The Haunting (1963/I)

Director:

Robert Wise

Writers:

Shirley Jackson (novel)
Nelson Gidding (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 September 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

You may not believe in ghosts but you cannot deny terror

Plot:

Dr. Markway, doing research to prove the existence of ghosts, investigates Hill House, a large, eerie...

Plot Keywords:

House | Mansion | Ghost | Research | Psychic

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Julie Harris	...	Eleanor 'Nell' Lance
Claire Bloom	...	Theodora 'Theo'
Richard Johnson	...	Dr. John Markway
Russ Tamblyn	...	Luke Sanderson
Fay Compton	...	Mrs. Sanderson
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Mrs. Dudley
Lois Maxwell	...	Grace Markway
Valentine Dyall	...	Mr. Dudley
Diane Clare	...	Carrie Fredericks
Ronald Adam	...	Eldridge Harper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pamela Buckley	...	First Mrs. Crain (uncredited)
Amy Dalby	...	Abigail Crain, at age 80 (uncredited)
Rosemary Dorken	...	Abigail Crain's Nurse-Companion (uncredited)
Verina Greenlaw	...	Dora Fredericks (uncredited)
Claude Jones	...	Garage Attendant (uncredited)
Freda Knorr	...	Second Mrs. Crain (uncredited)
Howard Lang	...	Hugh Crain (uncredited)
Janet Mansell	...	Abigail Crain, at age 6 (uncredited)
Paul Maxwell	...	Bud Fredericks (uncredited)
Susan Richards	...	Nurse (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Wise

Writing credits
Shirley Jackson		(novel "The Haunting of Hill House")
Nelson Gidding		(screenplay)

Produced by
Denis Johnson	....	associate producer
Robert Wise	....	producer

Original Music by
Humphrey Searle

Cinematography by
Davis Boulton

Film Editing by
Ernest Walter

Casting by
Irene Howard

Production Design by
Elliot Scott

Set Decoration by
John Jarvis

Costume Design by
Mary Quant

Makeup Department
Joan Johnstone	....	hair stylist
Tom Smith	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Tomblin	....	assistant director

Art Department
Ivor Beddoes	....	sketch artist
Mickey Lennon	....	chargehand dressing prop (uncredited)

Sound Department
J.B. Smith	....	dubbing mixer
Allan Sones	....	dubbing editor
Gerry Turner	....	sound recordist
A.W. Watkins	....	recording supervisor
Desmond Briscoe	....	special sound effects (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tom Howard	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Alan McCabe	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maude Churchill	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Humphrey Searle	....	conductor

Other crew
Hazel Swift	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Argyle Enterprises

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1963) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1967) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Fox Films (1963) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1995) (UK) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:G (alternate rating) | Australia:M | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (re-rating) | UK:X | USA:Approved | USA:G (1972 re-release) | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Alderminster, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, UK

Company:

Argyle Enterprises

Trivia:

The exterior of Hill House in the film was not a set, but an actual house, although all the interiors were carefully designed sets on sound stages. While shooting exterior night scenes on location at the real house, Russ Tamblyn has shared a story of having chosen to take a stroll through a cemetery at the rear of the property and having had an experience nearly as terrifying as the film itself. You can hear his story on the commentary track included on the DVD of the film.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Because the story was filmed in England, but set in the United States, Eleanor passes a house with a sign reading "To Let" instead of "For Rent".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. John Markway: [voice-over] An evil old house, the kind some people call haunted, is like an undiscovered country waiting to be explored. Hill House had stood for 90 years and might stand for 90 more. Silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there... walked alone.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Caution: Must Possess Imagination To "Get It"

This movie is a genuine Hitchcock-esque classic. Predating modern special effects, this movie subtly maneuvers the viewer into a crescendo of paranoia. My mother introduced me to this movie when I was still very young (and since the terror is of the psychological variety, it is a strangely age-appropriate movie for youngsters who wish to see scary movies).

I think that the casting, concept, and script are all brilliant. This movie does not need the glitz of Hollywood effects because there is enough cranial content to more than compensate for what most people nowadays consider necessary visual enhancements.

The cast has an amazing chemistry and plausibility. I don't recommend this movie to effects-addicts. If you appreciate well-executed theatre, believable acting, using your OWN imagination, then... see for yourself!