The Uninvited Blu-ray - Ray Milland / Gail Russell

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by Lewis Allen
USA 1944

With its atmospheric Cornish locations and all-star cast, The Uninvited is a highly effective and spine-tingling ghost story in the classic Hollywood tradition. Seeking respite from the bustle of London life, writer Roderick Fitzgerald (Ray Milland, Dial M for Murder and The Lost Weekend) and his sister Pamela (Ruth Hussey, The Philadelphia Story) move into a neglected clifftop mansion and set about making it their home. However, it isn't long before an unnerving presence makes itself felt: an eerie chill lingers in the rooms and distant wailing is heard at night. Despite Roderick's cynicism, it becomes increasingly clear that the house is haunted - but why in such a snug haven would the dead trouble the living? Martin Scorsese and various critics, including William K. Everson and Leonard Maltin, regard The Uninvited as one of the best ghost stories ever filmed.

Posters

Theatrical Release: February 10th, 1944 (Washington, D.C.)

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Comparison:

Exposure Cinema - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the DVD Review!

Box Covers
		Also coming from Criterion to the UK on Blu-ray in October 2018:	BONUS CAPTURES:
Distribution	Exposure Cinema Region 2 - PAL	Criterion Collection - Spine #677 Region 'A' -Blu-ray	Imprint - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:35:09 (4% PAL speedup)	1:39:26.126	1:39:16.492
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.67 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.33:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 39,389,625,830 bytes Feature: 29,186,217,984 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video	1.33:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,514,855,363 bytes Feature: 29,389,928,448 bytes Video Bitrate: 33.00 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Bitrate Criterion Blu-ray
Bitrate Imprint Blu-ray
Audio	Dolby Digital Mono (English)	LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit	LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit Commentary: LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	English, None	English, None	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Exposure Cinema Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer (2:00) • Stills and Poster Gallery • 1944 Radio Adaptation (24:41) • 1949 Radio Adaptation (29:00) • 24-Page Collector's Booklet DVD Release Date: October 29th, 2012 Keep Case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 39,389,625,830 bytes Feature: 29,186,217,984 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • "Giving Up the Ghost" - a new visual essay by filmmaker Michael Almereyda (26:59) • Two radio adaptations, from 1944 (29:25) and 1949 (29:50), both starring Ray Milland • Trailer (2:03 • Liner notes booklet featuring an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme and a 1997 interview with director Lewis Allen Blu-ray Release Date: October 22nd, 2013 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters: 13	Release Information: Studio: Imprint Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,514,855,363 bytes Feature: 29,389,928,448 bytes Video Bitrate: 33.00 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • "NEW Audio Commentary by noir expert and Film Noir Foundation board member Alan K. Rode (2024) • NEW ‘The Uninvited’ and the Female Gothic – Video Essay by Kat Ellinger (2024) (13:44) • NEW Gail Russell: The Flame That Burned Twice as Bright – Interview with critic Imogen Sara Smith (2024) (29:24) • Two Original Radio Adaptations Starring Ray Milland Lady Astor Screen Guild play with Ruth Hussey & Betty Field (1944) (28:52) Screen Director’s Playhouse with director Lewis Allen (1949) (29:49) • Theatrical Trailer (2:03) Blu-ray Release Date: June 5th, 2024 Transparent Blu-ray Case inside hard case Chapters: 11

Only sold as part of Imprint's The Uninvited and The Unseen Blu-ray Double Feature Package

Comments

NOTE: These Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Imprint Blu-ray (June 2024): Imprint have transferred Lewis Allen's The Uninvited to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "High-definition 2K digital transfer from a 35mm duplicate negative". This is only available at present in a "Lewis Allen / Gail Russell 'UN'" double feature Blu-ray boxset - paired with The Unseen. The 1080P image is almost exactly the same as the 2013 Criterion Blu-ray, as far as I can determine. It's also very clean with a pleasing grain texture. Contrast is well rendered. Really, a fine presentation on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate.

