User reviews

This film is based on a short story by Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton entitled 'The Haunters and the Haunted'. The film has come to be generally known by an alternative title as THE GHOST OF RASHMON HALL, but that is a mistake, presumably originating from some dyslexic person. The house in the film is not Rashmon Hall but Ramelsham Hall. We hear the correct name pronounced distinctly and see it written down in a book which the camera is shown. Few people have seen this rare film. Much of this film was made inside a genuine semi-derelict mansion, and that gives it a much more authentic atmosphere. The lead character is played by the extraordinary actor Valentine Dyall, very tall, droll, and mysterious. He has an insight into paranormal phenomena which his friends lack. Unfortunately, the appearances of ghosts in this film are very corny and done without finesse, obviously for lack of funds for special effects. Otherwise, the film is a remarkable period piece full of voices, mannerisms, and behavioural patterns which don't exist anymore, and is another one of those amazing 'social documents' for which old movies are so useful. The film has a surprise ending which no one could guess, so don't try. The director has attempted with the lowest of budgets to suggest an atmosphere of horror while showing next to nothing. Taking some lessons from Carl Dreyer's VAMPYR (1932) perhaps, the director Denis Kavanagh (in his second film, and he only made eight in his career) concentrates effectively on such simple things as a relentlessly dripping tap (which its sound magnified) and a swinging door, shadows, and the suggestion of horror rather than in showing us anything much. Dyall's eerie performance makes the whole project work. The film is an intriguing example of its genre for such a low budget production.

The Ghost Of Rashmon Hall is a short quota quickie from Great Britain which probably did not get much if any exhibition in the USA. Though the film is something like what you might have seen on the Twilight Zone or Boris Karloff's Thriller it's not all that bad. It depends greatly on the sinister voice and bearing of Valentine Dyall and Dyall certainly delivers.

Gathered around a parlor Dr. Valentine Dyall an expert in the paranormal tells a tale of a pair of newlyweds who purchase an old mansion with a curse on it. Anne Howard and Alec Faversham are the newlyweds and the place is definitely haunted. The two get up close and personal with three ghosts, the squire on the estate, his wife, and her sailor paramour.

The ending is not something you would expect, but Alfred Hitchcock couldn't have done better. Valentine Dyall makes believers of those at the party about ghosts.

Little known short (just 52 minutes) UK supporting feature, starring Valentine Dyall. A pair of newlyweds buy a rundown old mansion, only to find that the spirits of all three members of a love triangle that ended in murder many years before still linger there. Desperate to rid themselves of the haunting they contact a friend who has made a study of such things (Dyall). This is actually an adaptation of Edward Bulwer-Lytton's 1859 novel The Haunters and the Haunted. Shot entirely at a supposedly haunted derelict manor house near North London, the budget appears to have comprised solely of the petrol money/train fares to the location. Nevertheless, they do a good job of setting an uneasy atmosphere right from the couple's first night in the house, with strange noises and half-heard whisperings. The appearances of the ghosts are done by superimposition, or sometimes by simply turning a light up and down on an actor standing in shadow, and perhaps reflected in glass. Unfortunately, with the exception of Dyall, the rest of the performances are distractingly 'stage-like'. Also, the backstory to the haunting is glossed over too quickly, and needs more detail in its explanation, and the twist at the end makes no sense. It's a shame this adaptation didn't have (a) more money, (b) more time, and (c) a better supporting cast. There's obvious potential in the story. 5.5/10.

In this thriller now better known as GHOST OF RASHMON HAll, a British newly wed couple after searching in vain for a home of their own (remember this was made when there was a severe post war housing shortage in the U.K.) reluctantly buys an old mansion with a spooky history and moves in. Soon after moving in they encounter ghosts, poltergeists and other spooky goings on. A hundred years it seems the owner of the house's wife had an affair with a sailor, and when the affair was discovered, the wife and sailor were murdered. Realizing something must done, the husband brings in a doctor friend who is an expert on the the occult to rid the house of spirits.

This obscure, very low budget British item has some very creepy moments but suffers from stiff performances and crude production values. The film certainly looks as if it is a lot older than it is and seems to come from an era more remote than 1947. The film also has what is intended to be a surprise ending.

This film is hokey beyond belief. The action is so stilted and there are so many pregnant pauses. The leads seem to be acting like they are in a public information film. Valentine Dyall is always a great presence to watch, but in this film he is so limited by the awful direction. The film, as others have said, look waaaaay older than it actually is...it looks more like a very early 30s film and the soundtrack (which is inappropriate at times) sometimes sounds like it's from a Laurel & Hardy short. That said, there are some superb filmic ideas, and for all they are 'low budget' I thought they were really quite eerie. Someone could take this film now and create something as good as 'The Others'...but considering that won't happen, we are left with an odd but strangely compelling film.

Whilst House of Mystery,released in 1961,uses a similar story,it is a far more impressive and chilling film.In this film too much relies on the chilling voice of Valentine Dyall and optical effects.Dyall was making a name for himself on BBC radio as "The Man Of Mystery" at the time and so was transferring his talents to the screen.The problem that I found with the film was that it was not that chilling.There are a number of ghosts materialising and a rather half baked reason for the happenings but it did nothing for me.It might of course have been different for someone sitting in a dark cinema all those years ago.You don't expect a big budget with these films but you do expect some big ideas.

