Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786302503494
Format: Black & White
ISBN: 6302503493
Label: MCA/Universal Home Video
Manufacturer: MCA/Universal Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MCA/Universal Home Video
Release Date: 1998-01-01
Running Time: 99
Studio: MCA/Universal Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1944

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

Customer Rating:
Summary: A Classic, Old-fashioned, Spooky Ghost Story
Comment: 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 plot, this movie sends shivers up your spine, makes hairs stand up on the back of your neck, and has you jumping out of your seat at the slightest provocation. This is a true, old-fashioned thriller the way it should be done.

As the film opens, a brother and sister, played by Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey, buy a beautiful, old house high atop a sea cliff. As they settle in, they soon discover some "oddities" about the house: a locked, mysterious room, slamming doors, sobbing in the night, unexplained chills, the sudden scent of mimosas, wilting flowers, animals afraid to ascend the staircase. Later, they discover that two young women died in the house nearly 20 years prior, quite possibly murdered.

THE UNINVITED is exquisitely shot against the Cornish coast; some of the scenes are simply breathtaking. The direction, by Lewis Allen, is quite inspired. Allen cleverly hints at more than he shows, and imagination easily fills in the rest. The tone is uneasy from the beginning, immediately giving the audience the jitters. The simplicity of light and dark, black and white, interesting camera angles, and the thrill of suggestion are used brilliantly throughout the film.

THE UNINVITED is highly recommended. If you want to spend dark, rainy Sunday afternoon with a creepy, chilling film, THE UNINVITED is truly your best possible choice.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Brrrrrrr
Comment: 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?

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: One of the best scary movies ever
Comment: This movie is not as well known as other ghost stories, but, as a lifelong lover of the genre, I believe it is one of the finest: subtle, surprising, believable and extremely well-acted. Unlike modern "horror" movies that leave nothing at all too the imagination and rely more on battering the viewer into submission with violence and gore, "The Uninvited" draws you into the story, involving you in the characters' lives so that, by the time the eerie things start happening, you too are part of the story. Well written, well acted, and worth the watch. I'm going to get the DVD as soon as Amazon tells me it's available.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Best Ghost Story Ever
Comment: If it is possible to be in love with a movie, then this is it for me! This is the best ghost story ever filmed. It's believable, its well written with great dialogue, performances, sets and costumes - its just plain classy. I watch this several times a year, and have most of my adult life. There are some fine movies in this genre, "The Haunting (1963)" "The Ghost and Mrs Muir" and "The Others" are just a few, but this tops my list.

Why this is not on DVD boggles the mind. Universal, please put this on DVD!

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Top 5 Ghost Stories ever made
Comment: Produced in 1943 and released in 1944, staring Ray Milland, this "Horror Film" is subtle, emulating the British approach to 'ghost tales' and that is (their) existence and message is real, it is about understanding what they need to tell - an injustice, lie or betrayal.

I first viewed this film at the age of 9, home from school on a Wednesday afternoon because the District had closed the schools as an overnight snow blizzard made travelling impossible. (my sisters and I loved these days) Every afternoon channel 5 would broadcast a film from the 30's or 40's, thus my sisters, Mom and I watched "The Uninvited" on one such day and, let me tell you, I was shaking so hard from fright, the entire couch shook, making my sister get a blanket - the shaking was not from the cold but pure fear.

The story concerns two female spirits, one good the other bad. Ruth Hussey plays Milland's sister, who buy a beautiful cottage where strange events unfold. A classic for its genre, we have strange knocks, doors opening and closing of their own accord and that utter coldness when entering a particular room.

What is extraordinary about this film is the sub plot connecting with the main story.

Murder is at the bottom of the plot, however, the 'bad' spirit becomes jealous, when Milland's character starts to fall in love with the girl next door - now the film moves into fright mode as the bad spirit lets her feelings known.

Why is the good spirit so sad and unwilling to do anything to stop the tirades of her fellow vengeful spirit?

As the tale continues, the 'good' spirit attempts to reveal the awful secret about the house and what happend in the past.

A few of the 'special effects' might seem lame to a few, but still, exceptionally done for the time period, particularly the pages of a book turning, giving a clue as to the on-going sadness and evil in the cottage.

Directed by Lewis Allen, (Valintino, Suddenly) managed to produce one of the top five great "horror films" of all time.

A Classic in the truest sense.

(It is shameful that this classic has not been upgraded to DVD, giving the masses one of the best ghost films in the last two centuries.)

---