A composer and his sister discover that the reason they are able to purchase a beautiful gothic seacoast mansion very cheaply is the house's unsavory past.A composer and his sister discover that the reason they are able to purchase a beautiful gothic seacoast mansion very cheaply is the house's unsavory past.A composer and his sister discover that the reason they are able to purchase a beautiful gothic seacoast mansion very cheaply is the house's unsavory past.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
David Clyde
- Ben - Boat Owner
- (uncredited)
Betty Farrington
- Carmel's Ghost
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Helena Grant
- Servant
- (uncredited)
Lynda Grey
- Ghost of Mary Meredith
- (uncredited)
Holmes Herbert
- Charlie Jessup
- (uncredited)
Leyland Hodgson
- Taxi Driver
- (uncredited)
John Kieran
- Foreword Narrator
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Queenie Leonard
- Mrs. Taylor
- (uncredited)
Moyna MacGill
- Mrs. Coatsworthy
- (uncredited)
Jessica Newcombe
- Miss Edith Ellis
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Stella enters a trance and speaks in Spanish during the seance, she says, "Listen, listen! It's not her! It's not her! Do not believe anything! Do not listen to her, because she's lying! You thief! Thief of my love!"
- GoofsThe film is set in 1937, but the "going-to-church" sequence features a car with headlights blacked out in the style required due to WWII in the early 1940s.
- Quotes
Pamela Fitzgerald: Well, I must dash back to Lizzie. We're fighting over how much Sherry to put in a tipsy pudding. She wants to make it dead drunk.
- ConnectionsFeatured in 100 Years of Horror: Ghosts (1996)
- SoundtracksTo Stella by Starlight
(uncredited)
Music by Victor Young
Played on piano by Ray Milland (dubbed) and heard as a main theme in the score.
Richard Hayman and his Orchestra performed the music. Richard Hayman also played the harmonica solo in the piece.
Featured review
Roderick and his sister Pamela are vacationing along the English seaside when they discover a beautiful old house with which they fall immediately in love. They purchase the home from Commander Beech, an elderly man whose daughter and son-in-law once lived in the house. Almost as soon as Roderick and Pamela move in, the disturbances begin. A woman can be heard sobbing in the early morning hours and the smell of mimosa perfume is everywhere. Soon, Roderick takes a liking to the Commander's granddaughter, a very pretty but solemn and haunted looking girl named Stella. When Stella enters the house, the disturbances increase alarmingly, threatening her life and driving her perilously close to the sea cliffs. The Commander forbids her to set foot in the house, for he knows of the terrible tragedy that occurred there 20 years earlier. But the guilty secret he's been keeping all these years, a secret that involves Stella and her heritage, will not stay secret anymore and Roderick must face a vengeful ghost if he wishes to save the woman he loves.
This is a really great ghost story, a true classic of the genre. Everyone involved turns in a brilliant performance, especially Ray Milland as Roderick the sweet and likable composer and Ruth Massey as his spunky sister. Gail Russell as Stella is perfectly cast, always appearing shaken and fragile. The effects are terrific too! The crying ghost in particular will give you shivers as it echoes down the halls of the dark house and disappears with the dawn breeze. Light and shadow are used to maximum effect and despite the fact that this film was made in 1944, it never feels dated and it's lost none of its power to unsettle, disturb and even downright terrify.
Perfect viewing for a dark and stormy night. This is a flawless ghost story. Highly recommended.
This is a really great ghost story, a true classic of the genre. Everyone involved turns in a brilliant performance, especially Ray Milland as Roderick the sweet and likable composer and Ruth Massey as his spunky sister. Gail Russell as Stella is perfectly cast, always appearing shaken and fragile. The effects are terrific too! The crying ghost in particular will give you shivers as it echoes down the halls of the dark house and disappears with the dawn breeze. Light and shadow are used to maximum effect and despite the fact that this film was made in 1944, it never feels dated and it's lost none of its power to unsettle, disturb and even downright terrify.
Perfect viewing for a dark and stormy night. This is a flawless ghost story. Highly recommended.
Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $6
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content