Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood have a lot in common: both have the image of the dry, tough guy, who can also have other facets. Both have been able to shine in front of and behind the camera – and both have also attracted attention in their private lives with some pretty crude views. The children’s film ‘Casper’, which brought the two stars together in a shrill way, is absolutely not rude, but rather sweet.
Because apparently they have a soft spot for Casper, the friendly ghost! At least they have a cameo together in the 1995 children’s film of the same name. It’s a small scene that flashes before the eyes of children, but is intended to entertain adult viewers, some of whom are probably included in the film. Fans of “Mad Max” and “Dirty Harry” will also get their money’s worth in “Casper”!
This scene is what it’s about
But how do you fit Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood into a children’s film? If you take a closer look at director Brad Silberling’s work, it’s not surprising: “Casper” is a wild mix of CGI and live-action film, of comedy, science fiction and fantasy. A film that feels completely at home in the 90s and is full of cameos. In addition to Eastwood and Gibson, the Crypt Keeper (the host of “Tales from the Crypt”) and comedian Rodney Dangerfield also do the honors – in one scene!
Here we see how Dr. Harvey (Bill Pullman) looks in a mirror and sees his face change several times – apparently the poor man has fallen victim to a ghost! First he sees himself as Clint Eastwood, then as Rodger Dangerfield, then as Mel Gibson and finally as the Crypt Keeper. Eastwood and Dangerfield each deliver a one-liner. Eastwoods says: “I’ll kill you, your mother and all her bridge-playing friends” and Dangerfield says, “You think you’ve been through something!?” “I had a lift and looked just as ugly afterwards.” Shortly afterwards, womanizer Mel Gibson frowns, and the Crypt Keeper can think of nothing to do but scream.
You have to see the scene to believe that it has become a children’s film in such a flashy way. Overall, the cameos in the film are more aimed at adults. We see this in another place Then Aykroyd running around in a Ghostbusters outfit chanting his signature catchphrase, “Who you gonna call?” – and then deny responsibility.