Beetlejuice is an American comedy-fantasy film directed by Tim Burton. It was released today, March 30, 1988). The plot revolves around a recently deceased young couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) who become ghosts haunting their former home, and an obnoxious, devious ghost named Betelgeuse (pronounced “Beetlejuice”, portrayed by Michael Keaton) from the Netherworld who tries to scare away the new inhabitants (Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones, and Winona Ryder) permanently. This outlandish cult comedy was a critical and commercial success.
If you have never seen a Tim Burton film, and you like unique and creative comedies, you should definitely see Beetlejuice amongst a few others. Tim Burton, known for his dark, gothic, eccentric and quirky fantasy films include:
Beetlejuice (1988),
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Ed Wood (1994)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Batman (1989)
Batman Returns (1992)
Planet of the Apes (2001)
Big Fish (2003)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
and the fantasy film Alice in Wonderland (2010)
So, in honor of the release of Beetlejuice, today, March 30, 1988, I wanted to share some of my favorite scenes from the film…
“Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan’ go homeWork all night on a drink of rum
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Stack banana till de morning come
Daylight come and me wan’ go homeCome, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan’ go homeLift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan’ go homeDay, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Daylight come and me wan’ go homeA beautiful bunch o’ ripe banana
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Hide the deadly black tarantula
Daylight come and me wan’ go homeLift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch
Daylight come and me wan’ go homeDay, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day…
Daylight come and me wan’ go homeCome, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan’ go homeDay-o, day-o
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
Day, me say day, me say day, me say day
Me say day, me say day-o
Daylight come and me wan’ go home
CLICK HERE TO READ FACTS ABOUT BEETLEJUICE
“Jump in the Line (Shake, Señora)”
Shake, shake, shake, Señora, shake your body line
Shake, shake, shake, Señora, shake it all the time
Work, work, work, Señora, work your body line
Work, work, work, Señora, work it all the time
My girl’s name is Señora
I tell you friends I adore her
And when she dances, oh brother!
She’s a hurricane in all kinds of weather
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Whoa!
Shake, shake, shake, Señora, shake your body line
Shake, shake, shake, Señora, shake it all the time
Work, work, work, Señora, work your body line
Work, work, work, Señora, work it all the time
You can talk about Cha-Cha
Tango, Waltz, or de Rumba
Señora’s dance has no title
You jump in the saddle
Hold on to de bridle!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Rock your body, child!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Somebody, help me!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Whoa!
Shake, shake, shake, Señora, shake your body line
Shake, shake, shake, Señora, shake it all the time (Whoa)
Work, work, work, Señora, work your body line (Yep)
Work, work, work, Señora, work it all the time
Señora, she’s a sensation
The reason for aviation
And fellas you got to watch it
When she wind up, she bottom, she go like a rocket!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Hoist those skirts a leetle higher!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Up the chim-en-y!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Whoa oh oh oh!
[Instrumental Break]
Shake, shake, shake, Señora
Shake your body line
Work, work, work, Señora
Work it all the time
Dance, dance, dance, Señora
Dance it all the time
Work, work, work, Señora
Work it all the time
Señora dances Calypso
Left to right is de tempo
And when she gets the sensation
She go up in the air, come down in slow motion
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Somebody, help me!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) OK, I believe you!
(Jump in de line, rock your body in time) Whooooa!
Shake, shake, shake, Señora, shake your body line
Shake, shake, shake, Señora, shake it all the time
Work, work, work, Señora!!
So, for all you Beetlejuice fans out there, I hope you enjoyed revisiting some of these classically, comical scenes.
What was your favorite scene? Who was your favorite character?
Share your memories in the comment section below!