Floating Books

As the librarian enters the dimly downlit basement with an armful of books, an ominous oboe gives way to the sound of the theremin as the camera prowls behind a lone Alice Drummond. This gives us the unsettling sense of her being followed to an isolated place, which increases her vulnerability and heightens tension. The corridors of the basement are maze-like and there are no other people around. As she turns one of the many tight corners to return a book, the camera halts as she moves further down the aisle. Then, unknown to her but witnessed by the audience, two or three books begin to float from shelf-to-shelf. At once, she glances to her side, seemingly having caught half-sight of something in her peripherial field of vision, but returns to her work. It’s a simple, but effective use of practical effects to thicken the sense of danger and intrigue.

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Trivia: The library basement scenes were filmed at the Los Angeles public library.

Words by Gareth Rhodes.

Alice Drummond

We cut to the Rose Main Reading Room, the grand interior of the New York Public Library, as a female employee gathers books left by the public, placing them on a cart to be transported to the basement archives. Actress Alice Drummond is the archetypal librarian – a small-boned, cardigan-wearing woman in her mid-to-late-50’s, diligently pushing the wooden book cart. Elmer Bernstien’s musical arrangement of theremin and wispy strings continues to intrigue us as to an unknown threat.

Words by Gareth Rhodes.

The Rose Main Reading Room in the New York Public Library.

Patience and Fortitude

 

The stone lion ‘Fortitude’, guarding the steps to The New York Public Library.  The first image seen in Ghostbusters.

The first shot of the movie is of the main entrance to the New York Public Library at daytime. There’s foreboding in Elmer Bernstien’s music as the camera pans down and settles underneath one of the dominant stone lions guarding the library entrance. A flock of pigeons are disturbed and flap wildly, landing atop one of the lions. We’re flooded with information in this single establishing shot, with a gothic flavour and hints of mystery afoot. It’s also a visual signpost to the horror of witnessing the dog-like creatures coming-to-life from their beastly stone casing, much later in the movie.

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Trivia:  The lions at the entrance of the New York Public Library are called Fortitude and Patience – qualities you’ll need to get through this analysis.

Words by Gareth Rhodes.

Columbia Pictures

Our introduction to Ghostbusters begins with the ‘Torch Lady’ of the Columbia Pictures ident, but with the traditional accompanying score replaced by U.S composer Elmer Bernstien’s original music. Listed as ‘Library and Title‘ on the original soundtrack, it promises a spooky flavour, utilising the unearthly sound of the theremin, an instrument used so effectively for horror & sci-fi throughout the 1940’s and ’50’s in screen classics such as Spellbound and The Day the Earth Stood Still. I’m a fan of idents being used in a way that overlaps with the film (Raiders of the Lost Ark cleverly used the Paramount ident), as it gives the viewer a feeling of watching something unique. As we will see, statues form a part of the overall iconography of the film.

Words by Gareth Rhodes.

Welcome to New York.

 

For those of you who enjoy deep, meaningful analysis (it also helps if you’re a Ghostbusters fan), I’d like to wish you a warm welcome to my scene-by-scene trip through Ivan Reitman’s 1984 horror-comedy classic. On the way, I’ll discuss the significance of everything you see and hear on screen. From Slimer’s sausages to Dana Barrett’s singing voice, I’ve got you covered. So, strap on your proton packs and let’s do this, you funky little “mother-puss-buckets”.

Words by Gareth Rhodes.