Movie Musings: Disney and More

Ghostbusters Lives On

Do you believe in ghosts? You don’t have to answer that, but can you believe it’s been 32 years since the ‘80s classic film Ghostbusters (1984) was released? And in addition to that, they’re coming out with an all-new remake of the original film (July 15th) with Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth. I thought with this piece I would acknowledge to you the stars of the original film and some of the other memorable films of their career. Did you happen to know that many of them have been the voices of Disney cartoons?

Bill Murray, better known as “Dr. Peter Venkman,” received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Actor in Lost in Translation (2003). Murray also starred opposite future “Ghostbuster” Melissa McCarthy in St. Vincent (2014). He most recently lent his voice to Baloo in Disney’s live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book (2016), and his “Translation” co-star, Scarlett Johansson, voiced Kaa the Snake in “Jungle Book.”

Dan Aykroyd, who portrayed Dr. Raymond Stantz in “Ghostbusters,” and co-wrote the screenplay for the film with Harold Ramis, received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Driving Miss Daisy (1989). He also starred opposite Melissa McCarthy as her father, Don, in Tammy (2014). He never voiced any Disney cartoon, but did voice Yogi Bear for Warner Bros. live-action adaptation of Yogi Bear (2010), starring opposite the voice talent of Justin Timberlake as Boo Boo. 

Sigourney Weaver who played Dana Barrett in “Ghostbusters,” is one of the very few actresses in the entire movie industry ever to be nominated for two Academy Awards for two different films in the same year, being nominated in 1989 for Best Supporting Actress in Working Girl (1988) and Best Actress for Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey (1988). She previously was nominated for Best Actress in Aliens (1986). She portrayed the evil Warden in Disney’s Holes (2003). She also provided the voice of the Ship’s Computer in Disney/Pixar’s Wall-E (2008) and portrayed herself in Finding Dory (2016). 

The late, great Harold Ramis, who played Dr. Egon Spengler in “Ghostbusters,” sadly never received any Academy Award Nominations for any of his work. Nor did he star in any Disney films. He did, however, collaborate with good friend Bill Murray on 6 comedy films, including Meatballs (1979), Caddyshack (1980), Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters 2 (1989), and Groundhog Day (1993). (Ramis wrote each film and he also produced and directed “Groundhog Day,” and “Caddyshack.” (co-written with Bill Murray’s brother, Brian Doyle Murray.) “Ghostbusters 1 and 2,” “Stripes,” and “Meatballs,” were all directed by Ivan Reitman.”) Both consider “Groundhog Day” their best work. They feuded throughout production of the film, but reconciled their friendship before Ramis’s untimely death at age 69 on February 24th, 2014.

Ernie Hudson who portrayed Winston Zeddermore in “Ghostbusters,” played Agent Gus Sanders in Disney’s Mr. Magoo (1997). He voiced Pedro the Bulldog in Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 (2011) and Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta! (2012), the direct-to-video sequels to Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008), and played King Poseidon in an episode of ABC’s Once Upon a Time. He, along with all of the other living “Ghostbusters,” originals less Rick Moranis, are going to make cameos in the upcoming “Ghostbusters,” film.  

Rick Moranis played the role of Louis Tully in “Ghostbusters,” as well as Wayne Szalinski in Disney’s Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989). (This was released the same year as Ghostbusters 2 (1989)). He reprised that role for both the sequels to that film, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992), and the direct-to-video sequel, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves (1997). He also provided the voice of Rutt the Moose in Brother Bear (2003) and reprised that role for the direct-to-video sequel to that film, Brother Bear 2 (2006).

Annie Potts who was Janine Melnitz, the secretary in “Ghostbusters,” played in Iona in Pretty in Pink (1986), in between “Ghostbusters,” and it’s sequel. She provided the voice of Bo Peep in Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999). She did not reprise the character for Toy Story 3 (2010), but is currently attached to do so for Toy Story 4, which is to be released in 2018.

Each of these actors have gone far beyond “Ghostbusters.” But thanks to their efforts for the film, along with the efforts producer/director Ivan Reitman, and it’s team of Oscar-nominated visual effects artists, (Richard Edlund, John Bruno, Mark Vargo, and Chuck Gaspar), as well as singer Ray Parker, Jr. who received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Song “Ghostbusters,” “Ghostbusters,” the movie has become a true cult classic. Like many other ‘80s films that spawned sequels, i.e. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Back to the Future (1985), the sequel to “Ghostbusters,” didn’t equal the success of its predecessor. Whether or not the upcoming new film will do so remains to be seen. In spite of that, “Ghostbusters,” will continue to be remembered for many years to come.