Two generations of men find themselves haunted by the presence of a spectral woman. When the son of one of the elderly men returns to his hometown after his brother's mysterious death, they attempt to unravel her story.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 3 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Fred Astaire | ... |
Ricky Hawthorne
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| Melvyn Douglas | ... |
John Jaffrey
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| Douglas Fairbanks Jr. | ... |
Edward Wanderley
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| John Houseman | ... |
Sears James
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| Craig Wasson | ... |
Don / David
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| Patricia Neal | ... |
Stella
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| Alice Krige | ... |
Alma / Eva
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| Jacqueline Brookes | ... |
Milly
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| Miguel Fernandes | ... |
Gregory Bate
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| Lance Holcomb | ... |
Fenny Bate
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Mark Chamberlin | ... |
Young John Jaffrey
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| Tim Choate | ... |
Young Ricky Hawthorne
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| Kurt Johnson | ... |
Young Edward Wanderley
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| Ken Olin | ... |
Young Sears James
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| Brad Sullivan | ... |
Sheriff Hardesty
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| Michael O'Neill | ... |
Churchill
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| Guy Boyd | ... |
Omar Norris
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| Robert Burr | ... |
Principal
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Helena Carroll | ... |
Mrs. Meredith
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| Robin Curtis | ... |
Rea Dedham
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Breon Gorman | ... |
Nettie Dedham
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| James Greene | ... |
Mailman
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Cagle D. Green | ... |
Eva's Apparition
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Kyra Carleton | ... |
Eva's Apparition
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Ruth Hunt | ... |
Florence
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| Deborah Offner | ... |
Helen
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Virginia Bingham | ... |
Sears' Mother
(as Virginia P. Bingham)
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William F. Conway | ... |
Sears' Father
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Russell R. Bletzer | ... |
Reverend Wilkinson
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Terrance Mario Carnes | ... |
Waiter
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Alfred Curven | ... |
Man in Coffin
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Edward F. Dillon | ... |
Judge
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Alvin W. Fretz | ... |
Coroner
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Hugh Hires | ... |
Student Solt
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Raymond J. Quinn | ... |
Ricky's Father
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Barbara von Zastrow | ... |
Ricky's Mother
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| Betty Low | ... |
Irmengard
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Mason Cardiff | ... |
Schoolboy (uncredited)
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Gale Grindle | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Irvin | ||
Written by
| Peter Straub | ... | (based on the novel by) |
| Lawrence D. Cohen | ... | (screenplay by) |
Produced by
| Douglas Green | ... | co-producer |
| Ronald G. Smith | ... | associate producer |
| Burt Weissbourd | ... | producer |
Music by
| Philippe Sarde | ||
Cinematography by
| Jack Cardiff | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Tom Rolf | ||
Editorial Department
| Michael Ripps | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Mike Fenton | ||
Production Design by
| Norman Newberry | ||
Art Direction by
| Norman Newberry | ||
Set Decoration by
| Mary Ann Biddle | ||
Costume Design by
| May Routh | ||
Makeup Department
| Rick Baker | ... | special makeup effects artist |
| Irving Buchman | ... | make-up |
| Carl Fullerton | ... | special makeup effects artist |
| Albert Jeyte | ... | make-up |
| Robert Jiras | ... | make-up |
| Philip Leto | ... | hair stylist |
| Rick Sharp | ... | make-up |
| Dick Smith | ... | make-up illusions by |
| Lee Trent | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Robert Latham Brown | ... | production manager |
| Ronald G. Smith | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Dan Kolsrud | ... | first assistant director |
| Dean Lyras | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| James Allen | ... | assistant decorator (as Jim Allen) |
| William Apperson | ... | construction foreman |
| Michael Seymour | ... | visual advisor |
| John Zemansky | ... | property master |
Sound Department
| James R. Alexander | ... | sound (as Jim Alexander) |
| Allan Bromberg | ... | assistant sound editor / assistant: sound editor (as Alan Bromberg) |
| Charles L. Campbell | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Larry Carow | ... | sound effects editor |
| Samuel C. Crutcher | ... | sound effects editor |
| Richard C. Franklin | ... | sound effects editor (as Rick Franklin) |
| Robert L. Hoyt | ... | sound re-recordist |
| David Pettijohn | ... | sound effects editor |
| Stanley H. Polinsky | ... | re-recording mixer (as Stan Polinsky) |
| Mark Server | ... | boom operator |
| John J. Stephens | ... | re-recording mixer (as John Stephens) |
| John Roesch | ... | foley artist (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Steve Johnson | ... | special effects |
| Henry Millar Jr. | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Syd Dutton | ... | matte artist |
| Dennis Glouner | ... | matte photographer |
| Bill Taylor | ... | matte photographer |
| Albert Whitlock | ... | special visual effects |
| Henry Schoessler | ... | matte crew (uncredited) |
| Susan Turner | ... | visual effects (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Erik Cord | ... | stunts |
| Rita Egleston | ... | stunts |
| Diamond Farnsworth | ... | stunts (as Hill Farnsworth) |
| Larry Holt | ... | stunts |
| John Meier | ... | stunts |
| Jeff Ramsey | ... | stunts |
| Glenn Randall Jr. | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Dick Warlock | ... | stunts |
| Bruce Paul Barbour | ... | stunt player (uncredited) |
| Dick Warlock | ... | stunt double: Fred Astaire (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Lou Barlia | ... | camera operator |
| Bobby Brown | ... | second assistant camera: "a" camera |
| Jack Brown | ... | assistant camera |
| Dick Mingalone | ... | camera operator |
| Reggie Newkirk | ... | first assistant camera |
| Ted Varnadoe | ... | electrician |
Music Department
| Harry Betts | ... | orchestrator |
| John Caper Jr. | ... | music coordinator |
| Mickey Crofford | ... | music recordist |
| Peter Knight | ... | conductor / orchestrator |
| Michel Mention | ... | additional orchestrator |
| Peter T. Myers | ... | orchestrator (as Peter Myers) |
