][42] Dan Aykroyd told
The Edmonton Sun that
Universal has acquired the rights to make the game and that he would be doing
motion capture for the game in 2008. It has not yet announced who would be publishing the game.
[43] The game is thought to be in a
Gears of War-style that is grittier than previous Ghostbusters games.
[44] Due to the possibility continual copyright difficulties, ZootFly has been concentrating on developing a 'Ghostbusters-inspired' game which features many elements based on or seen in the promotional movies.
[45]
Games and merchandise
The film spawned a theme park special effects show at
Universal Studios Florida. (The show closed some time in 1997 to make way for Twister: Ride it Out!) The Ghostbusters were also featured in a lip-synching dance show featuring
Beetlejuice on the steps of the
New York Public Library facade at the park after the attraction closed. The GBs were all new and "extreme" versions in the show, save for the Zeddemore character. Their Ecto-1 automobile was used to drive them around the park, and was often used in the park's annual "Macy's Holiday Parade". The show, Ecto-1, and all other Ghostbuster trademarks were discontinued in 2005 when Universal failed to renew the rights for theme park use. Currently, the Ghostbuster Firehouse can still be seen near Twister, without its GB logo and "Engine 89" ribbon. A "paranormal investigator" etching on a nearby doorway hints at the old show. For the show, an experimental
silicon skin was used on Slimer, which took two weeks to put together.
[46] Extreme Ghostbusters has also seen a line of children's toys released by Trendmasters.
[47]
NECA released a line of action figures based on the first movie but only produced a series of ghost characters, as Bill Murray refused the rights to use his facial likeness. Their first and only series included Gozer,
Slimer (or Onionhead), the Terror Dogs, Vinz Clortho, and a massive
Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, contrasting the diminutive figure that was in the original figure line.
[48] Ertl released a die-cast 1/25 scale
Ectomobile, also known as Ecto-1, the Ghostbusters' main transportation. Rubies' Costumes has produced a Ghostbusters Halloween costume, consisting of a one-piece jumpsuit with logos and an inflatable Proton Pack. Mention costumes, toys, 3d books, coloring books, etc.
Music
The first film sparked the
catchphrases "Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!" and "I ain't 'fraid of no ghost(s)." Both came from the hit theme song written and performed by
Ray Parker, Jr. The song took a day and a half to write.
[49] The song was a huge hit, staying #1 for three weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and #1 for two weeks on the Black Singles chart. The song earned Parker an
Academy Awards nomination for "Best Song."
The
music video produced for the song is considered one of the key productions in the early music video era, and was a #1
MTV video. Directed by
Ivan Reitman, and produced by Jeffrey Abelson, the video organically integrated footage of the film in a specially-designed, haunted house made entirely of neon for the music-video. The film footage was intercut with a humorous performance by Parker, and — in a first for a music-video — was further intercut with
cameo appearances by various celebrities who joined in the call and response chorus, including
Chevy Chase,
Irene Cara,
John Candy,
Nickolas Ashford,
Melissa Gilbert,
Jeffrey Tambor,
George Wendt,
Al Franken,
Danny DeVito,
Carly Simon,
Peter Falk and
Teri Garr. The video ends with comical footage of the four Ghostbusters, in costume and character, dancing in
Times Square behind Parker, joining in the singing.
Huey Lewis sued Ray Parker, Jr. for
plagiarism, citing that Parker stole the melody from his 1983 song "
I Want A New Drug". Ironically, Lewis was approached to compose the main theme song for the movie, but he declined due to his work on the soundtrack for ''
Back to the Future''. It was reported in 2001 that Lewis allegedly breached an agreement not to mention the original suit, doing so on
VH1's ''
Behind the Music''.
Lindsey Buckingham was also approached to do the theme song based on his success with "Holiday Road" for the ''
National Lampoon's Vacation'' films. He declined, reasoning that he did not want to be known as just a soundtrack artist. One of singer
Charlotte Church's earliest singing memories was singing the Ghostbusters theme with her cousin at holiday camp.
[50]
Literary adaptations
Comics
Main articles: Ghostbusters: Legion
In 2003,
Sony signed an agreement with 88 MPH Studios to work on a comic update of the ''Ghostbusters'' movie, to be released the following fall.
[51] ''Ghostbusters: Legion'' saw the return of the four Ghostbusters and the principal cast from the movie. Legion saw an update to the series by setting the events of the first movie in 2004 rather than 1984. Set six months after the Gozer incident, the series was designed to follow the Ghostbusters as their initial fame faded and they returned to the regular chore of busting ghosts on a daily basis. The series sees the team run ragged as a spate of supernatural crimes and other related occurrences plague the city, as well as contemplating the greater effects of their success beyond the immediate media attention.
Novels
'''Ghostbusters: The Return''' is a 2004 novel written by long-time science fiction writer Sholly Fisch in celebration of the franchise's 20th anniversary. Set two years after ''
Ghostbusters II'', the novel revolves around Peter Venkman running for mayor of
New York City and an ancient entity trying to conquer the world by bringing urban legends to life. The book may be re-released in the near future under its original working title, '''Ghostbusters: Urban Legends'''.
