It is about that time of year when we are reminded of things that go “bump” in the night – may I submit for your approval this 1944 suspenseful, romantic gem from director Lewis Allen.
This is an old-fashioned English ghost story where brother and sister (Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey) purchase a lovely home on the Cornish coast. They are more than happy when they discover the rock-bottom price for the home – what could possibly be wrong with it?
Enter Gail Russell, daughter of the seller (Donald Crisp), an ethereal beauty who has an equally seemingly otherworldly attachment to the house …
There is no mistaking, this film is beautifully shot – apparently the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences thought so too. Cinematographer Charles Lang received an Oscar nod for his black and white camera work.
Check out the trailer below:
le0pard13 says
October 23, 2012 at 12:44 amOne of my favorite haunted house movies! It’s fortunate channels like TCM serve this up as the disc release remains missing in action, at least for the US market. The UK will get it next week in Region 2 PAL. Great look at this classic, Iba.
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iluvcinema says
October 23, 2012 at 9:54 amThanks!
Todd Mason says
October 23, 2012 at 1:02 amFamously the only large-budget horror film in the States in its clutch of years…I like it more than I love it, but it’s eminently worth seeing. But just not in the same league with the original CAT PEOPLE or the rest of the best of the RKO/Lewton Unit classics.
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iluvcinema says
October 23, 2012 at 9:53 amThe other one that comes to mind is The Innocents with Deborah Kerr. CREEPY! Actually creepier than this one.
Sofia says
October 23, 2012 at 6:10 amLooks terrific, I’ll check it out for sure!
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Patti Abbott says
October 23, 2012 at 8:01 amOne of my favorite films on this theme. Just so well done.
iluvcinema says
October 23, 2012 at 9:54 amYes, a perfect balance of mystery, romance and suspense …
Sergio (Tipping My Fedora) says
October 23, 2012 at 9:48 amThsi is one of those films that knocked me out as a kid and I’ve been trying to get a proper DVD of it ever since – apparently one is due in the UK quite soon! Thanks for the memories Iba – great, creepy, romantic movie.
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iluvcinema says
October 23, 2012 at 9:55 amIndeed! It is too good for us to have to wait for it to come on TV.
phillyradiogeek says
October 23, 2012 at 9:53 amI haven’t seen it, but it’s one of my mother’s favorite movies, ghost stories or otherwise. She loves it.
It’s playing on Turner Classic Movies this month.
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iluvcinema says
October 23, 2012 at 10:11 amYeah I think I may have missed it 🙁
phillyradiogeek says
October 23, 2012 at 1:20 pmIf you have Comcast digital cable, you can watch it free on demand for a limited time.
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iluvcinema says
October 23, 2012 at 4:31 pmNah I am on Verizon FIOS. I will try to check it out though.
Michael E. Stamm says
October 23, 2012 at 4:55 pmCredit where credit is due: the source novel by Dorothy Macardle is splendidly creepy, in some places truly scary, though in the book the romance element is not particularly believable.
iluvcinema says
November 6, 2012 at 12:17 amOOh I never read this one!
Jack Deth says
October 24, 2012 at 10:01 amGreat choice, iluv!
A wonderfully suspenseful, extremely gothic, scary in exactly the right places little gem. That opened up many opportunities and later venues for the sometimes, too polished though often creepy Ray Milland.
iluvcinema says
October 24, 2012 at 10:06 amHe does have the look of menace about him, doesn’t he?
Jack Deth says
October 24, 2012 at 7:49 pmHi, iluv:
I’ve always thought that Ray Milland would have a far creepier, unbeknownst pill freak, Ed Avery; than James Mason in Nicholas Ray’s ‘Bigger Than Life’.
Not surprising that Roger Corman used his talents in several memorable, low budget films.
ruth says
October 24, 2012 at 6:09 pmI thought I had commented on this one, hmmm where did it go? This one looks interesting Iba, and I haven’t seen any film by Joan Fontaine before so this might be the first.
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iluvcinema says
November 6, 2012 at 12:18 amI think it went to another post – at least that is what WordPress said 😉
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Yvette says
October 26, 2012 at 7:15 pmOne of my all time favorites, Iba. I only just recently bought a DVD of it so now I can watch whenever I please. This is one I like to view Halloween week. I recommended this (as I usually do) on a Halloween films post this week. I’m incorrigible, I know. I’m always recommending the same ten or twenty or so films. Can’t help it. I
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iluvcinema says
November 6, 2012 at 12:18 am😀