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| Claire Bloom and Julie Harris in The Haunting (1963) |
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. Nevertheless, there are a number of important scenes that are missing; most notable perhaps is that in the film Eleanor doesn't stop at a small café, and doesn't observe a young girl who refuses to drink her milk until she has her "cup of stars." This small but vital scene has spawned, as fate would have it, a sort of cottage industry of memes, posters, and yes of course cups, all dedicated to the spirit of Eleanor's silent, internal cheering on of the resistant girl. Indeed, 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 |
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!
Also: here's an excellent site with some background on the film's production.
Lexianna:
ReplyDeleteAlthough "The Haunting" could still be effective if shot in color, the black-and-white cinematography plays a significant role in creating its haunting atmosphere and amplifying the psychological tension throughout the film. One scene that shows how effective black-and-white is happens when Eleanor is lying in bed. The camera moves slowly across the dark room, creating a sense of fear and loneliness. In color, this scene might not be as scary. Color could make the room seem less spooky and distract from the feeling of being alone and scared.
I feel like with any horror movie having dark shadows and grey contrasts are good for the plot and giving the viewer an overall spooky look on the film. In the 60's I don't know that the producers had great technology to incorporate the immense shadows and I feel like the color being shot within the film would have been a bit overwhelming and took away from the scary theme.
ReplyDeleteJodi Fowler
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2
I believe that the movie sits well with being shot in black and white instead of being in color. The black and white helps in giving the movie scenes a more eerie feeling. For instance, the scene where Eleanor is alone in the dark hallway, with shadows playing tricks on her, gains an added layer of suspense. It allows the audience to focus on the interplay of light and shadow, intensifying the feeling of unease. In color, this scene might have lost some of its haunting allure, using color could detract from the sense of mystery.
I agree. The movie's unsettling mood is further enhanced by the black and white format, particularly in sequences like Eleanor's in the dimly lit corridor when the tension is increased by the play of light and shadow. This decision heightens the eerie attraction of these landscapes and gives them a sense of discomfort that would have been lessened with color. The film's mystery tone is preserved by the absence of color, which makes it even more captivating.
DeleteFranz Eliasson
Question 2
ReplyDeleteI think that certain parts of the movie definitely wouldn't have been as compelling if the movie was in color. An example of this is when Eleanor runs off and is walking around the house by herself. As she walks around and bumps into things the lack of color gives the scene a more unsettling effect. It adds to the effect of Eleanor going crazy and being alone also giving a better sense of her fear. It also allows for a better use of shadows, adding a layer of eeriness to the house itself.
Question 2:
ReplyDeleteWhile watching the movie I did notice the film leaving important parts out that were from the book. however my personal liking I wish it was in color. it would of still been just as gloomy if it was in color. but when both Eleanor and Theodora were assigned rooms, the book went into great detail of what color each person got and I believe it had such big symbolism behind it, but during the movie It didn't stand out as much because it was in black and white. Even if the movie was in color I still think it would of been just as scary or gloomy. but I believe it would have enhanced the fine details like the book described.
Question 2 - I believe that if the film were created in color it would have been more intense and had a different viewing when watching. I believe color adds a lot to a film and while some may want to say that black and white can allow the viewer to have a creative viewing, I believe that having color already present in the film makes it more enjoyable, gives more detail and definition to the scenes and lastly, allows the audience to see the film how the writer may want everyone else to view it.
ReplyDeleteYou make a really good point here! I was more under the impression that adding color would potentially ruin the film. However, you making a good point about adding color. I think if it was done right, and that saturation was played with it could enhance the film. The one thing I’m not sure I agree with is that the writer would have wanted the film to be viewed in color. During the making of this film in particular they knew they would be using black and white film. So just adding color to this film would change the creative intentions behind scenes where they knew they would be working with the lack of color. -Allison Quinn
DeleteJoe Johnson Responding to Question #2:
ReplyDeleteI think The Haunting (1963) benefits from the black and white film it was recorded on. Throughout the movie, the overarching theme in the setting is ominous and sparse textures. For example, in scenes like this one the music drops out entirely as the camera pans from the characters’ frightened reactions to the door handle being shaken. As the door begins to warp and bend as if it was alive, the only sounds heard are creaking and the wind from outside against the windows. This creates a bleak atmosphere for the viewer, one which is ironically devoid of life, unlike the house. If the movie was in color film, more steps would need to be taken to keep the same effect, like using a dark color palette and dim lighting. Even still, black and white is characteristically muted and somber. I think a modern day usage of this concept would be The Lighthouse, where the viewer follows two lighthouse keepers’ descent into madness. With color, the film would have had a completely different feel, so the black and white palette helped make the characters feel truly alone.
