The Haunting

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Rating: 5 - THE ORIGINAL AND BEST ADAPTATION OF SHIRLEY JACKSON'S NOVEL
This original movie version of Shirley Jackson's highly esteemed novel "The Haunting of Hill House" is definitely the finer;it faithfully follows the novel and captures it's intended creepiness. Handsome Richard Johnson plays Doctor Markway (Montague in the book) who invites three people to work as his assistants while doing psychic research in an old New England house reputed to be haunted. Eleanor is lonely,timid and impressionable;she spent eleven years caring for her invalid mother and at 32,has never had a life of her own. Theodora is beautiful, bright and vivacious;conscience to her is an attribute which properly belongs to girl scouts-she's Eleanor's free-spirited opposite. The scene where the two women, trembling from the cold, clinging to each other in bed as SOMETHING is knocking at the bedroom door is genuinely chilling. When asked by Luke (Russ Tamblyn) and Dr.Markway what happened the two women look at each other in disbelief and Eleanor says "Nothing in particular. Someone just knocked on the door with a canonball, then laughed their fool head off when we would'nt let them in,but nothing out of the ordinary!". As Eleanor drifts slowly into dementia, it is obvious that the house becomes her lover. If "The Haunting" is viewed on television, it's effect is considerably enhanced if seen alone.

Rating: 4 - Good horror film...Score: 80 (out of 100)
I am inclined to say that PSYCHO (1960), THE INNOCENTS (1961), AND REPULSION (1965) are some of the best horror films of the sixties. Robert Wise's THE HAUNTING ranks up there too. Its a simple film about a haunted house. What makes this film with no special effects, gore, or blood so scary??? It makes use of a technique similar to Steven Spielberg's JAWS (1975) - no monster is ever seen or revealed until the end of the movie. The only trick here is that the monster of Hill House is NEVER seen. The ultimate underlying message is: things unseen are more scarier than those which are not.

This film takes on the use of the psychological. Are the ghosts of Hill House real or apart of peoples' imagination? Professor John Markway (Richard Johnson) seeks to find the answer. He employs "witnesses" to the fact - Eleanor Lance (Julie Harris), Theodora (Claire Bloom), and Luke Sanderson (Russ Tamblyn). Eleanor is a displaced, repulsed neurotic - similar to Catherine Deneuve's character in Polankski's REPULSION (1965). She has decided to leave her sister's home, and spend a weekend in Hill House - just to get away from it all. Theodora is a lesbian/psychic with one goal - to sweep Eleanor off her feet. Sanderson is the true skeptic. He is a playboy who plans to inherit the house for his own greed.

The film does have some scary moments. The cinematography is brilliant in black and white - appropriate for this type of movie. Finally, all I know is after I saw this film - I had fallen in love with the beautiful English actress, Claire Bloom. I never knew who she was until I saw this film. She certainly deserved an Oscar nomination for this movie. I will definately pay more attention to her career from now on. Her other movies include LIMELIGHT (1952), THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD (1965), and CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS (1989), just to name a few. Her character doesn't have to look like Catherine Zeta-Jones (with exposed breasts) in order to make herself very sexy. Bloom's provocative mannerism and attitude do the job "purrrrfectly".

There are some problems with the film, too. Harris' character is annoying. She is overacting in some scenes. Her voice-over thoughts about Hill House are similar to PSYCHO (for example, Marion Crane's travel to Bates Motel while she plots to extort money from her boss). Also, there should have been more emphasis on the house at night. The Shirley Jackson novel has Eleanor wandering Hill House at night and she discovers more eerie things. The fact that Luke has a crush on Theodora, who has a crush on Eleanor, who has a crush on Markway, is a MAJOR flaw to this film. Finally, today's audience demands special effects. I don't know if special effects would be needed for this movie, but an occasional fog-like effect at night coming through the window or under the door would have worked to some degree. That's probably why POLTERGEIST (1982) succeeded, where this film fails. All in all, a good horror film.

Pros: Claire Bloom, atmosphere, cinematography
Cons: Julie Harris, no special effects, where's the beef?

Score: 80 (out of 100)

Rating: 5 - JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN.....
If ever a house deserved to be haunted, it's Hill House---an old New England mansion with a history of madness, child abuse, suicide and that's just some of it. Enter Dr.Markway (Richard Johnson) a parapsychologist who invites three others to join him in investigating the haunting of Hill House. Eleanor (Julie Harris)-a sexually repressed spinster who has no life, Theo (Claire Bloom)-a Lesbian artist who is successful, and a direct descendent of the house's lineage, Luke (Russ Tamblyn)-a playboy and skeptic. The two women have psychic history. Eleanor was visited by paranormal events as a child and Theo has ESP. For the lonely Eleanor, this experience is a dream come true. Something is "finally happening" for her. It turns out to be more of a nightmare as the house seemingly targets her for its' campaign of terror. Director Robert Wise wisely allows character developement and keeps the horror mostly unseen---but loudly heard. Ghostly writings appear on the walls inviting Eleanor to "come home". Poundings reverberate around the house at night. And "something" tries to get in the locked library door while everyone's inside---an unforgettable scene. I am one of those who chooses to accept the supernatural interpretation of Shirley Jackson's story. The house has been waiting for another "mistress" and finally finds one in the poor Eleanor. This is a classic and genuinely scary film. Excellent performances from the entire cast---especially Harris and beautifully filmed in spooky b&w. A fine example of a film that should already be on DVD by now. Fans are waiting.

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