The Haunting (1963)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1963
Running Times: 112 mins
Format: black and white     35mm     Panavision (anamorphic)
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Argyle Enterprises / MGM
Producer: Robert Wise
Associate Producer: Denis Johnson

SCRIPT
Script: Nelson Gidding
Novel: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

DIRECTION
Director: Robert Wise
Assistant Director: David Tomblin

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Davis Boulton
Camera Operator: Alan McCabe

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editor: Ernest Walter

MUSIC
Music / Conductor: Humphrey Searle

SOUND
Recording Supervisor: A.W. Watkins
Sound Recordist: Gerry Turner
Dubbing Mixer: J.B. Smith
Dubbing Editor: Allan Sones

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Tom Smith
Hair: Joan Johnstone
Claire Bloom's Clothes: Mary Quant
Wardrobe Supervisor: Maude Churchill

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: Tom Howard

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Elliot Scott
Set Decorator: John Jarvis
Sketch Artist: Ivor Beddoes

MISCELLANEOUS
Continuity: Hazel Swift

LOCATIONS
Locations: Ettington Park, England, UK; Borehamwood Studios, UK

CASTING
Casting Director: Irene Howard

CAST
Julie Harris (Eleanor Lance)
Claire Bloom (Theodora)
Richard Johnson (Dr John Markway)
Russ Tamblyn (Luke Sanderson)
Fay Compton (Mrs Sanderson)
Rosalie Crutchley (Mrs Dudley)
Lois Maxwell (Grace Markway)
Valentine Dyall (Mr Dudley)
Diane Clare (Carrie Fredericks)
Ronald Adam (Eldridge Harper)
Pamela Buckley (1st Mrs Crain - uncredited)
Amy Dalby (Abigail at age 80 - uncredited)
Rosemary Dorken (companion - uncredited)
Verina Greenlaw (Dora Fredericks - uncredited)
Claude Jones (garage attendant - uncredited)
Freda Knorr (2nd Mrs Crain - uncredited)
Howard Lang (Hugh Crain - uncredited)
Janet Mansell (Abgail at age 6 - uncredited)
Paul Maxwell (Bud Fredericks - uncredited)
Susan Richard (nurse - uncredited)
Mavis Villiers (landlady - uncredited)

Three young people join Dr John Markway in investigating the supposedly haunted Hill House. One of them, the insecure and neurotic Eleanor, forms a psychic bond with the house that leaves her open to the forces that stalk the musty corridors. It soon becomes clear that none of them had any idea what they were dealing with as the haunting forces begin to make themselves felt and heard...

The finest ghost story ever seen on the big screen and still capable of scaring audiences rigid even now. The manifestations of the haunting forces are subtle yet effective, particularly the deeply unnerving pounding on the walls and the classic moment when Eleanor realises that it isn't Theo holding her hand... Ignore the atrocious remake - this is the original and the best and remains one of the most terrifying experiences you'll ever have.

USA
Laserdisc Distributor: MGM Home Video (ML 104605)

Finland
Rating: K-16

Sweden
Rating: 15

UK
Rating: X; 12

USA
Rating: G

1963
December
27: Finland - theatrical release

1964
January
20: Sweden - theatrical release

August
24: Denmark - theatrical release

1993
December
Day Unknown: USA - laserdisc release (MGM Home Video (ML 104605))

2001
December
30: USA - television broadcast (on Turner Classic Movies)

You may not believe in ghosts but you cannot deny terror

SCREAM...no one will hear you! RUN...and the silent foosteps will follow, for in Hill House the dead are restless!

REMAKE
The Haunting (1999)

SEE ALSO
Event Horizon (1997)
Evil Dead II (1987)
Fallen (1998)
Invisible Mom II (1999)
Psycho (1960)
Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992)

MAGAZINES

Amateur Cine World vol.7 no.6 (6 February 1964) p.177 (UK)
review

American Cinematographer vol.80 no.8 (August 1999) pp.82-88 (USA)
illustrated credits, article

Cinefantastique vol.29 no.4/5 (October 1997) pp.72-79, 125 (USA)
illustrated article

Creative Screenwriting vol.6 no.4 (July / August 1999) pp.32-37 (USA)
illustrated article

Daily Cinema no.8849 (9 December 1963) p.6 (UK)
review

Fangoria no.185 (August 1999) pp.12-17, 82 (USA)
illustrated interview with Nelson Gidding (The Original Ghostwriter by Tom Weaver)

Film and TV Technician vol.29 no.227 (December 1963) (UK)
credits

Film Daily vol.123 no.37 (22 August 1963) p.7 (USA)
review

Film Quarterly Winter 1963 / 1964 p.44 (UK)
review

Filmfax no.49 (March / April 1995) pp.30, 32 (USA)
illustrated article

Films and Filming no.397 (October 1987) p.11 (UK)
review

Flesh and Blood no.5 (September 1995) p.10 (UK)
illustrated article

Hollywood Reporter vol.176 no.38 (21 August 1963) p.3 (USA)
review

Journal of Popular Film and Television vol.30 no.3 (Autumn 2002) pp.166-176 (USA)
illustrated article

Kine Weekly no.2876 (15 November 1962) p.18 (UK)
note

Kine Weekly no.2878 (29 November 1962) p.4 (UK)
credits

Kine Weekly no.2932 (12 December 1963) p.8 (UK)
review

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.31 no.360 (January 1964) p.5 (UK)
credits, synopsis, review

Motion Picture Herald vol.230 no.9 (2 October 1963) p.898 (USA)
review

Sight and Sound vol.4 no.2 (February 1994) p.43 (UK)
illustrated article

Starburst no.58 (June 1983) pp.44-46 (UK)
illustrated article

Variety 21 August 1963 (USA)
credits, synopsis, review

OTHER SOURCES

British National Film Catalogue vol.2 (1964) (UK)
credits, synopsis

screen
credits

ghosts, haunted houses, poltergeists, spiral staircases, insanity, obsessions, old dark houses, the paranormal, possession, scientists, lesbianism

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009