The Uninvited - A Fun, Exciting Ghost Story

THE UNINVITED is a good, old fashioned ghost story, set in a small village near the cliffs in Great Britain. Rick (Ray Milland) and his sister Pam (Ruth Hussey) are exploring the area when they come upon a beautiful old mansion on the cliffs. It's love at first sight and the pair impulsively buy the house from a crusty local (Donald Crisp) against the wishes of his lovely granddaughter, Stella (Gail Russell), who wants the house for herself.

Immediately strange things start to happen, first to Pam, who has stayed behind to make the house livable while Rick straightens out their financial affairs in London. When he arrives, he hears wailing in the middle of the night, and there's an icy presence in the odd-shaped studio upstairs.

The siblings' investigations reveal a grand soap opera triangle between Stella's late parents, the Merediths, and a foreign woman named Carmel. Also in the mix is the "healer" Miss Holloway (Cornelia Otis Skinner), who has a very morbid obsession with Mary Meredith, Stella's dead mother.

I won't go into details in case you've never seen this film. But if you love moody, black and white cinematography and British scenery (though the film was made in California, it still evokes the spirit of a 30s English village, rather like another of my favorite films, SUSPICION) you will enjoy The Uninvited. There is even a sweet little romance between Rick and Stella as a sub-plot, though a second romance involving Pam and the area doctor (Alan Napier) seems a bit contrived.  

The supernatural elements of the film are chilling, even frightening. The special effects might be dated but they work well within the confines of the story. The humor helps balance the frights, and the music, especially the theme song, STELLA BY STARLIGHT, is exquisite!

All in all, The Uninvited is an excellent ghost story and a highly recommended treat for any fan of classic films.