Dr. Raymond Stantz, the excitable puppy of the Ghostbusters.
Just as Peter Venkman is getting close to an intimate moment with Jennifer, Dr. Raymond Stantz (Dan Ackroyd) bursts excitedly into the room announcing…
Ray Stantz:“This is it! This is definitely it! Did those UV lenses come in for the video camera? And that blank tape? I need it. The one you erased yesterday.”
The mood is ruined. Such is Stantz’s enthusiasm, he doesn’t apologise for bursting in or even seem to care that he might be interrupting Venkman. As Stantz begins to grab equipment from shelves in the lab, Venkman appears unexcited, remaining seated next to Jennifer before eventually saying to her…
Venkman: “Can you excuse me for a second?”
Jennifer:“Sure”
Venkman gingerly gets up from his seat, sneaking up to Ray, and with a jump, air-slaps him over the the top of the head while saying in with a half-suppressed shout…
Venkman: “I’m right in the middle of something, Ray!”
As he does this, Venkman looks back at Jennifer, suddenly aware that he might have looked too animated in his annoyance of being so rudely interrupted, in the eyes of Jennifer. He retreats somewhat by saying more calmly to Ray…
Venkman: “Ah, I need a little more time with this subject. Could you come back in an hour, hour and a half?”
Venkman stands closely to Stantz as she says this, giving him an intense look with his eyes, as if to communicate the hidden reason behind the reason. Ignoring Venkman’s direct request, Stantz launches excitedly into explaining himself…
Ray Stantz:“Peter, at 1:40 PM at the main branch of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, ten people witnessed a free floating, full torso, vaporous apparition. It blew books off shelves from twenty feet away and scared the socks off some poor librarian!”
Ghostbusters is co-written and conceived by Dan Ackroyd and his co-star Harold Ramis. Ackroyd, a talented comedy actor, plays the role of the tactless geek with genuine understanding. He’s the excited puppy of the team, as his introduction demonstrates.
Dr. Stantz is referring to the librarian, form this we learn that she is still alive, despite her frightening encounter. We also learn there have been numerous other witnesses. The line – “free floating, full torso, vaporous apparition” has become one of the many classic quotes among fans of the film. It’s funny that the men have two opposing agendas here. Venkman responds…
Venkman:“I’m very excited. I’m very pleased. I want you to get right down there, check it out and get back to me.”
So far, Venkman hasn’t said a genuine thing to anyone. As he says the line in his distinctively dry, deadpan tone, his response reveals how little investment he has in his work. Ray’s revelations mean nothing to Venkman. He doesn’t seem to believe or care. It’s like he’s heard it all before from Ray.
Ray Stantz:“No, no.”
Venkman:“Get right back to me…”
Ray Stantz: “You’re coming with us on this one! Spengler went down there and took PKE valances. Went right off the top of the scale. Buried the needle! We’re close on this one. I can feel it!
Venkman appears to be fighting a losing battle against Ray’s determined enthusiasm. Ray mentions Spengler, the third member of the team who has already found his way to the library to take readings on his P.K.E meter (Psychokinetic Energy Meter). Ray Stantz’s belief in the paranormal is complete, and for now, it has brought an end to Venkman’s fraudulent pursuit of Jennifer. The audience feel it’s the least he deserves.
Ray brushes past Venkman, certain in his mind. Venkman stands for a second and says to himself…
Venkman: “I can feel it. We’re very, very close.”
We surmise that Venkman’s meaning of “we’re very, close” alludes to his encounter with Jennifer, as opposed to anything Ray has said.
Peter steps back to Jennifer who is still seated, sitting down to face her saying…
Venkman:“I have to go now, Jennifer, but I’d like to work with you some more. Perhaps you could come back this evening, say at -“
Before Venkman can say anymore…Jennifer finishes his sentence by saying…
Jennifer:“Eight o’clock?
Venkman: “I was just about to say eight o’clock! You are a legitimate phenomenon!”
Jennifer plays right into Venkman’s quick-witted hands. This man doesn’t miss a trick. Bill Murray’s timing is brilliantly sharp. From this scene, we discover how well-honed and knowing Ramis & Ackroyd’s script is.
As the male students marches angrily out of the lab, soft music begins to play as Peter Venkman, seating himself beside Jennifer, places one hand across her back and another on her forearm in an attempt to comfort her.
