Here’s an ad for “The Uninvited” (1944), featuring a haunted house with Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, Donald Crisp, and Gail Russell. The ad is evocative of the film’s eeriness, and there is always some lurid undercurrent when telling, or advertising, a ghost story.
It seems that of equal importance to the ghost in a ghost story is the house that’s being haunted. You never hear about haunted convenience stores or hair salons. Home is where the haunt is. This month we’ll have a look at a few suspense films where the house becomes not just the setting for the story, but a catalyst for the action.
6 comments:
I don't usually like spooky movies, but my dad had seen part of this and thought I'd like it, so I watched it -- and I loved it. Of course, it didn't hurt that it had some of my favorite actors. :) Thanks for sharing the ad.
Best wishes,
Laura
Hi, Laura, thanks for stopping by. I agree that "The Uninvited" is probably one of the better ghost stories, largely due to the fine cast. The special effects were done well.
"Home is where the haunt is..." Terrific!
I think true horror comes from the dawning realization that we're unable change or adapt to something that we find...well, horrible. For instance, The Man Who Laughs, Nosferatu, Frankenstein, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Unknown, Eyes Without a Face, etc. Too much of the horror genre developed into hacking and slashing and chasing. But, there's no real horror to that; it's just violence. Having your house invaded by a supernatural thing you cannot hope to change is pretty horrific 'cause so much of ourselves are invested in our homes and we're supposed to feel safe there. I haven't seen this picture, but I have a feeling that I'm going to now.
The March of Time docudrama really pegs the time period of the ad too.
""Home is where the haunt is..." Terrific!"
I've been exposed to too much Bulwinkle, I fear. (Besides that is not too dissimilar to how we say "heart" in New England anyway.)
I agree with you that film horror which has evolved into just slashing doesn't have quite the same psychological fascination as the suspense films which present circumstances over which we are powerless, especially in our own homes. Love the prescient March of Times ad. So, we're already looking ahead to the end of the war are we? Reminds me of stores putting out Halloween candy and decorations in August.
Where can we buy this movie of this version?
You might try here at The Video House (http://stores.thevideo-house.com/Detail.bok?no=56). Good luck!
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