The Uninvited (1944) is probably my favorite of the three because watching it as a kid it made a huge impression on me. I remember watching it at my Grandmummy's house and being completely entranced- not just with the story but with the amazing special effects- and no, I am not being sarcastic. There is a moment in the film where you actually get to see what these characters have been feeling watching them, terrified, and it does not dissapoint. I'm sure it's something as simple as a double negative-type shot or a projection, but the effect is chilling.
The Haunting (1963) I watched recently as recommended by a podcast I listen to. I'd heard of the book it's based on, and I've watched the 1999 remake a bazillion times (LOVE Catherine Zeta-Jones as Theo!) but until a couple of days ago, I never really thought about the other one. So I watched it. Definitely more realistic than the 1999 Jan de Bont version, more like the depictions of a "real" haunting, with the knocking, etc. but I was a little, OK, a lot disappointed in the main actress, Julie Harris, as Nell. I think she overdoes it. I don't think she makes Nell likeable, I think she makes her look like an annoying crazy person. And I don't think that's the point. I think Nell is supposed to show how a haunting can change an ordinary person into a crazy person, but she starts out crazy, and director Robert Wise's choice to have her thoughts on voice over do not help the situation. I also wish they had developed Theo's ESP ability in the plot more; like maybe she could have been able to tell what the spirits were thinking, maybe.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) is extraordinary, and another favorite. It's the story of a strong, capable woman made even stronger by her love... for a dead man. Rex Harrison is absolutely captivating and you just might fall in love with him, too, as Captain Daniel Gregg's old salty sea-faring quips and sharp wit tangle with Mrs. Muir's sensibilities.
Last but not least, there's Rebecca (1940). Why include this in the supernatural category? I have two words for you: Mrs. Danvers. I swear the minute that woman appears on the screen goosebumps appear on my arms. She is cold, calculating, cruel and obsessed, and in my opinion, possessed. OK, I know it's a long shot, especially for fans of the Daphne DuMaurier novel, but how could a woman so repected by everyone, and so together (she does keep a nice house...lol) fall apart in such a devious, destructive way... and with a straight face? The line that chilled me most was when she says, "Look, you can see my hand," as she shows the new Mrs. DeWinter the dead Mrs. DeWinter's old negligee. See? You're creeped out already. So there may not be any visual ghosts in Rebecca, but the Halloween-y vibe is definitely there if you're in for a good chill.
