Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Haunting

  • 19631963
  • GG
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
39K
YOUR RATING
Julie Harris in 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.
Play trailer1:08
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Horror
Hill House has stood for about 90 years and appears haunted: its inhabitants have always met strange, tragic ends. Now Dr. John Markway has assembled a team of people who he thinks will prov... Read allHill House has stood for about 90 years and appears haunted: its inhabitants have always met strange, tragic ends. Now Dr. John Markway has assembled a team of people who he thinks will prove whether or not the house is haunted.Hill House has stood for about 90 years and appears haunted: its inhabitants have always met strange, tragic ends. Now Dr. John Markway has assembled a team of people who he thinks will prove whether or not the house is haunted.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
39K
YOUR RATING
  • 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
Top credits
  • 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
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 454User reviews
    • 110Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:08
    Trailer
    The Haunting (1963)
    Trailer 2:14
    The Haunting (1963)

    Photos104

    Julie Harris in The Haunting (1963)
    Claire Bloom and Julie Harris in The Haunting (1963)
    Julie Harris and Richard Johnson in The Haunting (1963)
    Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn in The Haunting (1963)
    Julie Harris and Richard Johnson in The Haunting (1963)
    Julie Harris in The Haunting (1963)
    Claire Bloom, Julie Harris, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn in The Haunting (1963)
    Julie Harris in The Haunting (1963)
    Julie Harris, Richard Johnson, and Russ Tamblyn in The Haunting (1963)
    Julie Harris in The Haunting (1963)
    Claire Bloom and Julie Harris in The Haunting (1963)
    Claire Bloom and Julie Harris in The Haunting (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Julie Harris
    Julie Harris
    • Eleanor Lanceas Eleanor Lance
    Claire Bloom
    Claire Bloom
    • Theodoraas Theodora
    Richard Johnson
    Richard Johnson
    • Dr. John Markwayas Dr. John Markway
    Russ Tamblyn
    Russ Tamblyn
    • Luke Sandersonas Luke Sanderson
    Fay Compton
    Fay Compton
    • Mrs. Sandersonas Mrs. Sanderson
    Rosalie Crutchley
    Rosalie Crutchley
    • Mrs. Dudleyas Mrs. Dudley
    Lois Maxwell
    Lois Maxwell
    • Grace Markwayas Grace Markway
    Valentine Dyall
    Valentine Dyall
    • Mr. Dudleyas Mr. Dudley
    Diane Clare
    Diane Clare
    • Carrie Fredericksas Carrie Fredericks
    Ronald Adam
    Ronald Adam
    • Eldridge Harperas Eldridge Harper
    Pamela Buckley
    • First Mrs. Crainas First Mrs. Crain
    • (uncredited)
    Amy Dalby
    Amy Dalby
    • Abigail Crain - Age 80as Abigail Crain - Age 80
    • (uncredited)
    Rosemary Dorken
    • Abigail Crain's Nurse-Companionas Abigail Crain's Nurse-Companion
    • (uncredited)
    Verina Greenlaw
    Verina Greenlaw
    • Dora Fredericksas Dora Fredericks
    • (uncredited)
    Claude Jones
    • Garage Attendantas Garage Attendant
    • (uncredited)
    Frieda Knorr
    Frieda Knorr
    • Second Mrs. Crainas Second Mrs. Crain
    • (uncredited)
    Howard Lang
    • Hugh Crainas Hugh Crain
    • (uncredited)
    Janet Mansell
    • Abigail Crain - Age 6as Abigail Crain - Age 6
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Wise
    • Writers
      • Nelson Gidding(screenplay)
      • Shirley Jackson(based on the novel: "The Haunting of Hill House")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Innocents
    7.8
    The Innocents
    House on Haunted Hill
    6.8
    House on Haunted Hill
    The Haunting
    5.0
    The Haunting
    The Changeling
    7.2
    The Changeling
    Carnival of Souls
    7.1
    Carnival of Souls
    Invasion of the Body Snatchers
    7.7
    Invasion of the Body Snatchers
    Les yeux sans visage
    7.6
    Les yeux sans visage
    The Legend of Hell House
    6.7
    The Legend of Hell House
    Don't Look Now
    7.2
    Don't Look Now
    Dracula
    7.4
    Dracula
    The Bride of Frankenstein
    7.8
    The Bride of Frankenstein
    Frankenstein
    7.8
    Frankenstein

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To make Theodora appear more bohemian, beatnik clothing designer Mary Quant was hired to design mod clothing specifically for Claire Bloom.
    • Goofs
      When Nell leaves the Boston garage, she sees a signpost that for the most part is correct with respect to route numbers and directions for the towns indicated. However, one sign refers to "US 50", and Nell then reads aloud her directions to take "US 50 from Boston and watch for the turn-off to Route 238." US 50 is nowhere near Boston; prior to the advent of the Interstate Highway System, US Route 50 was one of the principal highways that went straight through the middle of the country from Maryland on the East coast to California on the west coast. It is instead US 20 which begins in Boston and runs westward through Massachusetts before continuing across the country.
    • Quotes

      Mrs. Dudley: [Eleanor has just been shown her room after she arrives] I can't keep the rooms the way I'd like, but there's no one else they could get that would help me.

