Film of the Week: The Haunting, 1963

Eleanor Lance received a letter. Typically, there’s nothing special about that, but when you live the kind of life that Eleanor does, anything can prove to be exciting. Eleanor lives in her sister’s house. It should, really, be Eleanor’s. After all, wasn’t it Eleanor who looked after “Mother” while she was dying? All Eleanor wanted was a home of her own—a place where she belonged. Perhaps that letter was the answer. It was an invitation, really. An invitation to spend a few days with a Dr. Markway at a place called “Hill House.” Eleanor knew she must go.

After “borrowing” the family car, Eleanor arrives at Hill House to find that it’s a monumental place with winking windows and grand turrets. The staff are none too friendly. They don’t stay in the house, “in the night, in the dark.” But, Eleanor is undaunted. She’s having an adventure. She meets Theodora—an attractive young woman with smart clothes and a smarter mouth. She also meets her host, Dr. Markway, and Luke who is due to inherit Hill House one day. Dr. Markway explains that Theodora and Eleanor are the only two who answered his invitation. He had contacted people with previous supernatural experience. Eleanor is taken aback by this and tries to deny any involvement, but she can’t for very long.

Eleanor likes the house. And, the house likes Eleanor. Soon, Hill House seems to be paying a lot of attention to timid Eleanor who, despite being frightened by the strange goings-on, secretly enjoys being the center of attention for a change. Yet, no one can deny that something sinister is afoot—something that wants Eleanor all to itself. Or does it? What should Eleanor fear more? Her ghostly companions or the flesh-and-blood people at her side?

The Haunting was based on Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting of Hill House. In 1963, director Robert Wise began production on the film with location shooting at Ettington Hall near Stratford Upon Avon in England. Wise used infrared film for the exterior shots so that the veining in the building’s marble would be more prominent—giving it the appearance of being alive.

The film stars Julie Harris as Eleanor, Claire Bloom as Theodora, Russ Tamblyn as Luke and Richard Johnson as Dr. Markway. While the film does stray from the novel, the key plot points are still present. The story is really about the relationship between Hill House and Eleanor. It’s a frightening, suspenseful film which relies on acting over special effects. The ghosts of Hill House aren’t seen, but are, rather, heard. Wise relied on the reactions of his superlative cast to create the sense of terror. This is a very clever bit of film making, and even forty-seven years later, remains on the lists of top thriller films ever made.

In 1999, a remake of The Haunting was attempted. It’s hardly worth mentioning. Where the 1963 version relied on talent for its terror, the remake was CGI-laden and wriggling with badly animated ghosties and monsters. There was no need for it. Why try to reinvent the wheel?