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| Claire Bloom and Julie Harris in The Haunting (1963) |
It may be one of the scariest horror movies of all time -- at least among those that have no blood, no body parts, no chattering skeletons -- and it's surely one of the best adaptations of an American work of horror. Directed in 1963 by Robert Wise (
West Side Story, The Sound of Music, The Andromeda Strain), it stars Julie Harris as Eleanor Lance, alongside Claire Bloom as Theodora (with wardrobe by Mary Quant, credited as the inventor of the "mini skirt"), Russ Tamblyn (later to star in
West Side Story as well, but best known as Dr. Jacoby in David Lynch's
Twin Peaks), and Richard Johnson as "Dr. Markway" (oddly changed from the "Dr. Montague" of the novel). Interestingly, Wise's first choice for Markway was Peter Ustinov, but he declined due to other commitments (he was directing his own play, "Photo Finish," on Broadway).
Other than that, though, it's a remarkably faithful adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel
The Haunting of Hill House; Jackson was personally invited to one of the premieres by the director, and by all accounts she was delighted with it. And, though there's a great deal of voice-over with Eleanor's voice -- quite a lot, from the point of view of film -- it's only a small selection of the far more constant stream of her thinking which runs throughout almost the entire length of the novel. The role of the psychic investigator's wife -- Mrs. Montague/Mrs. Markway -- is also quite different in book and film. And, since the film was shot in England, where people drive on the other side of the road, the producers simply flipped the film; they also added a few highway signs for "Route 128," though they neglected to change a placard on a home from "House to Let" to "House for Sale," the more usual American phrase.
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| Ettington Park Hotel |
The interiors of Hill House were all constructed on a soundstage, but for exteriors, they needed a real building -- and they chose an old manor house, since converted to a hotel, not far outside of Stratford-on-Avon (Shakespeare's birthplace). Known as the Ettington Park, it is one of those places on some people's bucket list to stay -- alongside, no doubt, the
Stanley Hotel, which was used for exteriors of the "Overlook Hotel" in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining." Those who do stay at Ettington Park will face just two slight disappointments -- there's no library with a spiral staircase -- and no haunted nursery, either. Perhaps they should consider adding them!
NB: I've added a set of
discussion questions -- they are
optional -- if responding to them is preferable, use them freely; otherwise, feel free to comment on any aspect of either the novel or the film. I also encourage you to consider responding to one another; that's often where the most interesting comments come about!
"The Haunting" is renowned for its effective use of black-and-white cinematography, contributing to the eerie atmosphere and psychological horror. The choice of black-and-white enhances shadows, contrasts, and shapes, creating a timeless and haunting quality. If the film were shot in color, it might have altered the visual impact and mood. Black-and-white cinematography allows for a more pronounced focus on lighting and shadows, emphasizing the psychological aspects of horror. The absence of color can intensify the viewer's imagination, making the film more psychologically unsettling. An example to consider is the scene where Eleanor and others explore the dark corridors of Hill House. The shadows and contrasts in black-and-white contribute significantly to the tension and fear. In color, this scene might have a different visual impact, potentially diminishing the psychological impact that the filmmakers intended. Ultimately, the effectiveness of a film is subjective, and while color cinematography can be powerful in its own right, the choice of black-and-white in "The Haunting" played a crucial role in creating its iconic and chilling atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be interesting to see The Haunting shot in color. The film will have a different mood if it was set in color vs black and white. Seeing the film in color can help showcase the inside of the house, which feels luxurious in the furniture. If the film were in color, it can show the colors and richness of the rooms in the house. A scene that could benefit from color would be the scene where Theo, Luke, Eleanor and Dr. Markway hear a loud noise, coming from the other side of the door. The scene being in color can help the viewer see the details in the room they are staying in, and to see the details of the door more clearly. With some moody lighting, along with color, can show variation in hue and in the small details and patterns that may be harder to see in black and white.
