Day #7 of the 30 Days of Halloween Meme

[shadowkat]

Day #7 of the 30 Days of Halloween Meme.

Prompt:

A film, television series, book or song about ghosts that you liked

Watch on YouTube

This is perhaps the best film about ghosts that I've seen. It's minimalist like all of Robert Wise's films. Wise did West Side Story and Andromeda Strain - and was a master at minimalism and realism in film. He understated special effects, and provided suggestion.

The ghost story as psychological thriller.

Comments

[cjlasky7]

My Partner the Ghost, aka Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)

This is one of my earliest memories of British television (along with The Prisoner), a whimsical detective series about a hard bitten p.i. and his partner--a ghost that only he can see. Great buddy chemistry between Mike Pratt (Jeff Randall) and Kenneth Cope (Marty Hopkirk), but the series also mined dramatic conflict with Jeff keeping Marty's presence a secret from Marty's widow (Annette Andre).

Revived in 2000 with Fourth Doctor Tom Baker as a regular and David Tennant and Alexis Denisof as guest stars--but it could never quite duplicate the charm of the original:

https://youtu.be/9y9Qqu4jeBU

[shadowkat]

That looks weirdly familiar - I think I've seen it or a version of it at some point.

[cactuswatcher]

Here's one from way, way back.

Topper. The Ghosts are the playful George and Marian Kerby, and the drunken St. Bernard ghost Neal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AamtEkbm5sg

[shadowkat]

I remember the movie with Carey Grant. But good one. I considered the movie version.

[atpo_onm]

A song, I believe it shall be. A classic folk tune, covered by many artists. I've always wondered how many people who have heard it for the first time realize that it's a ghost story.

Here's a gorgeous live version done by Sinead O'Connor, with a gender flip from the usual title.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_XoZhEX3kQ

[shadowkat]

It's hard to tell that it is a ghost story - you have to listen closely...her lover is dead, and she dreams he comes to her, after watching him move through the fair.

The original version is "She Moved Through the Fair" - Sinead flips the genders. What was left out of the poem was the line that the bride or in this case groom had died.

But it's almost more haunting with that line left out.

[atpo_onm]

This was the very first version of this song I had heard, by the lead singer of a band I had just recently discovered:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb43-Q70olM

Speaking of the supernatural, if I actually believed in the afterlife, after meeting with my parents, the next person I'd long to meet and have a conversation with would be Sandy Denny. Oh lordy, that voice... and a stunningly gifted songwriter in addition.

Died tragically, way, way too soon, much like the person in "She moved...".

At least her music lives on.

[shadowkat]

That's probably why you don't believe in the supernatural - you seem to perceive it as some weird sort of wish fulfillment demon. LOL!

That's not how the universe works.

[atpo_onm]

Can't recall if it was Asimov or Sagan or someone else of that scientific level who made the comment, "The question isn't why are we here. The question is, why is anything here?"

Considering that the universe shouldn't even really exist, if one contemplates the basic principle of physics that something cannot emerge out of nothing... I'll take whatever I can get! :-)

[shadowkat]

Also, you should probably take into account that there are rival scientific theories out there - and scientific camps regarding the universe. There's the parallel string theorists and those who pretty much look at parallel string theory the same way you view ghosts.

Honestly, no one agrees on it.

[petzipellepingo]

Well, you took the best one but The Uninvited isn't too bad.

[shadowkat]

Oh, I've seen and rather liked that one.

[mtbc]

I've not seen The Haunting, I shall have to add it to the list.

[shadowkat]

Robert Wise 1963 version, skip the Spielberg one - which is horrible. There is one by PBS somewhere in between - which is in color and very similar to the Robert Wise version.

[mtbc]

Thank you, it was interesting to see the 1963 version, especially the balance between similarities and differences!

[wendelah1]

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, fyi most recently (and loosely) adapted by Netflix as The Haunting on Bly Hill, which I have not seen.

And now I want to reread it.

[shadowkat]

Good one - I was waiting for someone to pick it. Like The Haunting of Hill House - that's been adapted quite a bit. And is well written ghost story. I think I read the play adaptation.

[jesuswasbatman]

Sorry for the delay, I was meaning to post this and forgot.

"Camouflage" by Stan Ridgway

https://youtu.be/FfyBMc7hUcc