Venkman:“You may as well get used to that, that’s the kind of resentment that your ability is going to provoke in some people.”
Venkman is closing in for the kill, using kindness as a foil to groom his prey. Like I’ve mentioned already, Ghostbusters has unusual ingredients for a film widely perceived as one for all the family. Still, it’s funny black humour, though clearly targeting a younger male-demographic.
Jennifer:“Do you think I have it, Dr. Venkman?”
Asks Jennifer, with sincerity. She seems all-the-more vulnerable to us now that she is alone with Venkman. In his response, Venkman briefly pauses before he says…
Inside the laboratory, Dr. Venkman is conducting an ESP (extra-sensory- perception) test on two young students, both of who are wired up to electrodes. One of the students is a young, attractive blonde-haired woman called Jennifer, the other is a male student whose name we don’t learn. The first thing we see is a star symbol on a card. The male student looks very nervous before he pauses and stutters his answer.
Male student: “S-square?”
Turning the card to show the student, Dr. Venkman immediately responds with a subtle, dry sense of satisfaction.
Dr. Venkman: “Good guess, but wrong.”
For guessing incorrectly, Venkman proceeds to give the male student a sharp electric shock, forcing the young man to wriggle comically in his seat. Venkman then gives him a brief look of disdain before looking down to write something. With the deadpan delivery of Bill Murray as its spearhead, the film is already funny. Then, with his head still, Murray’s subtle comic ability comes to the fore as his eyes shift from a look of disappointment in the male student, to a look of encouraging warmth toward Jennifer. A reassuring smile appears as Venkman says…
Dr. Venkman: “Clear your head. All right, tell me what you think it is.”
Venkman holds up a new card for Jennifer, as she asks in a soft, calm voice…
Jennifer: “Is it a star?”
The male student sniggers at her answer and the camera cuts back to Dr. Venkman who says with a hint of false sincerity…
Dr. Venkman: “It is a star! Very good, that’s great.”
We then see a camera angle from behind Venkman that reveals the card was in-fact a circle. Jennifer is delighted to think she has guessed correctly, while the male student wears a look of disbelief. It’s immediately funny, while at the same time, shows us that Peter Venkman is a con man. A man with no reverence for his work, willing to abuse his position for a chance romantic encounter with a young student half his age. What ought to be alarming is brilliantly amusing, thanks to Bill Murray’s screen reputation and sardonic mannerisms.
‘Male Student’ and Jennifer during the ESP test.
Dr. Venkman then reaches for another card, (we see that the symbol is a square) – addressing the male student…
Dr. Venkman:“All right. Think hard. What is it?”
The male student, more nervous this time, but quicker in his response goes for broke…
Male Student: “Circle!”
Dr Venkman sucks air into his cheeks and says in a thinly-veiled, patronising way…
Dr Venkman:“Close…but definitely wrong”
The answers are black or white, meaning there is no such thing as “close”, only right or wrong. Venkman enjoys taunting the hapless young student, in an attempt to make Jennifer feel good about herself, thus grooming her to be more receptive to his eventual advances.
Venkman leans forward to push the switch to administer yet another electric shock to the male student. This time, when he does, the resulting jolt forces the young man to comically spit out his chewing gum onto the desk. The male student puts the chewing gum back into his mouth before the next round of tests begin. Steven Tash, the young actor playing the ‘male student’ deserves much credit for his own comic performance in this scene – his anxiety being a key part of what makes it funny.
Steven Tash nervously awaits another jolt.
Venkman holds up another card, this time with a plus (+) symbol printed on it, adopting a more friendly demeanour to help Jennifer relax. It’s clear he has no intention of giving her an electric shock.
Dr. Venkman: “Okay. All right. Ready? What is it?”
As Venkman says this, he points a pencil at his his temple as Jennifer hesitates with her answer. Making light of her uncertainty, he pulls a goofy face as he whispers in a faux-inpatient way…
Dr. Venkman:“Cmooon”
Jennifer suddenly gains some confidence as guesses…
Jennifer:“Figure eight”
Bill Murray’s reaction here is hilarious, as he understands the key to great comedy often stems from so-called pregnant pauses. He stalls for a long moment, playing along with his own twisted game of being astonished by Jennifer’s psychic abilities. He sits still, holding the card up, his eyes darting from it to Jennifer before he says…
Dr. Venkman:“Incredible. That’s five for five. You can’t see these, can you?”