| Robert Adcock | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Samuel Albert | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Dale Anderson | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Marilyn Baker | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Ruth Bruegger | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Nicole Bush | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| John Caper Jr. | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Ron Clark | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Herman Clebanoff | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Rob Courtney | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Sandy De Crescent | ... | orchestra contractor (uncredited) |
| Vince De Rosa | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Alan DeVeritch | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Burnette Dillon | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Bob DiVall | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Bonnie Jean Douglas | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| David Duke | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Earl Dumler | ... | musician: oboe (uncredited) |
| Dominick Fera | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Pamela Goldsmith | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Ralph Grierson | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Todd Hemmenway | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Norman Herzburg | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Arthur Hoberman | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Paula Hochhalter | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Tommy Johnson | ... | musician: tuba (uncredited) |
| Armand Kaproff | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Roland Kato | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Milton Kestenbaum | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Connie Kupka | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Janet Lakatos | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Earl Madison | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Arthur Maebe | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Jack Marsh | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Kazu Matsui | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| William Mays | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Peter Mercurio | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Todd Miller | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Carole Mukagawa | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Richard Nash | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Dan Neufeld | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| John Neufeld | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Richard Perissi | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Dorothy Remsen | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| David Riddles | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Ambrose Russo | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| David Schwartz | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Erica Sharp | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| David Shostac | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Paul Shure | ... | concertmaster (uncredited) |
| Henry Sigismonti | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Marston Smith | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| David Speltz | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Sally Stevens | ... | singer (uncredited) |
| Vicki Sylvester | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Tony Terran | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Milton Thomas | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Louise Di Tullio | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Lloyd Ulyate | ... | musician: trombone (uncredited) |
| Ken Watson | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Jerry Williams | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Graham Young | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Arthur Zadinsky | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Sonny P. Filippini | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Patrick A. DiCocco | ... | production driver |
| Doug Wilson | ... | driver |
Additional Crew
| Phil Bowles | ... | first assistant stage manager |
| Jan DeWitt | ... | second assistant stage manager |
| Mike Henry | ... | production assistant/logistics co-ordinator |
| Phill Norman | ... | title designer |
| Suzanne E. Petersen | ... | production assistant |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1981) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1982) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Finland) (theatrical)
- United International Pictures (UIP) (1982) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures (1982) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (France) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1982) (Italy) (theatrical)
- MCA Home Video (1982) (United States) (VHS)
- CIC Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- Esselte Video (Finland) (VHS)
- VideoVisa (Mexico) (VHS)
- MCA Home Video (1984) (United States) (VHS)
- Universal Films of India (1985) (India) (theatrical)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1990) (Finland) (tv)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (United States) (VHS)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1995) (United States) (tv)
- Image Entertainment (1998) (United States) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
- EuroVideo (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
- Edel Media & Entertainment (2014) (Germany) (DVD) (Hollywoods Top Legenden Collection)
- Scream Factory (2015) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Second Sight Films (2015) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Elephant Films (2018) (France) (video) (HD)
- Penny Video (2018) (Italy) (DVD)
- Artaire Films (2020) (Spain) (VOD)
- MTV Networks (2023) (United States) (tv)
- Telemundo Network (2024) (United States) (tv) (dubbed)
- YouTube (2024) (United States) (video) (streaming)
- CBS (2000) (United States) (tv)
- Kino Lorber (2025) (United States) (Ultra HD Blu-ray)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (United States) (laserdisc)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Westheimer Company (title opticals)
- Universal Title (opticals)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Four successful elderly gentlemen, members of the Chowder Society, share a gruesome, 50-year old secret. When one of Edward Wanderley's twin sons dies in a bizarre accident, the group begins to see a pattern of frightening events developing.
Written by Jeanne Armintrout |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | She'll never rest until her tale is told. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $13,500,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $2,105,729, 20 Dec 1981 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Final theatrical feature film of veteran actors Melvyn Douglas, Fred Astaire, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. See more » |
| Goofs | Robert Burr is credited as " Principal ". Since the school in the film is a college, his title in the credits should be " Dean ". See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Neighbors, Sharky's Machine, Ghost Story, Pennies from Heaven (1981). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Sweetheart of Sigma Chi See more » |
| Quotes |
Eva:
I will take you places you've never been. I will show you things that you have never seen and I will see the life run out of you. See more » |