ReplyDelete^ Jessyca Iswanto
DeleteOne thing that stood out to me in this film was the cinematography and the movement of the camera in many of the shots. In some scenes, the camera flipped upside down and swayed from side to side which made the viewer just as disoriented as the characters. There were also many shots taken from far away to get the whole set in the picture. These long shots set the stage for what was to come. I also liked how there were still shots of the many statues and details throughout the house. By the end, I felt like I could find a face in these shots even when there wasn’t one. I think that being shot in black and white also helped to create disorientation in the film along with seeing things that weren’t really there.
ReplyDelete- Sara Skadberg
"The Haunting" is a classic horror film directed by Robert Wise and was released in 1963. The movie is based on the novel "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson. The series of events centers on Dr. John Markway, a paranormal investigator, as he puts together a group to investigate Hill House, a mansion with an eerie past. This movie is different from your typical horror movie as it focuses more on suspense rather than gory subjects. The movie leaves lots of questions and highlights the concerns of whether the characters' are experiencing some type of breakdown or if supernatural is to blame for the haunting. The suspense is increased by the camera's various movements, such as when it fully turns upside down.
ReplyDelete"The Haunting" film utilizes black and white in order to increase the eerie effect. If it were shot in color, the film wouldn't seem as sinister or ghostly. The directer is careful with his camera angles, specifically when it's taken from an extremely low angle or, in the case of the woman hanging herself, we follow her up the spiral stairs with her tray of rope and shortly after, her feet and legs come into view to imply that she's just hung herself. Overall, the directors were careful with how they wanted the film to be made and I think it worked out to their benefit.
ReplyDelete- Hannah Parker
Had the film "The Haunting" been shot in color, it would not have been as effective as in black and white. The black and white tones in certain scenes cause them to be more unsettling. Visually speaking the film is not a scary one as it is more eery and psychologically unsettling. For example, the scene where Abigail hangs herself in the stairway wouldn't be as profound had it been shot in color. The black and white adds a more dramatic effect to the film and its dark scenes.
ReplyDelete- Garet Reilly
I believe the the director leaves it up to the audience to decide whether the hauntings that are occurring in the house are supernatural or manifestations of the characters psychological fears.
ReplyDeleteKaleigh Hopkins
I believe that the Haunting gets much of its effectiveness from the careful use of black-and-white cinematography. This choice of monochrome serves to intensify the frightening ambiance and psychological depth of the film. For instance, consider the scene involving the distorted door. The absence of color allows shadows to play a pivotal role, accentuating the ominous nature of the door and creating a heightened sense of mystery. This reliance on shadows and contrast, inherent in black-and-white cinematography, adds a timeless quality to the film, enhancing its overall impact.
ReplyDeleteAnother scene that struck me even more is the wallpaper scene. This vividly illustrates the potency of black-and-white cinematography in generating psychological horror. Stripped of color, the intricate patterns cast eerie shadows, intensifying the unsettling atmosphere. The absence of color focuses attention on the unsettling details, fostering a sense of unease. This deliberate choice amplifies the psychological impact, inviting viewers to engage deeply with the scene and infuse their own fears. In essence, this black-and-white portrayal exemplifies the filmmakers' adept use of cinematography to evoke profound horror in The Haunting.
In my opinion, if The Haunting were shot in color, the visual impact of this scene might be compromised. Color could potentially detract from the subtleties of shadow and shape distortion, diluting the intended psychological horror. In essence, the deliberate use of black and white in The Haunting serves to elevate the film's ability to evoke fear and suspense, making it a masterclass in horror cinematography
If "The Haunting" were to have been filmed in color I believe that it wouldn't have been as thrilling and haunted as it is in black and white. Without color it gives it an eerie feeling with shadows and makes it quite unsettling. In one scene specifically, when the woman hangs herself if that was in color it wouldn't have been as horrific in my view.
ReplyDelete- Rebecca Fyrer
The investigation begins as the group settles into the ominous mansion, characterized by its eerie architecture and a history of tragedy and death. Almost immediately, strange and unexplained events unfold, heightening the sense of foreboding. The haunting seems to target Eleanor, who becomes emotionally entangled with the house. The horror really brings out the effectiveness within the concept of the whole storyline.