      Eleanor Lance: How very nice.

      Mrs. Dudley: I set dinner on the dining room sideboard at 6. I clear up in the morning. I have breakfast for you at 9. I don't wait on people. I don't stay after I set out the dinner, not after it begins to get dark. I leave before the dark.

      Eleanor Lance: Your husband?

      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]

    • Alternate versions
      The original cut of movie (shown 24/9/03 at Filmhouse, Edinburgh) has several differences from the general release print -
      • Alternate opening with voice-over by the Mrs. Sanderson character in place of the Markway monologue. The titles prior to this scene are slightly different. The 'History of Hill house' scene continues into the meeting with Mrs Sanderson and Markway but in this version, it is Sanderson who is doing most of talking.
      • The following scene from the general release print of Markway listing his subjects on a blackboard is missing. In its place is a scene where Theo throws her lover out her apartment and, next to a photo of her lover, writes "I Hate You!" on a mirror in lipstick, looks at her reflection and mutters "I hate you too...". She then receives her invitation from Markway. This is delivered to her by her landlady, who requires the excess postage to be paid. Theo already knows this is to be paid and there is humorous exchange concerning her ESP or her 'gift.'
      • There are several extended scenes involving Eleanor's 'inner thoughts' - most of which tie into her thoughts on her possible relationship with Markway. The scene showing her traveling to Hill house is extended with more 'inner monologue' material including a couple of shots of her turning onto 'Route 238' and commenting on "Journey's end in lovers meeting...".
      • The Morning/Harp scene runs longer and contains more dialogue from both Eleanor and Markway. This print had a title card prior to the MGM logo - "This print is on loan from the National Film and Television Archive."
    • Connections
      Featured in Nightmare Festival (1989)

    User reviews454

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Forty one years after its release, this movie is still frightening.
    ABC broadcast this film as a Sunday Night Movie in, I believe, 1965. I watched it with my best friend at his house, which happened to be next door. After the movie was over I was afraid to walk home. Thirty eight years later, this movie is still the scariest movie I've ever seen.

    It's hard to put into words why this movie triggers such an emotional response. There is no blood and gore, no creatures or monsters in plain sight. In fact, there is very little physical presence in this movie that should evoke such a fear reaction. True, there are multiple angle exterior shots of the mansion that make one feel as if the house is watching them all the time. And there are loud unexplained noises, bulging wall panels, and door knobs that turn by themselves. All-in-all, the physical evidence is pretty tame, especially by today's standards.

    The fear reaction lies not in the physical form, but in the psychological sense. For example, as Theo and Nell cling to one another as wall pounding draws closer to their room, only to stop and dead silence replaces the noise. Later in the movie, Nell and Theo are again in their room when Nell grabs hold of Theo's hand as noise begins to build outside their bedroom door. Finally, unable to stand the noise any longer, Nell begins to scream which awakens Theo, who happens to be halfway across the room, and thus not close enough to be holding Nell's hand. So the question is "who or what was Nell holding?". There are many scenes that are similar to the above.

    This film was directed by Robert Wise who made me believe there was something lurking around every corner, or there was something that was going to happen, but you just didn't know quite when. This is the type of directing that has given this movie the classic status it so richly deserves.

    So, if you are more into the physical style of a movie, go see "Texas Chain Saw Massacre", but if you are ready for a genuinely scary movie, go rent or buy the 1963 version of "The Haunting".
    helpful•186
    28
    • jeklv
    • Apr 4, 2004

    FAQ14

    • What is 'The Haunting' about?
    • Is "The Haunting" based on a book?
    • Is this a true story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 22, 1963 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bis das Blut gefriert
    • Filming locations
      • Ettington Park Hotel, Alderminster, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Argyle Enterprises
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $742
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Julie Harris in The Haunting (1963)
    Top Gap
    What is the Japanese language plot outline for The Haunting (1963)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    Editors' Picks: What to Watch Now on Netflix
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.