Behind the Scenes of The Ghost: How the Most Romantic Cult Movie Story of the Early 1990s Came to Be

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

30 years ago, on July 13, 1990, the premiere of the film "Ghost" ("Ghost") took place, starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. This film was an incredible success not only in the American, but also in the world box office, and was recognized as one of the best melodramas of the late twentieth century. Why Bruce Willis refused to star in "The Phantom" with his wife, and who Patrick Swayze thought about when he kissed Demi Moore - further in the review.

Initially, few believed in the success of this project. Director Jerry Zucker previously directed mostly comedies and never worked with special effects, which were indispensable in a film about a ghost. The director himself was not inspired by this idea either. Later he confessed: "".

The script was written by Bruce Joel Rubin, a graduate of the New York University Film School. The plot told him a case from his own life: in his youth he was fond of illegal drugs and once almost lost his life. He remembered this moment forever - it seemed to him as if the soul had left the body, and “there” it was so good that he did not want to return. But his beloved wife was very much looking forward to his return, and when he woke up, he realized that he had to tell this story to people.

It took years to implement the plan - the script seemed to many to be a naive fairy tale, and Bruce received rejections at all film studios. When the work on the project finally began, a new problem arose: the screenwriter was outraged by the choice of the director, because the man who had been filming comedy all his life was entrusted with the creation of a film that combined different genres - melodrama, mystical thriller, fantasy. The scriptwriter feared that such a director would turn his plan into a farce with jokes in every frame. But after the director and screenwriter met and discussed the idea of the project, they found a common language, and later even became friends.

Nevertheless, they could not choose an actor for the main role for a very long time. The screenwriter in the image of Sam initially saw only the star of "Dirty Dancing" Patrick Swayze - he did not know him, but once watched his TV interview, where the actor could not hold back his tears, talking about his early departed father. Then Bruce Joel Rubin thought: this is how his hero should be - courageous, but at the same time sincere and sensitive. But the director was categorically against the candidacy of an actor with the image of a "guy from the people." This role was offered to Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Nicholas Cage, Mickey Rourke, David Duchovny, Alec Baldwin, Johnny Depp, but they all refused the offer - the role of the ghost seemed frivolous to them. The producers considered it a good idea to star a real married couple - Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, but the actor doubted the success of this project and also refused, which he later regretted. As a result, the screenwriter insisted on his choice and the role still went to Patrick Swayze.

There were fewer applicants for the main female role. Nicole Kidman passed the audition, but the choice fell on Demi Moore, who, unlike her husband, immediately agreed to participate in the project. They say that the main argument in favor of her approval for this role was played by her ability to burst into tears in the frame at the right moment. True, during her appearance on the set, an incident occurred: she came to auditions with long hair, and before filming began, she suddenly decided to make an extremely short haircut, without informing anyone. Seeing her, the director was furious, but then he realized that it was precisely this appearance of the actress - the perfect fit into the image of her heroine, tender and fragile, but at the same time strong in spirit.

Oddly enough, love scenes became a difficult acting test for Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. They had extremely friendly feelings for each other and at first looked very unconvincing in the form of a couple in love. To get used to the role, the actor represented his wife in the place of his partner, with whom he lived all his life. And in the most emotional and touching scene of the film, where Sam, having completed his mission on earth, says goodbye to his beloved woman forever, Patrick Swayze thought about his father, whose loss he could not come to terms with. That is why there were tears in his eyes then.

For Patrick Swayze himself, the episode with the potter's wheel seemed the most sensual. He later said that it was the most passionate and exciting scene in which he ever had to act: "".

The key to the success of the film was not only the choice of a pair of main characters, but also participation in the filming of Whoopi Goldberg. The director saw Oprah Winfrey as a swindler-medium, but Patrick Swayze persuaded him to invite Whoopi Goldberg, who at that time acted in the stand-up genre and was unsurpassed in comedy.

This choice turned out to be not only a successful hit in the character, but also brought the film one of the "Oscars" - "Ghost" was nominated in several categories and won two awards for "Best Original Screenplay" and "Best Supporting Actress". Whoopi Goldberg also became the owner of the Golden Globes and Saturn, and Demi Moore has become one of the most sought-after and highest paid Hollywood stars.

Unfortunately, this actor was given only 57 years of life: What caused the premature departure of Patrick Swayze.