Kitty Hollywood Reviews: The Uninvited
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- Опубліковано 28 жов 2015
- This tale of a lonely old house replete with Mysteries is an absolute classic. This is for all those who just want a really classy honest to goodness Ghost Story. They don't get much better than this, and the tale of Gail Russell, one of the stars, offers a eerie and tragic adjunct to the film.
Released by Paramount Studios - 1944
Directed: Lewis Allen
Produced: Charles Brackett
Music: Victor Young
Costumes: Edith Head
Cinematography: Charles Lang Jr
Story: based on the novel by Dorothy McArdle "Uneasy Freehold" and screenplay by Frank Partos and Dodie Smith
Starring:
Ray Milland
Ruth Hussey
Donald Crisp
Cornelia Otis Skinner
Alan Napier
AND
Gail Russell
I actually really like the special effects of the ghosts because it’s like less is more. The ghost is perfect, ephemeral yet solid enough to think you see something, so menacing.
Agreed. My favorite type of onscreen spirit. So creepy.
My grandma introduced me to this film when I was very young, and it's been my favorite ever since. It's sooo underrated.
This is a great film and pretty spooky for its era.
One of my favorite films. These absolute GEMS of reviews by Kitty are just glorious. I'm mighty sorry that she stopped making them. Genius. And sometimes she' hilarious. Love her. I hope all is well with her. God bless her!!!!!
I’ve been watching since the 1960’s and still consider this the best “Ghost Story” put on film. The chemistry with the actors along with great screenplay and the use of shadows with black and white is totally spot on. The fact that it’s also a very good mystery with a twist and added humor make this classic a must see. The very haunting but beautiful “Stella by Starlight” is sad knowing that Gail Russell had requested it played on the local radio station the night she died from alcoholism. I’ve read the novel which doesn’t have the sordid romance between Holloway and Meredith. It did seem to work out well in the screenplay. I still can’t watch late at night by myself.
The Casablanca of supernatural movies. Incredible movie.
Seeing this on TV about 50 years ago, I always really liked that it was atmospheric, and especially because there was a brief view of the ghost. By today's standards that's nothing special, but in black & white I think it looks wonderful.
Greetings Kitty Hollywood, And thank you for the fine review!
I grew up with this film and am 71 years old now. Needless to say, it is my "hands down" absolute favorite horror film. Modern "scary" movies pale in comparison to The Uninvited. They try too had to be spooky and become actually comical and poorly done. And, don't get me started on today's CGI special effects! The greatest thing The Uninvited can teach a budding producer/director is that "less is more". The Uninvited is not blatant with visual effects, but rather subtly screws with your head, and plays on your childhood fears of the dark. The ghostly effects are sparse and thus, totally effective.
I sat through every review of The Uninvited on UA-cam tonight. What can I say about Kitty's take and presentation of this film? Your review is very deep, probing, and absolutely stellar! You actually WATCHED this film, and became one with it, the plot, and its characters.
I am an avid film collector and have a DVD library of several hundred titles. Nowadays, I pull The Uninvited at least once a year and watch it in the dark. Every time the hairs stand up on the back of my neck during the spooky parts. And, the magnificent special effects ghost is about as scary as it can get.
My father related to me that he watched The Uninvited in the theatre back in 1944 as a teen, and during the seance scene where the drawing room doors burst open, half the audience bolted upright from their seats! This was and still is a magnificent piece of film which I heartily recommend. But please do turn down the lights, and let it play with your childhood fears of the dark for its maximum effect!
Dear Kitty,
Just came across your review of "The Uninvited" on UA-cam, and was very impressed with your analysis of the film. You made excellent references regarding the make-up of the film, from cast members, director, cinematographer, screen writers, even giving special recognition to film composer Victor Young for his haunting musical score which included the lovely "Stella By Starlight". I was especially impressed with your insight into the lovely, but tragic Gail Russell. If you happen to read Tom Weaver's book, "Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Flashbacks", he mentions his conversation with director Lewis Allen, who revealed that the head make-up artist on the film, Wally Westmore,as well as the hairstylist, Nellie Manley, helped Gail Russell get the alcohol she thought she needed to get through the making of the film, even though Gail was only nineteen years of age at the time (1943). I loved your photos of the cast members,as well as the production crew. The only flaw was that you didn't have any photos of Gail as Stella Meredith. Loved the clips from the film! Again, Well Done!
+theuninvited1944 Thank you so much for your comment. I have not yet come across 'Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Flashbacks', so thank you for the heads up, I look forward to hunting it out. This film is startlingly beautiful in so many ways and the more you read about it, the more layers you uncover. I felt so horribly for poor Gail Russell. If this film had not been such a success, might they not have let her contract slide? We can only wonder.
Amazing film . One of my favs.so glad you mentioned back ground crew as well as stars in creating this masterpiece. Youd never notice Gail's anxiety on screen. Her performance is so natural,unactressy, Like Bergman. Kitty you obviously love this film, a heartfelt intelligent review. As do many of us.
Thank you for your excellent review of a great story that I recently watched for the first time! I acquired the Criterion Collection Blu Ray of "The Uninvited" just last month to add to my "Gail Russell" collection. I became interested in Gail Russell about 5 months ago when I "discovered" her while watching the first "John Wayne Production" "Angel and the Badman". Gail, as the innocent-but-principled Quaker girl "Penny" absolutely makes "Angel and the Badman" the wonderful movie it is, moving the story many levels above being a simple 1940's "B" Western. She and Wayne have a touching, adorable chemistry together.
