Spooky Movies: The Uninvited

In this 1944 ghost story/romance, composer Roderick Fitzgerald (Ray Millard) and his sister Pamela (Ruth Hussey) get a great bargain on Windward House, a mansion on the English coast. Soon they discover that the strange noises in the house are not just the waves crashing on the cliffs below, and that somehow the ghostly presence in the house is related to Stella (Gail Russell), the granddaughter of Commander Beech (Donald Crisp), who sold them the house. The tension mounts as the Fitzgeralds and Stella unravel the mystery, while the Commander, who knows far more than he’s telling, desperately tries to keep Stella away from the house.

This film didn’t do well when it was first released, but it has since become something of a classic. The cinematographer, Charles Lang, was nominated for an Oscar for its moody look, which is accented by a great score and strong performances. The film isn’t very scary by today’s standards, but it has a good blend of mystery and humor and builds suspense to an unexpected climax.