Venkman pretends to be amazed, holding the card at different angles.
Jennifer:“No, no”
Dr. Venkman:“You’re not cheating me, are you?”
The double bluff is funny, as Venkman pretends to be in awe of Jennifer’s abilities.
Jennifer:“No, I swear, they’re just coming to me.”
He now has Jennifer in the palm of his hand, having given her the belief that she has ability. This scene is an early signpost of how risky Ghostbusters is for a film certified PG. The girl in question is being portrayed as the stereotypical dumb blonde, being preyed upon by her mentor…all in the name of comedy.
Jennifer being won over by Dr. Venkman.
Venkman turns to address the male student for round three of the tests…
Dr. Venkman: “Okay. Nervous?”
Venkman gives a smug smile as he speaks. Considering Venkman is the heroic centre of the piece, it’s a bold choice to introduce him as such an unlikable character.
Male Student: “Yes… I don’t like this.”
The male student becomes emotional, prompting us to feel sympathy for him. We have been made to feel complicit in his ordeal. How much more will he take before he blows??…we don’t need ESP abilities to know he won’t last much longer.
Dr. Venkman:“You only have seventy-five more to go. Okay, what’s this one?”
You male student pauses briefly, in the face of yet another smug grin from Venkman. He makes a small wavy gesture with his hand and asks…
Male Student: “A couple of wavy lines?”
As the student gives his answer, the camera angle switches to behind Venkman. We clearly see that the male student has guessed correctly. Venkman quickly puts the card down, at the same time saying…
Dr. Venkman: “Sorry! This isn’t your lucky day!”
Venkman’s cruelty is complete. He gives a half-exasperated laugh as he says the word “day”.
Male Student: “I know…er”
The male student’s agitation is reaching explosion-point. We hear some mock-suspenseful piano-tinkling as Venkman reaches for the switch to give another electric shock. The camera cuts to the face of Jennifer, who looks concerned. Venkman slightly raises his eyebrows as he looks at the male student. This moment is vaguely akin to a ‘Mexican standoff’, famously found in the Spaghetti Western genre.
Male Student:“Wai..erm…erm”
In his most audacious moment yet, Venkman moves his glance to Jennifer, giving her a look that suggests he’s enjoying the moment and that she should too. Jennifer smiles back, which suggests she’s now happy to play along with whatever Venkman has in mind. Venkman then winks at her before pushing the switch to give the male student another zap. The male student has had enough as he gets a final shock and begins to yell…
Male Student:“Hey! I’m getting a little tired of this!”
Dr. Venkman:“You volunteered, didn’t you? We’re paying you, aren’t we?”
Bill Murray’s delivery is often so subtle, that small moments can easily slip by. As he says “aren’t we?”, his intonation and gestures reveal that he isn’t sure if the student is being paid.
Male Student:“Yeah, but I didn’t know you were giving me electric shocks! What are you trying to prove here anyway?”
This reveals that the male student has no interest in the studies, and that he only volunteered for a quick buck. He most likely wouldn’t have bothered, had he been aware of the electric shocks. Venkman answers by pressing together the palms of his hands in an attempt to appear wise…
Dr. Venkman:“I’m studying the effect of negative reinforcement on ESP ability.”
Dr. Venkman seems to have an answer for everything. He’s trying to suggest the male student’s negativity is hindering any ESP ability, whereas Jennifer, who is calm, is performing well. Standing up and uncoupling himself from the electrodes, the male student responds angrily…
Male Student: “The effect?! I’ll tell you what the effect is! It’s pissing me off!”
The male student rounds the table and begins to walk out of the room. At the same time, Venkman stands and says…
Dr. Venkman:“Well, then maybe my theory is correct!”
As a parting shot, the male student says..
Male Student: “You can keep the five bucks, I’ve had it!”
It’s funny that he only got paid $5 for so much trauma.
Dr Venkman:“I will mister!”
We get the feeling that Venkman always has to have the last word.
The male student is seen hurriedly leaving the laboratory. On the wall by the door, there is a large black & white poster of Marylin Monroe wearing a bathing suit. This tells us three things – the laboratory is a ‘man cave’, they are unprofessional, yet, they have high taste in pin-ups.
Steven Tash and Jennifer Runyon in the 1984 film, and a reunion years later.
Trivia: This scene was filmed in a basement area of Columbia University.
Ghostbusters: Scene by Scene 