Dawn's Personal Note:
This is one of my favorite "horror" movies of all time. I love the original, the remake eh, not so much. But then I'm just not a big fan of any remakes.
The Basics:
Genre: Horror
Movie Type: Haunted House Film, Supernatural Horror
Themes: Psychic Abilities, Ghost Stories
Director: Robert Wise
Main Cast: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn, Lois Maxwell
Release Year: 1963
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 113 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
The Plot:
One of the most highly regarded haunted house films ever produced, Robert Wise's The Haunting (based on Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House) weaves the dark tale of a questionably sane young woman and a sinister house which holds a terrifying past. Invited to join anthropologist Dr. Markway, ESP expert Theodore, and probable heir to the estate Luke Sanderson in order to dispel the near mythical tales that surround the house, unstable Eleanor Vance agrees to spend a few nights in the house following the death of her mother. As they slowly begin to discover, the horrific and seemingly unbelievable tales may hold more truth than the skeptical guests might have previously expected. With a seemingly unstoppable supernatural force lurking in every shadow, the probability of anyone escaping the evil clutch of the cursed mansion seems increasingly remote.
The Cast:
Julie Harris - Eleanor Vance
Claire Bloom - Theodora
Richard Johnson - Dr. John Markway
Russ Tamblyn - Luke Sanderson
Lois Maxwell - Grace Markway
Film Vs. Novel:
Though the central story of The Haunting remains the same as the novel, there are two main elements that were changed for the film. The first is the nature of Eleanor's relationship with Dr. Markway. In the book, Eleanor develops a bit of a crush on Luke, though he appears to favor the company of Theodora. The film version finds Dr. Markway carelessly forgetting to mention that he's married, and consequently Eleanor mistakes his academic interest in her, coupled with his kindness and charm, for genuine affection. Also, in regard to Mrs. Markway, she shows up later in the film as well, though her companion Arthur is not in the film. However, instead of being a flighty mystic as she is in the book, she is rather a hard-nosed skeptic who wants to convince her husband to give up his research and return home. While her character does not get much screen time, it is apparent that she feels somewhat differently by the end of the film.
Bits and Pieces of Information:
Production of the film began on 1 October, 1962 at MGM Borehamwood, England with a budget of $1.5 million. The external shots of the house are of Ettington Hall, near Stratford-upon-Avon (now the Ettington Park Hotel, which has been in the Shirley family since before the Norman Conquest). Wise used infra-red film for exterior shots to emphasise the "striations of the stone" and make it look "more of a monster house".
The film was remade in 1999, also titled The Haunting, but with little critical appreciation.
This film was #18 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments.
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Comments: 20
Being that young, I could have sworn they were yelling Mel, instead of Nel.. And I was always seeing faces, images in the wallpapers at the house.
Of course mom scolded me and said that's what you get.. lol
The remake was okay, but the original of course is my favorite...
Thank you for sharing your article with us at, "The Graveyard Hours."
A ten I leave you~
Mrs. Dudley: We live over in town, miles away.
Eleanor Lance: Yes.
Mrs. Dudley: So there won't be anyone around if you need help.
Eleanor Lance: I understand.
Mrs. Dudley: We couldn't hear you. In the night.
Eleanor Lance: Do you have any idea when Dr. Markway ...
Mrs. Dudley: [cuts her off] No one could. No one lives any nearer than town. No one will come any nearer than that.
Eleanor Lance: I know.
Mrs. Dudley: In the night. In the dark.
[Mrs. Dudley grins and leaves.]
Eleanor Lance: God! God! Whose hand was I holding?
The names on the blackboard in Dr. Markway's office are all friends or family of writer Nelson Gidding. Albert Trepuk was his stepfather, Charles Stern, Ruth Murray, Rufus Matthewson, and Paul Kirschner were friends, and Joshua Walden was his then 14-year-old son.
The exterior of Hill House in the film was not a set, but an actual house, although all the interiors were carefully designed sets on sound stages. While shooting exterior night scenes on location at the real house, Russ Tamblyn has shared a story of having chosen to take a stroll through a cemetery at the rear of the property and having had an experience nearly as terrifying as the film itself. You can hear his story on the commentary track included on the DVD of the film.
SPOILER: The infamous "bending door" scene was achieved by constructing a prop door composed of rubber. While filming, the bending effect was cause by having a number of stagehands push on the door.
Here's a 10, thanks for posting at Up All Nite Café.
That part tickled me as well, I loved West Side Story.
Love ya, Babe.