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Overview for The Haunting (1963)

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Overview
Brief Synopsis
Dr. Markway, doing research to prove the existence of ghosts, investigates Hill House, a large, eerie mansion with a lurid history of violent death and insanity. With him are the skeptical young Luke, who stands to inherit the house, the mysterious and clairvoyant Theodora and the insecure Eleanor, whose psychic abilities make her feel somehow attuned to whatever spirits inhabit the old mansion. As time goes by it becomes obvious that they have gotten more than they bargained for as the ghostly presence in the house manifests itself in horrific and deadly ways.
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Synopsis

Dr. John Markway, an anthropologist with an interest in psychic research, learns that Hill House, an old mansion in New England, has a reputation for evil and supposedly is filled with supernatural powers; and he decides to conduct an experiment there. Assisting him are two women he has carefully selected: Eleanor Vance, a lonely, withdrawn woman who supposedly had a supernatural experience at the age of 10 and has devoted her life to caring for her invalid mother; and Theodora, a bohemian of lesbian leanings and remarkable extrasensory perception. Luke Sannerson, a skeptic who stands to inherit the house, accompanies them. Almost immediately the quartet are subjected to thunderous poundings, hideous screeching, and other terrifying phenomena for which Markway can find no rational explanation. Eleanor feels that the house is calling to her; and she begins to treat it as a living object. At this point Dr. Markway's skeptical wife, Grace, arrives and, defying the ghost, tries to persuade her husband to give up his experiments. Eleanor, who has fallen in love with Markway, now loses all touch with reality; and the other members of the group decide that for her own safety she must leave. As she drives away she feels a force tugging at the steering wheel; then, suddenly, Grace appears in the road, and Eleanor, in attempting to avoid hitting her, swerves off the road and is killed by crashing into the same tree under which the first mistress of Hill House died.
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Cast & Crew
Robert Wise
Director
Julie Harris
as Eleanor Vance
Claire Bloom
as Theodora
Richard Johnson
as Dr. Markway
Russ Tamblyn
as Luke Sannerson
Rosalie Crutchley
as Mrs. Dudley
Fay Compton
as Mrs. Sannerson
Valentine Dyall
as Mr. Dudley
Ronald Adam
as Eldridge Harper
Freda Knorr
as 2d Mrs. Crain
Janet Mansell
as Abigail, 6 years
See all cast & crew >>
Release Date
Jan 1963

Color/BW
Black and White

Sound
Mono

Production Dates
not available


Duration (in mins)
112

Premiere Information
New York opening: 18 Sep 1963
not available


Distribution Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.

Production Company
Argyle Enterprises Company: Robert Wise


Country
United States
Sep 10, 06:00PM
Oct 31, 09:30PM
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The Haunting [DVD] (1963)
Available on DVD.
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CatWoman
Hauntingly good!
I remember this movie as "The Haunting of Hill House", and this along side with Hitchcock's "The Birds" were the ...  More>>
Rick
Good fright!
I love this film! I have it on dvd, and vhs. I have been showing this G rated film for ...  More>>
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