Black and white ghost films

[Serin]

I'm a big fan of black and white films. The best ghost film I saw and loved was The Uninvited, made in 1945 and starring Ray Milland. Another was Portait of Jennie, made in 1948. I have Portrait of Jennie on video but am looking for The Univited, though no sight of it so far.
Does anyone else know of any more b/w ghost films that I might find interesting?

[j. d. worthington]

Robert Wise's 1963 version of The Haunting is high on the list, I'd say. And there's The Innocents, though that was a color film, but it's certainly well worth seeing; a marvelous adaptation of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw.

For a different sort of "ghost" film, I'd also suggest The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, with Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison; beautiful film, though of a non-spooky sort (it's more of a very odd romance -- but don't let that put you off, it is a wonderful film, trust me).

I know there are others bopping around in my head, but for the moment, I can't seem to call them up. (Gakk, I hate it when my memory does that....)

Ummm, not ghosts per se, but plenty of ghostly atmosphere and phenomena: Vampyr, by Carl Theodor Dreyer, somewhat loosely based on J. Sheridan Le Fanu's "Carmilla". Subtitled, but again, don't let that stop you... strange and very eerie little film.

And, of course, the various versions of A Christmas Carol that were done in black and white, the versions with Reginald Owen (1938) and Alastair Sim (1951, and titled Scrooge, not to be confused with the musical or the Bill Murray film) are among the best since the silent era (in black and white, at any rate). (If you're into silent film, there were quite a few versions of this story -- and H. Rider Haggard's She -- made back then.)

I'll see what else I can get my old brain to cough up....

[ravenus]

The Innocents (1961) with Deorah Kerr over everything else. Best creepy movie EVARR!!!

Didn't Rex Harrison also act in this rather amusing technicolor ghost movie called Blithe Spirits, where his wife comes back as a nagging spirit?

[littlemissattitude]

A very enthusiastic second to The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and Vampyr. Both are wonderful films. Can't think of any others off-had. I'll have to think a bit about it.

[Nesacat]

Not an English movie this time but the Japanese version of Dark Water is in black and white aside from the red bag belonging to the little girl. It's definitely creepy and you'll never think of a dripping tap the same way again.

I also liked Nosferatu (1929) with Max Schreck and The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) with a Jack Nicholson you might not even recognise.

There's also Shadow of the Vampire with John Malkovich & Willem Dafoe which is both in black & white as well as colour and one of the better recent horror movies. One of my favourites at least.

[Foxbat]

A short movie (45 minutes) but one of the finest Black & White ghost films ever made. Whistle and I'll come to you is available on DVD and well worth a look.

[j. d. worthington]

Foxbat: That's the first I've heard of that one. I assume it's from M. R. James' story "Oh, Whiste, and I'll Come to You, My Lad"? Could make a very good film indeed...

Could you supply me with a bit more information about it?

EDIT: Is this the one that was part of the Omnibus television series?

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

Foxbat: That's the first I've heard of that one. I assume it's from M. R. James' story "Oh, Whiste, and I'll Come to You, My Lad"? Could make a very good film indeed...

Could you supply me with a bit more information about it?

EDIT: Is this the one that was part of the Omnibus television series?

You are spot on. It is indeed based on the M. R. James story and it did make a good film

It was made by the BBC in the sixties as part of a season of ghost stories. It's available on Region 2 DVD but I'm not sure about Region 1. There are a few other ghostly goings-on from the same series available from the British Film Institute. And, yes, I think it was part of Omnibus.

[Serin]

Thanks for all the help, folks. I'm going to have a look for these!

[littlemissattitude]

Originally Posted by Nesacat

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) with a Jack Nicholson you might not even recognise.

How could I have forgotten Little Shop. Not strictly a ghost story, but nevertheless a classic, it was made for a budget of about $1.98...well, close. Jack Nicholson indeed does an interesting turn as...ah, but that would be telling.

[BookStop]

I've always been a sucker for the Abbott and Costello "horror" movies - I think they meet Frankenstein, The Mummy, and Dr.Jeckle and MR. Hyde in the course of their careers.

[that old guy]

Not really a ghost movie, but The Hands of Orlac really weirded me out. And seemed much creepier for being in B&W.

[HoopyFrood]

Ah, Little Shop of Horrors, of course! I love that film.

[j. d. worthington]

It's a neat film, yes... However, I think the gist of the thread was more serious ghost films, in general (hence my qualifications on The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, which a wonderful film, but not quite a "spooky" sort of thing). Correct me if I'm wrong on that though, Serin, as that would open up a whole 'nother realm of possibilities....

[ravenus]

Some of the Val Lewton films like I Walked with a Zombie and Isle of the Dead would fall in this category and make for VERY interesting viewing. I Walked...is of course a classic and Isle..., although going a bit awry towards the end, is still worthwhile and features possibly the best performance by Boris Karloff.