The Uninvited - A Perfect Movie For Halloween Viewing

 

 

 

The Uninvited is an old-fashioned ghost story, set in the UK, but filmed beautifully in California and apparently - Arizona?!

Anyway - 

Rick Fitzgerald (Ray Milland, at his most charming), and his sister, Pam (Ruth Hussey), impulsively buy an old clifftop mansion, Windward House, in Cornwall, which turns out to be haunted! The smell of mimosa follows the sorrowful spirit whenever it appears, and the sound of sobbing can be heard late in the night. 

Not willing to give up the property (and neither would I - it's a dream of a house!) they begin to investigate the past of their mansion, aided by Stella Meredith (Gail Russell), the lovely granddaughter of Commander Beech (Donald Crisp), the man who sold them Windward House. Their feisty housekeeper, Lizzie Flynn (the wonderful Barbara Everest from Gaslight), will have nothing to do with the shenanigans and moves in with neighbors. 

The Fitzgeralds learn that a tragedy happened in the house, involving Stella's artist father, her mother and a young Gypsy, Carmel, who was the artist's model. There is an eerie seance, attended by Rick, Pam, Stella and the handsome village doctor, Scott (Alan Napier), where Stella goes into a trance and speaks Spanish. Her grandfather forbids her to visit the house after that, but she is compelled to return, which results in a reckoning of sorts with the truth about Stella's mother, and she faces danger, from the spirit and an Earthly presence as well!

A romance blossoms between Rick and Stella, and also between Pam and the doctor. I like the humor and flirtations, they balance out the frightening scenes - and there are plenty of those! The music is haunting, especially the song "composed" by Rick, Stella By Starlight, which became a classic eventually, performed by Sinatra and others.

It's a good, spooky ghost story. The special effects are subtle, the black and white photography is breathtaking, and the cast is perfect!