1. THE INNOCENTS-1961
This film freaked me out big time especially this scene. This whole film is creepy with Deborah Kerr giving a great performance as the governess of these very strange children. She is hired by their Uncle to care for the children at this house that seems to be menacing. You realize the children were enthralled by the previous Governess and the Groundskeeper who had the hots for one another. The house does not want to let anyone go and the ghostly beings do not want the children to leave. The kids act very convincingly making this film even more freaky. The governess knows she must save the children before the home claims them. I read the book which scared me but this film truly freaked me out especially when the spider comes out of the mouth of a statue in the garden....shudder!
2. THE HAUNTING-1963
This is one of the best haunted house stories ever and we never see any actual ghosts but we know the house is haunted and a group of people decide to stay there to conduct experiments. You have the good doctor who is trying his best to base this on science. The owner of the home who wants to sell it and make money and does not believe in this at all. You have the clairvoyant lesbo, played wonderfully by Claire Bloom and the young, sad Julie Harris who also has gifts but does not want to admit to them. She decided to come to get away from her controlling sister and her family. They all experience strange things but they know the house wants young Julie. This is very creepy but intelligent something the remake does not have. Please pass on the remake because it is so bad where the original is brilliant.
3. BURNT OFFERINGS-1976
Yeah, I have not seen this film in decades because it really freaked me out. The chauffeur was so creepy I had nightmares about him. This family decides to escape to a quieter life so dad can write his book. When they come to this home that needs some TLC, the mom, played by the brilliant Karen Black(who starred in many horror flicks around this time), loves the home and can't wait to to give this home some love. The brother and sister are very happy to let this family rent the house for 9 months provided they feed their mom who is kept up on the 3rd floor and never wants to be seen. OK, that would be my first clue to run away, but these people decide to stay along with Oliver Reed's old Aunt played to the hilt by Betty Davis. We soon see that as the family feel more and more uneasy(except for mom), the home starts to repair itself. Even when dad finally decides to leave, the home does not want this to happen. I love the behind the scenes of this film because Oliver Reed was a huge drinker and that's putting it mildly. His antics really got the better of Betty Davis who found him very unprofessional which was probably true.
I believe I have chosen these before but I had to go with them again because they are that great and I hope you see them one day. So which 3 would you choose?
On a sad note, in case any of you did not know, Jo from Jo on Food, Life and a Scent of Chocolate has suffered a stroke. Her husband is in a long term care facility and is being taken care of. I sent flowers to her and mentioned we miss her but know we will see her again sooner than later. When I called about the flowers, the nurse said "it is a work in progress". Let's all say a little prayer or salutation to her.
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteHorror is my bag, dear friend, and Deborah Kerr is one of my favorites, but I haven't seen The Innocents. I read that Deborah always regarded her performance in The Innocents as the finest of her career. In recent years, Mrs. Shady and I have watched numerous British mystery and drama series, especially period shows. I enjoy listening to those British accents. For that reason alone I am eager to see The Innocents and The Haunting.
I also admired scream queen Karen Black and I watched Burnt Offerings decades ago. That chauffeur loves to stare you down, doesn't he? Based on his great big toothy smile, I'd say he is a very friendly chap.
You selected two haunted house themed films that I somehow missed in the 60s and I appreciate all of these reviews. I offer prayers for your friend Jo's recovery.
Thank you, dear friend BB, and enjoy the rest of your week!
Jo is part of a special Dragon Fellowship group so one of us has been in contact with Ladydog and getting updates. Many prayers for Jo.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about Jo. I've known a number of folks who have recovered from strokes. Hopefully, she will have a full recovery without too much loss.
ReplyDeleteThis haunted house theme has a lot of candidates that I've seen, but I'll probably have a difficult time remembering names. Like some of the comedy horror films by Abbot & Costello or The Bowery Boys--I remember seeing some of these films, but don't recall any titles.
From around 60 years ago there were House on Haunted Hill and 13 Ghosts. I loved films like these when I was a kid and when I watched them in recent years they still entertained me.
The synopsis of Burnt Offerings makes me think of The Shining which was like a haunted house film on steroids--a huge hotel instead of a house, but similar in concept.
Good theme for the upcoming season.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
That is sad about Jo; hoping for a good recovery for her. I can't watch scary/horror movies. Too suggestive of a mind I have :)_
ReplyDeletebetty
I'm not a horror movie fan so I couldn't tell you even 1. But I do enjoy a gothic scary kind of story. Would rather imagine it watered down than see it all blood and guts. Happy new month!!
ReplyDeleteThere are some scary movies I can’t watch.
DeleteShady- hope you like The Innocents.
Arlee- I just watched 13 Ghosts and it was so much fun to watch.
Jo is paralyzed on one side of her body but she is making progress but it will be a long recovery.
I really don't like horror, so I haven't seen any of these nor do I plan to. But I'll keep them in my back pocket in case I want to sound in the know for someone who is into horror.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about Jo.
We kind of match on The Haunting, but I used the one from the 90's lol.
ReplyDeleteGreat choices! I don't think I've seen any of them but I'm going to put them on my list.
ReplyDeleteBoostacular. Love it.
ReplyDeleteHorror/scary movies and I don't get along well. I'm too young to watch them. Have been for years now. Ha.
