High Spirits (1988)
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18% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
57% of users liked it
(7,196 ratings)
The owner of an Irish castle decides to attract visitors by falsely claiming that the building is haunted, only to have a pair of real ancestral spirits start causing trouble in this uneven attempt at fantasy-comedy. The story centers on Jack and Sharon (played by Steve Guttenberg and Beverly… More The owner of an Irish castle decides to attract visitors by falsely claiming that the building is haunted, only to have a pair of real ancestral spirits start causing trouble in this uneven attempt at fantasy-comedy. The story centers on Jack and Sharon (played by Steve Guttenberg and Beverly D'Angelo), naive American tourists who are initially unimpressed by the owner's attempts at fraud but become more interested in the real ghosts, Mary and Martin (played by Daryl Hannah and Liam Neeson). This is especially true for Jack, who falls in love with the beautiful Mary, despite several centuries' difference in their ages. After the film's initial unsuccessful release, people involved with the production blamed studio interference for damaging director Neil Jordan's original vision, although Jordan is better known as a director of quirky, dark dramas (Mona Lisa, The Crying Game, Interview With a Vampire, The Company of Wolves). For whatever reason, the end result was an awkward, forced comedy that more often than not falls flat, squandering a strong collection of talent. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Directed By
- Neil Jordan
- Written By
- Neil Jordan
- Genres
- Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Nov 18, 1988 Wide
- On DVD
- Jun 4, 2002
- Studio
- Media Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Flat and sitcom-y; Hannah's costume looks like a plastic trash bag
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Gregory Weinkauf, New Times
I saw this movie when I was lonely and it helped somewhat.
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Gerry Shamray, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Ghastly ghost story.
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Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
What was Neil Jordan thinking?
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Not Neil Jordan at his best
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Daryl Hannah
as Mary Plunkett
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Peter O'Toole
as Peter Plunkett
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Steve Guttenberg
as Jack
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Beverly D'Angelo
as Sharon
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Jennifer Tilly
as Miranda
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Liam Neeson
as Martin Brogan
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Ray McAnally
as Plunkett Senior
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Peter Gallagher
as Brother Tony
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Martin Ferrero
as Malcolm
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Connie Booth
as Marge
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Donal McCann
as Eamon
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Liz Smith
as Mrs. Plunkett
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Mary Coughlan
as Katie
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Aimee Delamain
as Great Granny Plunkett
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Tom Hickey
as Sampson
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Krista Hornish
as Wendy
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Little John
as Gateman
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Preston Lockwood
as Great Uncle Peter
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Hilary Reynolds
as Patricia
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Tony Rohr
as Christy
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Ruby Buchanan
as Great Aunt Nan
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Isolde Cazelet
as Julia
- "Little" John Gateman
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Paul O'Sullivan
as Graham
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Matthew Wright
as Woody
