As Ray Parker Jr’s Ghostbusters theme-song fades, we arrive at the door of the Paranormal Studies Laboratory inside Weaver Hall. On the glass face of the door, the words “VENKMAN BURN IN HELL” have been crudely dorbed in red lettering that looks like blood. It’s the first piece of character information about Dr. Peter Venkman, played by Saturday Night Live alumnus, Bill Murray. Underneath the graffiti, in an official capacity, the names of Dr. Ray Stantz (Dan Ackroyd), Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) and Dr. Peter Venkman are traced on the door. The camera then pans down to the door handle, on which hangs a ‘maid service door hanger’, asking to have the room ‘made up’. We hear the voice of Peter Venkman coming from the room.
Peter Venkman: All right, I’m going to turn over the next card. I want you to concentrate. I want you to tell me what it is.
In this brief establishing shot, we learn that Dr. Venkman is a man with enemies – we’re about to find out why. The maid sign on the door handle is a subtle indicator of a quirky personality at work.
Words by Gareth Rhodes.
Ghostbusters: Scene by Scene 