NOTE: We have added 46 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Imprint use a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The Uninvited has no aggressive moments but there are spooky apparitions accentuated by the score by Victor Young (Three Faces West, The Sun Shines Bright, Johnny Guitar, China Gate, The File on Thelma Jordan etc.) often sounding dramatic and effective. The Uninvited also has "To Stella by Starlight" played on piano by Milland's character Roderick and another time by Richard Hayman on the harmonica. It is heard as a main theme and part of the score. The audio is clean and clear. Imprint offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Imprint Blu-ray offers a new commentary by noir expert and Film Noir Foundation board member Alan K. Rode (author of Charles McGraw: Biography of a Film Noir Tough Guy.) He called The Uninvited Hollywood's most venerable and prestigious film of the supernatural and that it holds up eight decades after it release. He talks about the distinguished cast (Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, and Donald Crisp) and that The Uninvited introduced audiences to the radiant Gail Russell and the debut of Cornelia Otis Skinner, as 'Miss Holloway', who also wrote, with Emily Kimbrough, Our Hearts Were Young and Gay, published in 1942. It became a film directed by Lewis Allen and starring Gail Russell in 1944. Alan talks about Milland doing the intro, producer Charles Brackett and his collaborations with Billy Wilder, potential Hitchcock direction, spiritualism in film ands so much more. It's another of his strong commentaries. Alan also does the commentary on The Unseen paired with this film in the Imprint Blu-ray package. We also get a new video essay, ‘The Uninvited’ and the Female Gothic, by Kat Ellinger running shy of 1/4 hour. She talks about the dominant early form of 'gothic' in cinema being masculine based, and authors M.G. Lewis ("Monk" Lewis) and Ann Radcliffe. Also included is a new 1/2 hour interview with Imogen Sara Smith (author of In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City) entitled Gail Russell: The Flame That Burned Twice as Bright. She talks about "the Hedy Lamarr of Santa Monica" and her association with ghost or supernatural-based stories and her sad real life story, her shyness and social anxiety. There are comparisons to Jean Arthur. Gail became a severe alcoholic, how she was only 19 when she was in The Uninvited, and much more on her life and career. Repeating the Criterion, two radio adaptations are included; from 1944 - Lady Astor Screen Guild play with Ruth Hussey and Betty Field plus the Screen Director’s Playhouse with director Lewis Allen from November 1949 both running 1/2 hour and both starring Ray Milland. Lastly is a theatrical trailer.

Lewis Allen's The Uninvited was the director's debut. It centers on a haunted house and has a delightful séance, but it differs from other supernatural-themed horror genre films of the era taking the fear aspects less dramatically and dealing with the unwelcome paranormal entity more matter-of-factly. It is based on Dorothy Macardle's novel Uneasy Freehold. There are comparisons to Hitchcock with Allen's controlled direction. It's an exceptional film that holds up today and gets better with each viewing. An appropriate idea to pair it in a Blu-ray double feature with The Unseen. This particular package exceeds the Criterion with the same a/v but adds and expert commentary and has a Kat Ellinger video essay, video piece with our favorite Imogen Sara Smith and still includes the two radio plays with Milland. Strongly recommended - an absolute keeper for me.

***

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (September 2013): The new 1080P from Criterion is wonderful. It is thick with grain and none of the artifacts or damage marks of the UK SD. The film is filled with darkness and shadows but the Blu-ray shows no noise or distracting flaws. The contrast is adept. Hard to believe The Uninvited is almost 70-years old. The higher resolution wins easily over the DVD with more detail on the brighter visuals. There are no noticeable speckles and the image quality is consistent throughout.

There are some 'spooky' effects and the score, composed by Victor Young (Three Faces West, The Sun Shines Bright, Johnny Guitar, China Gate, The File on Thelma Jordan etc.) both sound authentically flat but carrying weight via the linear PCM mono track. I noticed this as being a significant improvement over last year's DVD. There are optional subtitles (via your remote button) and Criterion's Blu-ray is, as expected, region 'A'-locked.

We are treated to an excellent visual essay entitled "Giving Up the Ghost" by filmmaker Michael Almereyda. It covers many interesting points regarding the film and runs almost 1/2 hour. It was produced by Criterion in 2013. Included are two radio adaptations, from 1944 - the screen guild theater (29:25) and the Screen Director's Playhouse from November 1949 (29:50), both starring Ray Milland. There is a trailer and the package contains liner notes booklet featuring an essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme and a 1997 interview with director Lewis Allen.

While I wouldn't say this has an abundance of Noir markers - but it is still such an enjoyable mystery/horror - almost reminding me of premium Hitchcock. It unravels with a complex and intriguing story - I am very pleased with Criterion's package and we thoroughly recommend! This was a great choice for Criterion to obtain from Universal (their logo starts the presentation). Thumbs skyward!

Gary W. Tooze

***

ON THE DVD: The Uninvited is yet to get its region 1 release, but UK's Exposure Cinema after doing a great job with their Fritz Lang releases, decided to tackle this title. First, the bad news. This is a pretty poor, but progressive transfer from an old master. There is some damage, marks on a print, including cue marks, and excessive grain in some, mostly nighttime, scenes - and there are a lot of those in this film.

The PAL transfer is presented on a dual-layered disc that has some thoughtful and welcome extras. There are two radio adaptations, from 1944 and 1949 - the later even includes a short chatter with Lewis Allen and Ray Milland. A gallery and theatrical trailer are included as well as a 24-page booklet with some nice essays about the film and biographies. The disc also includes optional English subtitles, a nice addition considering none of the made-on-demand or Turner Classic's region 1 releases include them. Until a new HD master is done for this excellent film, the Exposure Cinema DVD is all we have and they should be complemented for their release despite the poor transfer provided by Universal.

- Gregory Meshman

Menus

1) Exposure Cinema - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT

2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT