The Uninvited
 | Directed by Lewis Allen Starring: Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, Donald Crisp, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Dorothy Stickney MCA/Universal Home Video, 1944, VHS Tape Customer Rating: 118 reviews Recommend This product is currently not available and cannot be purchased. It means that we have no merchant offers for this product at the moment or it was discontinued by the manufacturer. |
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One of the spookiest ghost stories ever put to film, The Uninvited is also one of the few classic haunted-house movies to treat the subject with respect and seriousness. Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey play a brother and sister who leave the city to live in a beautiful old house dramatically perched on a cliff overlooking the Cornish coast. As they discover some of the house's peculiarities — the unexplained chill that settles in certain rooms, the aroma of mimosas that wafts through the house, flowers that wilt when brought inside — they are told by local girl Gail Russell that the house is haunted, by the spirit of Russell's mother no less. The rationalist city folk first scoff at the idea but as Milland slowly falls in love with the frightened girl he investigates the legends and discovers some startling hidden truths. Donald Crisp costars as Russell's humorless, hard-bitten grandfather who forbids her visits to the house. Handsomely shot against the beautiful Cornish countryside, director Lewis Allen wisely suggests more than he shows and the uneasy tone and quietly restrained direction looks forward to such films as The Haunting and The Legend of Hell House. Though Allen ultimately reveals a suitably spine-tingling apparition, some of the film's best moments are chilling in their simplicity: nocturnal moans, slamming doors, and the dog's whimpering fear of the upstairs. — Sean Axmaker
Title: The Uninvited
Sales Rank: 3924 in VHS
Actor: Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, Donald Crisp, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Dorothy Stickney
Director: Lewis Allen
Studio: MCA/Universal Home Video, 1998-01-01, Theatrical Release: 1944
Format: Black & White, HiFi Sound, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language)
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Running Time: 99 minutes
Package Dimensions: 7.32 x 4.19 x 1.12 inches, 0.38 pounds
- A great movie
- One of the things which makes this film so remarkable is the script, as other reviewers have noted. Perhaps the humour and pacing might be better understood if it were realised that Dodie Smith scripted the movie -- the writer to I Capture the Castle and The 101 Dalmatians. She was living in the States at the time to escape the bombing of England… More reviews
- Please!!!!! Put this GREAT movie on DVD
- PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! One of the best ghost stories ever filmed. Why oh why is it not on DVD? Who needs special effects, loud noisy sound effects, etc. when you have great acting and a ghostly figure that sends chills up and down your spine and most of it comes from using your imagination. With all the crap that… More reviews
- Agreed -- best scary movie
- I first saw this movie when I was little and probably too young to understand some if it. It has been a favorite of mine for years and years. I agree with all - this is the gold standard on a scary movie. And while we all agree it sends shivers down your spine, there is such fantastic dialogue and some really, really funny comments… More reviews
- A Classic, Old-fashioned, Spooky Ghost Story
- THE UNINVITED is a true classic, one of the best haunted house stories that I have ever seen. Filmed in black and white in 1944, the film relies on the play of light and shadow, an eerie underscore, and suggestion and innuendo to scare the audience. There is no blood, no gore, no grizzly monster, and none are needed. With a talented cast and an excellent… More reviews
- Brrrrrrr
- The kind of ghost story we used to tell as kids out under a lone street lamp. I still get a shiver or two every time I see this one. I have a good copy from cable but would like a clean DVD. Does it feel like there's a cold spot here just now?
… More reviews