In the novel, it is five years after the events of ''Ghostbusters II''. The group finds themselves once again neck-deep in ghosts and ghouls as some of the most unsettling urban legends - like the hook-handed killer in Lovers' Lane and The Vanishing Hitchhiker - all come to deadly life! But the worst is yet to come for Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore - and quite possibly the people of New York: the Ghostbusters' leader, Peter Venkman, has been chosen by an independent political party to be their candidate¨for Mayor! With the city reeling under a supernatural reign of terror, can the Ghostbusters stop the arrival of an ancient fear-demon in time to save Election Day - or should Venkman start looking for another job already?
Cultural impact
The video game
Doom retooled to look like ''
Ghostbusters'' was a popular game modification
''Ghostbusters'' has had many instances of popularity and parody in popular culture since the first movie's release. The building that was Dana Barrett's apartment building in
Ghostbusters has, since the release of the film, been known as the
Ghostbusters Building.
[Gaines, Steven. "One Apartment, 75 Years," ''New York Magazine'', 7 November 2005. Retrieved 15 April 2007.] A group of
credit unions have used the Ghostbusters symbol on their
ATMs to promote their surcharge-free banking privileges.
[52] An anti-anthrax gel was created under the name of "Project ectoplasm" after the paranormal slime substance from the franchise.
[53] ''Ghostbusters'' has been referenced in many other films, such as ''
Superbad'', in which a character has a ''
Real Ghostbusters'' lunchbox.
[54] The movie ''
Be Kind Rewind'' will include an extensive sequence in which
Jack Black and others recreate the first ''Ghostbusters'' movie.
[55]
References
1. Shay, Don (1985). ''Making Ghostbusters'', New York: New York Zoetrope. ISBN 0918432685
2. A Well-Traveled Gentleman Will Fresch
3. A ''Ghostbusters 1 and 2'' DVD pack included a 28-page booklet of copies of ''Ghostbusters'' storyboards.
4. Featured Filmmaker: Dan Aykroyd Ken P.
5. Proton Charging interview with Gozer actress, Slavitza Jovan
6. New York City
7. Ramis on Ghostbusters 3 Stax
8. WISHES THAT WORKED WONDERS
9. Casper (PG) Ebert, Roger
10. Interview: Jean-Marc Lofficier
11. Quint chats with Harold Ramis about ICE HARVEST, GHOSTBUSTERS and much more!!! Quint
12. Interview with J. Michael Straczynski (Part 2 of 4) Kenneth Plume
13. Interview with J. Michael Straczynski (Part 2 of 4) Kenneth Plume
14. Interview: Rick Moranis
15. Brand designs
16. Whaddja Go and See? Ghostbusters
17. “Incredible, Unstoppable Titan of Terror!” Jonah Goldberg
18. Our Top 20 FX Suits! Vince Lambolito
19. Silicon, Transistors ... Doodles Chris Oakes
20. AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs
21. Top 25 Comedies of All-Time
22. Bravo's 100 Funniest Films
23. IGN FilmForce Exclusive: The Stax Report: Script Review of Ghostbusters 3: Hellbent! Stax
24. Major Franchise Sequel Rumours Garth Franklin
25. Ghostbusters III Gets Animated? IGN Staff
26. Weaver Says No More "Alien", "Ghostbusters" Garth Franklin
27. Ramis Plans ‘Ghostbusters 3’ with Stiller WENN
28. ‘Ghostbusters 3’ in the Making WENN
29. Calling on 'Ghostbusters' again
30. The "Ghostbusters" Are Back - In CGI Garth Franklin
31. EXCLUSIVE: Jason Reitman Talks Juno and Ghostbusters Shmuel Reuven
32. Featured Filmmaker: Ivan Reitman KJB
33. EXTREME GHOSTBUSTERS Chet Cooper
34. The Making of Ghostbusters Edge
35. Ghostbusters
36. Extreme Ghostbusters headed to the Game Boy Color Staff
37. Who Ya Gonna Call? Ghostbusters! IGN Staff
38.
Extreme Ghostbusters: Code Ecto-1
Light & Shadow Production released a Game Boy Advance Extreme Ghostbusters in March 2002 The half-human/half-demon Count Mercharior has kidnapped Roland and Garett, two key members of the Ghostbusters team. The remaining team members, Eduardo and Kylie, immediately set off to find them, determined to capture the ghosts who have come to invade the city. The game was a combination platform and shooter game with some races, using a top-down perspective. There were 12 platform levels and four regions.[ First look: Extreme Ghostbusters: Code Ecto-1 Axel Strohm ]
39. Ghostbusters Review Levi Buchanan
40. Sony announces slate of mobile games Emma Boyes
41. Ghostbusters may slime 360s Tim Surette
42. Q&A: Ghostbustin' with ZootFly Tim Surette
43. Dan Aykroyd to appear in Ghostbusters game Tor Thorsen
44. Dan Aykroyd to appear in Ghostbusters game Merrick
45. Harold Ramis has said that he and Aykroyd will do voiceover for the Ghostbusters video game this coming year.[ A Ghostbuster visits the Vail Valley Caramie Schnell ]
46. Spooktacular at Universal Studios, Florida Brandon
47. Interview: Leo Zahn Brandon
48. Toy Fair 2004 Day Two: DC Comics, Marvel, Buffy, South Park & More Sanderson, Peter
49. Gary James' Interview With Ray Parker Jr. Gary James
50. 
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