While I agree with you that Gail is far from the greatest actress ever, I can't help but note that Gail has something very unique onscreen that just reaches deeply into the viewer's heart. During work on "The Uninvited" Gail was terrified; Ray Milland took her under his wing, rehearsed with her extensively, coached her on-set and even deliberately muffed his own lines to give Gail another take when he knew she could do a scene much better. Ray Milland actually turned Gail into an accomplished actress, although shy, insecure Gail never had the self-confidence to realize how good she actually was. I've noticed that when Gail has someone on set she gets close to and trusts, (Ray Milland, John Wayne), she always gives a wonderful touching performance, and has a fine natural acting style that is very modern. Initially, in "The Uninvited" I couldn't accept a romance between Gail and the much older Milland. But quickly, the sweet rapport between the two, sold me on a growing affection between them. Gail has the most beautiful, moving and expressive eyes of any actress I've seen past or present and she was accomplished enough as an actress to be able to use her eyes and expressions to control a scene without dialog, as she does wonderfully in "The Uninvited", "Angel and the Badman", "Wake of the Red Witch", "Moonrise" and "Seven Men From Now", to name a few!
"The Uninvited" surprised me in how well the film still holds up in 2016! I would hold "The Uninvited" up to any film class as a superb example of HOW to make a timeless movie. I also greatly appreciate the extras on the Criterion Blu Ray disc, especially the thought provoking "visual essay" by Michael Almereyda entitled "Giving Up The Ghost".
Again, thank you for taking the time and effort to do such an excellent review on a superb and timeless classic like "The Uninvited". I hope your effort will help renew an interest in Gail Russell. I feel Gail richly deserves being discovered by a new generation.
+63DW89A Thank you so much for your in-depth and considered comment. I have not ventured in detail into Gail's other movies, but really, her performance in 'The Uninvited' is such that it keeps coming back to me, and I can see that I should. Thank you for spurring me on!
One of my all time favorites. Thank You.
This recentely became one of my favorite classic movies. I discovered this one on a torrent actually and I never eard of it before but it fascinated me. The cinematography is fantastic, great story and lots of atmosphere. It reminded me of another forgotten ghost movie made in 1986 , Lady In White which has a similar plot when it comes to the ghost mystery. I plan to buy this 1944 The Uninvited on bluray but unfortunelly for now there is only an american release region A locked and so I cannot play it here in europe. Good review. :)
I finally got it on bluray. This movie is the Casablanca of supernatural stories. 😎
My all time favorite haunted house film.
Just saw Rhe Uninvited and I noticed some definite similarities between it and Hitchcock’s Vertigo which premiered 24 years later... fascinating similarities like that of spiritual possession, confusion, plot twists... the alleged ghost of Carlotta in Vertigo happens to be Spanish just as the ghost of Carmel in the Uninvited. Hitchcock was most definitely inspired by this film. And the star Ray Milland also starred in Dial M For Murder. What a brilliant film, absolutely stunning. Love your review!!! Thank you so much I wouldn’t have discovered this film if not for you and your video!
Great review of this film! I think it holds up very nicely and I find it most inspiring to watch all these years later. Gail Russell is wonderful in it! Definitely a 10 out of 10 by me too, Kitty;)
Great review, this one and "The Haunting" are my all time fave Ghost films!
+Lovemylovething Thank you! I love 'The Haunting' as well - I watched it recently again with Mr Kitty and it is truly chilling. If you haven't grab a copy of the short novel - it's great.
+Kitty Hollywood Thanks, I'll have to check that out!
it looks like a genuine film ♥️
Spot on Review, this film will become part of your family.
I liked the film so much I read the book, and I thoroughly enjoy both of them! The special effects for the ghost worked for me, and somewhat remind me of how the Dementors are presented in the Harry Potter movies.
Beautiful job !
Excellent! I am just discovering your channel today. We were talking about "The Uninvited" in a FB group and I found your excellent review and analysis of this, one of my hands down favorite movies. I have shared the link. Thank you so much for this, Kitty. I have subscribed and look forward to watching more of your videos!
What a channel! Kitty really inspires you to look up these classics. Great review, again. This film has always eluded me! I'll have to rectify that, soon on. I love the cinematography in shots I've seen,
the loneliness in the tone. I wonder, was Robert Wise inspired by 'The Uninvited' when staging 'The Haunting'? I'd love to see this on the big screen. Thanks Kitty!
Don’t forget the beautiful Victor Young classic-Stella By Starlight
Love your reviews Kitty! Being a huge old movie buff this is a breath of fresh air for me!
Any way you can do a review of "The Haunting" with Julie Harris?
That's a spooky one!
Looking forward to watching "The Spiral Staircase" now.
That movie was really frightening! I actually cried out at one point, right there in the theater, and my husband has never let me forget it!
"The Uninvited" has been a Halloween staple for my family for years. Never knew that about "Stella by Starlight" -- thank you.
Enjoyed your review of a film which scared me as a child. Rewatching it recently, for the first time in decades, I was taken by the evocative weeping-before-dawn scene. And particularly the matter of fact way Pamela to Rick that she had already searched for the source. She is a woman I would like to have with me in a crisis.
I ordered this classic in time for Halloween. Boo!
I love, love, love the lighting in the film.
did you ever see the British film The Innocents thats pretty spectacular
Oh Love that film!
It’a based on the Henry James book “The Turn of the Screw”, which could be a predecessor for these types of stories.
The scene when Ray turns the flashlight-or torch 😊- on the housekeeper on the landing always gives me chills. OooooO!
I remember watching this with my mother when I was younger, this and “The Innocents” (and every Bette Davis movie ever made)
I didn’t find this film as scary as “The Innocents”....except for creepy scene where they stand on the landing, listening to the ghost crying...but it was still very entertaining!
Me encanta la forma en que analizas esta película...me gusta tu femineidad
"Soviet Airmen Land At North Pole".
Gail KILLED HERSELF, dearie.
Hon, put your hands down!
I love this movie, but I prefer "The Innocents". That movie is really creepy.