Invite 'The Uninvited' to your Halloween party
The Uninvited is that rare film that defines a genre, and though it was released in 1944, it retains its title as one of the very best all too rare ghost chiller films. A film relying on atmospheric effects, low tech wizardry, superb acting and taut tight direction by Lewis Allen, a name too few recognize until they see his resume and realize how many genres he infused with skill and brilliance in both big screen movies and television.
The Uninvited is that rarity among films, a true haunted house tale, no psycho slasher film relying upon gore and schlock shock, but an unapologetic ghost tale. The role of the skeptic is deftly handled by two of the finest actors active in Hollywood during the 1940’s and beyond. Ray Milland, suave, handsome, his snide wit undiminished by the passing of time, for an all too brief time. Ray Milland could make this sort of role appealing, he is at his best in The Uninvited. Ruth Hussey is equally gifted, an artful blend of intelligence and cool beauty. Together they portray a believable brother & sister who are driving through scenic Devonshire, England when they discover a beautiful mansion that has obviously been vacant for decades, though well maintained. On impulse they purchase the mansion and settle in, only to come to the realization that it is haunted.
The Uninvited benefits from the restraint and taste of its filmmakers. The house is lovely, no cobweb encased decrepit manse, but a place with a charm that could entice a couple of level headed folks into purchasing it, puzzled by its low price, willing to believe that it is an anachronism in a modern age, clinging to the hope that spooky tales and gossip have no substance, even when besieged by nightly wailing and ghostly chills. The Uninvited benefits from the arrogant doubt expressed by Ray Milland, his determination that there must be a logical explanation made real by his equally stubborn realization that indeed the house is haunted.
The Uninvited is also a mystery. Why is the house haunted? What sadness permeates the very soul of the mansion? The Great with a capital G Donald Crisp fuels the mystery, playing the elderly Mr. Breech, the owner of the house. He resists revealing any more than is ‘proper,’ erecting walls of class distinction and ancient tradition, impeding the investigation into the suicide of his daughter Mary Meredith, the key to the mystery. Mr. Breech argues that he is only concerned for the well being of his grand daughter, Stella, played by Gail Russell. Lovely, lithe, lively Gail Russell whose chemistry with the older Ray Milland adds an element of genuine romance.
Every cast member is a delight and for trivia buffs a treasure trove. Alan Napier, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Dorothy Stickney, Barbara Everest, each a delight as is the unnamed dog who is the first to alert the audience to the ghostly presence.
The Uninvited is readily available on DVD, and is the perfect film for a Halloween gathering or a stormy night in a lonely place.