The Haunting (1963)

A scientist doing research on the paranormal invites two women to a haunted mansion. One of the participants soon starts losing her mind.

Director:

Robert Wise

Writers:

Nelson Gidding (screenplay), Shirley Jackson (based on the novel: "The Haunting of Hill House")

Stars:

Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Julie Harris	...	Eleanor Lance
Claire Bloom	...	Theodora
Richard Johnson	...	Dr. John Markway
Russ Tamblyn	...	Luke Sanderson
Fay Compton	...	Mrs. Sanderson
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Mrs. Dudley
Lois Maxwell	...	Grace Markway
Valentine Dyall	...	Mr. Dudley
Diane Clare	...	Carrie Fredericks
Ronald Adam	...	Eldridge Harper

Storyline

Dr. Markway, doing research to prove the existence of ghosts, investigates Hill House, a large, eerie mansion with a lurid history of violent death and insanity. With him are the skeptical young Luke, who stands to inherit the house, the mysterious and clairvoyant Theodora and the insecure Eleanor, whose psychic abilities make her feel somehow attuned to whatever spirits inhabit the old mansion. As time goes by it becomes obvious that they have gotten more than they bargained for as the ghostly presence in the house manifests itself in horrific and deadly ways.

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Plot Keywords:

haunted house | gothic horror | mansion | research | psychic | 

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Taglines:

SCREAM...no one will hear you! RUN...and the silent foosteps will follow, for in Hill House the dead are restless!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 March 1964 (France)

Also Known As:

La maison du diable

Filming Locations:

Alderminster, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$1,400,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,616,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Argyle Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Robert Wise, the spiral staircase, provided some unique challenges. "It was scary when you were up on that thing and it was rocking around. The one shot we did on it that fascinates people the most is when the camera is at the bottom and goes up. We designed the banister of the stairway to be so wide and thick that it would fit a small rig with wheels on it--a little, light dolly that would hold a hand-held camera. We had our camera on that and we had a control wire underneath, all the way down. We simply took the camera up to the top on this rig, started it, rolled it down, and then reversed the film. It was all done on that balustrade."

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Goofs

Because the story was filmed in England, but set in the United States, Eleanor passes a house with a sign reading "To Let" instead of "For Rent".

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dr. John Markway: [voice-over] An evil old house, the kind some people call haunted, is like an undiscovered country waiting to be explored. Hill House had stood for 90 years and might stand for 90 more. Silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there... walked alone.

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Connections

Featured in A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss: Home Counties Horror (2010)

User Reviews

Less is scarier, er, better !!!

This ranks as my favorite ghost story of all time. The mood, lighting, and (lack of ) special effects all make the "it's what you don't see that scares you" premise work great. To highlight this movie, watch it on Halloween night with the lights out and then try it again with the ( ugh ) remake and see how you feel. Robert Wise was a great director and this is probably his hidden gem. I purchased it a few years back on DVD and my wife and I watch it every year on Halloween and it never, ever ceases to give her or myself the chills, especially the scenes toward the end in the library, the "cold spot", and the "hold my hand" sequence. Julie Harris is perfect for her part. Skittish and susceptible to all things that "go bump in the night".