#2
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, if the film were shot in color, it would have offered a more intense and different viewing experience. I strongly believe that color enhances a film significantly. While some may argue that black and white allows for a more imaginative viewing, I personally think that having color adds to the enjoyment of the film, provides greater detail and clarity to the scenes, and ultimately allows the audience to perceive the film as the writer intended.
"The Haunting" really leans into the spooky vibes with its black-and-white cinematography. The shadows and contrasts make it so eerie, and the lack of color lets you focus on the creepiness without any distractions. If they had used color, it might have taken away from the intensity of the movie and made it less scary. So, yeah, I think the black-and-white adds a lot to the film's overall spook factor and makes it stand out as a classic horror movie.
ReplyDeleteNataly Santos
ReplyDeleteAfter viewing "The Haunting" I truly do believe that if the film were to be shot in color, it would've sill been as effective. In one scene in particular when the camera pans to a wall where they see a face, I believe that the addition of color could add a slightly scarier effect.
Mia JeanLouis
ReplyDeleteBlack-and-white filming is used in "The Haunting" to heighten the eerie atmosphere. Without using any vibrant distractions, the movie generates an unsettling atmosphere that draws viewers in. This is achieved by highlighting shadows and contrasts. The lack of color heightens the overall spook effect by enabling the viewer to completely lose oneself in the story's eerie atmosphere. Essentially, the choice to shoot the film in black and white ensures that it will always be a popular choice with viewers and helps cement the film's reputation as a classic horror picture.
Lucas McElroy -
ReplyDeleteI like that the film was shot in black and white. The black and white cinematography gives off that eerie feeling and doesn’t give any sense of brightness. This is effective to create a great horror film.
Allison Quinn:
ReplyDeleteI don’t think the film would have been nearly been as frightening of a film if it was in color. I think for the time period where special effects were limited, and a lot more of the scare factor depended on the actors and the human imagination. I think when it comes to horror films there is something haunting about scenes that lack color. Humans are naturally scared of the unknown and when you lose that color and you’re left wondering something changes in the way we think about it. The shadows become darker and so much harder to see what is inside of them. On top of that it’s so different from the way we see the world around us on an everyday basis. Losing that color that should be there naturally puts people on edge I feel like. It sets a much grim-er stage than a place that is filled with life, and colors. I think a scene that comes to my mind specifically is the scene where the second wife laying looking at the camera at the bottom of the stairs dead. The scene around her is so dark it almost gets blurred if she’s really on the stairs or in some darker realm all together. Maybe I’m just letting my imagination run a bit wild here, but I think having scenes be shot in black in white just make them a little more haunting if done correctly which I think this film definitely does. Connecting it to another film with a little more color, but a great example of the usage of black and white film is Kill Bill 2. The scene where we see Beatrix being buried alive it’s shot in black and white. Something about that scene resonated deeply with me as well changing that natural sense of sight we all have stirs a primal fear in us.
Mia JeanLouis
ReplyDeleteHorror films shot in black and white evoke a deeper sense of dread by appealing to our innate fear of the unknown. Viewers are left wondering what lurks within as it blurs details, darkening shadows. This method heightens the spooky mood by depending more on the players and their imagination. Black and white accentuates the eerie atmosphere in scenes like the one you described, where the second wife is at the foot of the stairs. Even in a color-filled movie like "Kill Bill 2," the use of black and white during pivotal moments, such as Beatrix being buried alive, emphasizes a basic terror that strikes a deep chord. It's evidence of the ability of monochrome filmmaking to produce eerie images.
In the opening, there is a hint that a house might be alive. Even though it's not something we would think about very often, this is a topic that's commonly covered in stories. It will terrify people if the house is sentient. I would be afraid, but I would also feel anxious and afraid if I were being watched. The way that our surroundings can affect or change our feelings and ideas is one way that the environment can perform mental tricks on us.
DeleteHorror films shot in black and white evoke a deeper sense of fear by appealing to our innate fear of the unknown. I think that this black and white movie would not have the same effectiveness as the black and white one that makes you feel afraid.
ReplyDeleteAn example of this is Eleanor is lying in bed. The camera moves slowly around the dark room, creating a feeling of fear and loneliness.