ReplyDeleteI don’t believe it would have been as effective something about black and white movies makes it more creepy especially scary movies. When we see I believe Elanor hearing the screams and giggling at night time when she is in bed it has a creepy sense to it and I feel like if it was in color it wouldn’t have the same effect. She is in bed when the scene starts but then we see her on a couch across the room which is very strange and adds to the creepy aspect of it. I feel like the black and white creates a spooky aurora about the house and in color it wouldn't have the same effect on the viewer.
ReplyDeleteOne specific scene that exemplifies the effectiveness of black-and-white cinematography is the spiral staircase sequence. In this scene, the camera follows Eleanor, one of the main characters, as she ascends the spiral staircase in Hill House. The use of shadows, contrasts, and the grayscale palette intensifies the sense of foreboding and disorientation. The play of light and shadow is accentuated in black-and-white, enhancing the psychological impact on the viewer.
ReplyDeleteIf the film had been shot in color, the visual impact of this scene might have been diminished. Color could potentially distract from the stark contrasts and shadows that contribute to the overall creepiness of the setting. The absence of color in "The Haunting" allows the filmmakers to focus on the psychological aspects of horror, relying on the interplay of light and dark to create an unsettling atmosphere - Katherine Arthurs
I do not think The Haunting would have been as effective if it were to be shot in color for different reasons. The architecture of the house as it appears in black and white portrays a creepy feeling, especially for the statues, angel faces on the doorknobs etc. The movie came out in 1963 so the black and white flows with how the movie is constructed for this time period and the scenes that took place. A scene that was effective with the use of black and white for this horror film was when Eleanor first arrived at the house. The caretaker at the gates looked peculiar in black and white as he was telling Eleanor she didn't know what she was getting into by staying at this house. When she arrived in the front of the Hill House it showed her perspective of the big windows at the top of the house. The black and white made it look eery, dark, and mysterious as if a ghost were to appear in the window.
ReplyDelete-Elena Ruggieri
I think the film would better present itself and the story better if it was in color. I think having so much detail and actions happening is shut out due to lack of color and I think adding the color would benefit the story and the readers interest in the story itself drastically. To be completely honest, if it was not an assignment to do it, and when i saw it was black and white i did not have any interest in watching it or paying attention to it. Also it might just be me but the way the camera moved so much and changed angles, did not help my thoughts on the film being my favorite, i found it quite annoying. Overall I think with color the film would be more interesting and intriguing to watchers.
ReplyDeleteI think the movie would have been effective if it was a color because the plot was strengthened to inflict the most psychological horror ever known. The scene from the bent-neck lady is especially fascinating because that could have pulled off colored too. The child sees the lady every other time and is still scary each time.
ReplyDeleteOlolade Ojekunle
I think The Haunting would have been scarier or just overall better if shot in color. I think the black and white throughout the movie portrays an intense feeling, but I feel as if there are more colors that can portray the horror better. At the time (1963) it made sense, but if they were to remake the movie in color it could be even better. A scene that shows that without color, it is creepy but not as scary as the scene where Eleanor thought she was in her bed holding hand. If there was color it would put more emphasis on detail. As well as better explaining Eleanor’s experiences in the house.
ReplyDelete- Emily Torrez
The decision to film it in black and white was a deliberate choice that contributed significantly to its effectiveness. One of the key scenes that showcases the impact of the black-and-white cinematography is the spiral staircase sequence. In this scene, Eleanor, the main character, experiences a frightening encounter with an unseen force while ascending the spiral staircase. The use of shadows, light contrasts, and the monochromatic palette intensify the eerie atmosphere and suspense. If the film were shot in color, the visual impact of the staircase scene might have been diminished. Black and white allows for a more pronounced play of light and shadow, creating stark contrasts that enhance the psychological tension.
ReplyDelete