Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Set in 1900, after being on the market for 40 years, a mature couple buy a large house but when a young lady joins them as a companion she becomes possessed by the ghost of a tragic former occupant. This is not a horror film as such, rather a drama wit some supernatural element. Some wonderful flowing camera work and great acting (I think that James Mason is one of the best actors to come out of the UK). There's a delightful scene where Dennis Price is taking Margaret Lockwood for a spin in his new automobile, which can reach a dizzy 8mph! A delightful film, perhaps just a tad slow though.

Apart from some bizarre casting in some of the lead roles, this is an excellent ghost story--dark, foreboding and intelligently made. In general I do NOT like ghost tales and this one impressed me very much.First, about the casting. For some odd reason, the folks at Gainsborough Productions cast two folks who were quite young (James Mason and Barbara Mullen) in the leads--playing folks about twice their actual ages. Now I am not saying the two did badly in the roles, but why didn't the studio just get two older actors for these parts?! Also, fans of the old Will Hay and Arthur Askey comedies might be surprised to see Moore Marriott in the film playing a non-comedic role. Here he doesn't use his usual high-pitched crazy old man voice but is much more subdued and quite different.Second, about the plot. The film is a broody, atmospheric piece. While you really don't see or hear any truly scary things, through the use of music, fine acting and deft direction, the film paints a dark picture--one that can't help but hook you.As for the exact plot, I'd rather not say a lot--it would upset your learning too much about the film. I'll just say it's the story about a house with a strange hold over one of the residents--a hold that seems to be slowly replicating what happened to a poor unfortunate girl nearly 40 years earlier. Well done and well worth seeing.By the way, the 'Gretna Green' comment is a reference many Americans won't understand. This place is sort of like the Niagara Falls of Scotland--a place where people often go to get married.

Retired British couple in 1900 Newborough purchase a large estate at a low price and hire a live-in lady companion, who quickly comes under the influence of the previous resident: a young girl who some say was murdered. Osbert Sitwell's book turned into a stuffy costume drama with divergent accents. In 1945, many professional critics found themselves enraptured with the picture, but time has not been kind to it. Other, later films mining this territory have improved upon the ghostly basics. James Mason, too young for his role and heavily made-up, keeps shouting as if everyone else had gone deaf, while the supporting players are equally colorless. *1/2 from ****

I just loved this movie. It kept my interest in a most peculiar way, and it took me nearly to the end of the picture before I figured it out. None of the key scenes were ever emphasized with dramatic music swelling up, down, or out....anywhere. In fact, it did not have any music except for the piano playing in one scene. Most unusual. This movie came across almost as "play-like", without the typical "movie" accents. Very different, very good. The only drawback, if you can really call it that, was the distraction of James Mason made up to be a man much older than his original years when he made this. The make up artist utilized a lot of "spirit-gum" that was used around his face, and unfortunately, it is noticeable in many scenes. But don't let that deter you from seeing this wonderful film!