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 (screen play), Frank Partos (screen play)

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	...	Cmdr. 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 | mansion | dog | ghost | 

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Taglines:

A MYSTERIOUS PICTURE! Yet, one of the best production of this year! (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Tech Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - November 8, 1944)

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ras released on Region 2 DVD in 2012 by Exposure Cinema, a British company that specializes in limited collector's editions of overlooked Hollywood films. The Criterion Collection DVD and Blu-ray versions were released in October 2013, featuring a new 2K digital film restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray version.

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Goofs

When Roderick & Stella are sailing in a small boat, they did the old chestnut of hitting him on the back of the head with the boom. However Stella pushed the tiller. That would have sent the boom to starboard, away from Roderick's head. Background didn't shift either.

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Quotes

Roderick Fitzgerald: Now, don't get rattled, Pam. There's a logical explanation for this.
Pamela Fitzgerald: Such as?
Roderick Fitzgerald: Well, you can't expect me to give it to you offhand, but it stands to reason.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Mouth 3 (2018)

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Soundtracks

To Stella by Starlight
(uncredited)
Music by Victor Young
Played on piano by Ray Milland (dubbed) and heard as a main theme in the score.
Richard Hayman and his Orchestra performed the music. Richard Hayman also played the harmonica solo in the piece.

User Reviews

Very good suspense film

An excellent ghost story, one I had never heard of. A good building of suspense, almost Hitchcockean, throughout the film. And Gail Russell had such beauty. I was unfamiliar with her as well, and in reading the bio on IMDb, I see why. What a shame. Check this one out. Grade: A

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

1 September 1944 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

The Uninvited

Filming Locations:

Elk, 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