I struck out on those ones. The only one I can think of right now is the House movies. Barely remember them though, just that they each had Cheers actors in them.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, we share a pick with The Innocents. Nice!
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I've heard a lot of good things about the Haunting! I should definitely check that film out!
ReplyDeleteI hope most of you do check out these films and I love the Victorian style ghost stories.
DeleteThough I've never looked at her blog I'm sorry to hear about your friend. She has a heavy load to carry, hope her recovery is swift.
ReplyDeleteThe Innocents is a wonderful film and Deborah Kerr is fantastic in it. All her nominations and nothing for this, why!?
Burnt Offerings is a mess of a movie but fun in a drive-in movie sort of way. Bette and Karen Black did NOT get along either. Karen was in the first flush of fame at this point and apparently was both difficult and unprofessional, I think Bette could have dealt with the first but she was a stickler for professionalism so between Black and Reed the shoot must have been hell for her.
We match!! I suspected we might with this really ace film. Julie Harris's brilliance didn't always translate onscreen (I saw her on stage in The Belle of Amherst and she was electric) but it does in this.
Beside our match I went with a playful hodgepodge of music, horror and comedy and an ancient film long thought lost.
The Haunting (1963)-Dr. John Markway (Richard Johnson) is doing research into psychic phenomena. In the service of that study he invites two women-lonely, eccentric Eleanor (Julie Harris) who has experienced supernatural events previously and brash Theodora (Claire Bloom) who is gifted with ESP. On arrival they are joined by the mansion's heir, cynical Luke (Russ Tamblyn) and are immediately overwhelmed by strange sounds and events. Soon Eleanor comes to believe the house is alive and speaking directly to her. Loaded with atmosphere and extremely well-acted.
You’ll Find Out (1940)-Debutante Janis Bellacrest (Helen Parrish) books Kay Kyser and his big band, the Kollege of Musical Knowledge including singer Ginny Simms and cornet playing sidekick Ish Kabibble to play at her 21st birthday party at a remote spooky mansion. Between performances, Kay finds Janis’s guests-quirky Aunt Margo (Alma Kruger), pretentious professor Fenniger (Peter Lorre), creepy Prince Soliano (Bela Lugosi) and irritable Judge Mainwaring (Boris Karloff) on the bizarre side and begins to suspect that Janis is in danger. When a powerful storm blows in and strands everyone overnight events both scary and wacky transpire. Goofy musical comic/thriller is the only onscreen pairing of Lorre, Karloff and Lugosi.
Seven Footprints of Satan (1929)-When mayhem breaks out at her father’s party Eve (Thelma Todd) and her fiancée Jim (Creighton Hale) jump into a limousine and think they are safely away from danger. Shortly afterwards though they find themselves at the house of “Satan” who may or may not be a criminal mastermind, a supernatural fiend, the devil himself, or some combination of all those things. As they make their way through odd rooms they encounter an imp, a dwarf, an ape-like man, a gorilla, Satan’s Mistress and “the Spider”. Finally they are tested with the Seven Footprints which could lead to fabulous wealth and freedom or servitude to Satan…and maybe Death! Originally released in both silent and partial sound versions only the silent one (long thought lost as well) survives.
Late here Joel....I agree about Deborah Kerr, one of quite a few who never won an Oscar. Yes, poor Bette had to deal with 2 eccentric people who had their demons. I need to see Burnt Offerings again. I’m glad we match with The Haunting and am not surprised. I really want to see your 2 picks especially the last one which sounds great and stars the tragic Thelma Todd.
DeleteHi Birgit, I have seen the first film, and yes it spooked me. I'm not a lover of anything that makes me jump in my seat, much prefer, crime. The last film looks an interesting one though, Kate x
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of your picks but they definitely sound worth a watch!
ReplyDeleteI hope your friend Jo is doing okay x
I'm sorry to hear about Jo.
ReplyDeleteBurnt Offering sounds pretty creepy.
Stay safe. Be healthy.
I really need to watch The Haunting one of these days. Damn thing is sitting on a shelf about 10 feet away. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI am glad most of you want to see The Innocents and The Haunting. They are more Gothic without the slash and dash. The Haunting really shows the house to good effect. Let me ask if any of you ever looked at some wood grain or marble and seen a face in it.
DeleteHi sis... first movie I thought of was The Amityville Horror even though I never cared for it. A film I have always loved is Poltergeist and I think it's a great fit for your topic. Your house/home is supposed to be your sanctuary and this movie explored how even a modern non-creepy suburban home can turn into a literal house of horrors. The only other one I can think of is "The Others" which I thought was quite compelling.
ReplyDeleteHorror is definitely not my genre but I like your choices as they would seem to favor the spooky/creepy over the gory.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of these but I'd really like to check out this adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading Burnt Offerings and being disappointed in the movie. The book was better, lol.
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was Flowers in the Attic and The Haunting.
Baron- I still have to see Poltergeist. The Others is excellent!
ReplyDeleteSonia-Haunting at Hill House is a good movie.well done.
Squid- most horror films are not for me u less they are old.
Denise-The book is almost always better and this movie is far from great. I have not seen Flowers in the Attic.
I remember not liking The Innocents. I get the sense that the governess was suppose to be a very young woman maybe late teens early twenties. Deborah Kerr was 40 and just could not play a 20ish woman credibly which just took me out of the story.
ReplyDelete