The Uninvited (1944)

A composer and his sister discover that the reason they are able to purchase a beautiful gothic seacoast mansion very cheaply is the house's unsavory past.

Director:

Lewis Allen

Writers:

Dodie Smith (screenplay), Frank Partos (screenplay),

Stars:

Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, Donald Crisp

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ray Milland	...	Roderick Fitzgerald
Ruth Hussey	...	Pamela Fitzgerald
Donald Crisp	...	Commander Beech
Cornelia Otis Skinner	...	Miss Holloway
Dorothy Stickney	...	Miss Bird
Barbara Everest	...	Lizzie Flynn
Alan Napier	...	Dr. Scott
Gail Russell	...	Stella Meredith

Storyline

A brother and sister move into an old seaside house they find abandoned for many years on the English coast. Their original enchantment with the house diminishes as they hear stories of the previous owners and meet their daughter (now a young woman) who now lives as a neighbor with her grandfather. Also heard are unexplained sounds during the night. It becomes obvious that the house is haunted. The reasons for the haunting and how they relate to the daughter whom the brother is falling in love with, prove to be a complex mystery. As they are compelled to solve it, the supernatural activity at the house increases to a frightening level.

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Plot Keywords:

house | haunting | doctor | cliff | composer | 

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Taglines:

From the Most Popular Mystery Romance since "Rebecca"!

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

16 October 1944 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Der unheimliche Gast

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In an article in USA Today (August 22, 2011), Guillermo del Toro chooses this as one of his six favorite "fright flicks."

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Goofs

The covers on the headlights (see above) disappear midway through.

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Quotes

Pamela Fitzgerald: That's the dawn breeze...

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Connections

Followed by The Unseen (1945)

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Soundtracks

"O God, Our Help in Ages Past"
(uncredited)
Written by Isaac Watts

User Reviews

one my all time favorites

One of the posters described this as a "comfort" film which says it for me. I absolutely love this movie. It has been one of my favorites for years and years. I am also very lucky that my mother contacted a rare book company and found me the book, which is also wonderful. In the book (which I believe was written right before World War II began), the Ray Milland character is a writer, and there are many more characters. In fact, there are two men interested in the Ruth Hussey character. In its own way, The Uninvited book is equally as wonderful as the film, and the movie definitely keeps the gist of the story. I'm glad Milland is a composer in the movie, because how could we do without "Stella by Starlight," one of the most heavenly songs ever written. The music contributes to the wonderful atmosphere of "The Uninvited."

I read through the postings and was interested to see the Rebecca comparisons. "Rebecca" is one of my all time favorites as well, and I feel like an idiot saying I've never connected the two. But yeah, the Mary Meredith sure was on a pedastal, wasn't she? Otis Skinner's total, over the top performance is a real highlight. "No rough edges...all smooth..." - lots going on there!

It's tragic to see Gail Russell so young and beautiful and realize that alcohol would ravage her beyond recognition that and she would die so young.

She was lovely. The whole cast is marvelous. And I love that ghost! So, a mimosa toast to all of you who love this film as I do.