Having listened to a ghost story on the wireless, a family are told a chilling tale of a real life ghost story that happened some years ago in their very house.

In theory this was right up my Street, I'm a big fan of these sinister mysteries from the 1940's, in reality however, I just didn't rate it. I'm not holding its age against it, there are many great films from the era, but this one doesn't hit the mark.

I'll start with the single positive, Doctor Clinton, a very fine performance from Valentine Dyall, and his commanding, velvet voice is put to great use, he really does stand out, sadly he makes most of the cast look very lacking.

I felt that it lacked atmosphere and suspense, the pacing was way too slow, when something finally did happen, my interest had all but gone.

It's a very low budget affair, and that tells, there are too many silent scenes with heavy music, so little actually happens for large parts, if you can stay focused on it, I applaud you.

It seems like a rare, lesser known film, so it's worth a look for that alone, just don't expect much, it has little to offer, other than Valentine Dyall.

4/10.

Valentine Dyall is a guest at a house party where he tells a story of a cursed house.... the one where the party is taking place.

If anyone could narrate a ghost story, it was the Man in Black, and his slow, fluent baritone certainly made skin creep. The problem I had with this is the unvarying formula of ghost stories like this. A young couple is looking for a place to live. The strange house agent take them to an old, deserted house, utters a few platitudes about how they really knew how to build in those days, and refuses to hang around. At first things are copacetic, and they happily wire the house, repaint it, and we need to do something about that dripping faucet. Then there's the first shock: a loud noise in the other room is revealed to have been a burning log falling off the irons, as they do, and the flames make strange shadows out of known objects.

Then another shock. And another. And eventually.... there is a ghost!

Boo! the trouble is that this is a mid-century movie, and the audience sees the ghost, because that's the way these things were written and shot. It lacks the sense of uncanny uncertainty that the best ghost stories have; seeing, after all, is believing, and once you believe, well, there's nothing unnatural about it. Except the ending, which renders the entire movie a special effects jok

Although set in the usual enormous house that in those days films would had have us believe everybody then lived in, austerity Britain never looked more austere than this telling of a very similar story to the haunted mirror episode of 'Dead of Night' (an impression further confirmed by the casting of that film's Anthony Baird in the framing story).

Despite atmospheric photography of a derelict Mill Hill mansion by Ray Densham, for most of it's length it gets its atmosphere largely from various noises like a dripping tap, creaking doors, screams in the night, breaking glass and especially the narration by Man in Black himself Valentine Dyall; although the spectre when finally seen is quite satisfying.

A young couple move into a large, old and run down English manor house. It feels like the place might be haunted so they call on a doctor friend with some knowledge of these things to help get rid of the evil spirits. I had never heard of this short British film before, I have just watched it on Talking Pictures UK under its American title "The Ghost of Rashmon Hall". This title is confusing because in the movie the place is actually called Rammelsham Hall, but I guess that's a bit of a mouth full! The running time may only be fifty-two minutes but it felt longer than that. The film is very creaky, it looks and sounds more like it was made in the 1930's. The acting is very stiff, not a great deal happens and I was quite relieved when it was over. Cut down this may have been more suitable to being a segment in an anthology movie but I'm afraid that even at only 52 minutes this felt stretched.

A young couple move into a large badly maintained house due to housing shortage. As ghostly events happen, they invite a friend to help them examine the house. The mystery deepens as they find clues about the houses former occupants, a Spanish occultist and his wife who left him for a sailor.

The pace of the film is a little slow, but none the less it is pleasant enough. Not a scary film, more of a mystery. With, of course, a twist at the end. Worth spending 40mins on a rainy afternoon. The cinematography is very average, nothing about the cuts or angles suggest the urgency the characters are portraying. The acting is sound, and very British.

My wife and I recently saw this under it's original title of "Ghost of Rashmon Hall."

It's a very low budget, very British quickie from the late 40's, with some shaky acting from a cast of unknowns (aside from the sinister Dyall). Less than an hour long, this could've turned out as just another forgettable filler, and indeed has been completely overlooked by most critics. Yet this little film abounds in genuinely creepy moments, startling and unexpected visuals and an overwhelming air of menace.

I honestly can't think of another film where incompetence and inspiration mix to such a degree. But the narrative is so gripping and the high points so good that you end up accepting the film on it's own terms. Several times we had to rewind just to appreciate some of the visual effects, all achieved by simple lighting and in-camera effects but each one achieving a truly supernatural ambience.

If I say any more I'll start giving away plot elements and I don't want to spoil it for you. All I'll say is try to get hold of this one, or tape it if it should ever turn up on TV.

Newly-wed couple Alec Faversham (John) and Anne Howard (Phyllis) are entertaining a small cast of characters at their home by listening to a ghost story on the radio when the mysterious Valentine Dyall (George) arrives. None of the guests are convinced of the existence of ghosts so Dyall recounts a true life encounter that their hosts experienced. The story is told in flashback and the ending is straight out of 'Tales of the Unexpected'.

The acting isn't too hot - Dyall is atrocious - but the story is interesting and the film's short running time allows some creepy moments and some scary encounters with ghosts. Thankfully, this film is played as a ghost story and not as a comedy nonsense routine with oom-pa-pa music.

As all knowledgeable people are aware, there is definitely something unexplained that goes on. It's a fact that science can't prove in its current infantile state and it probably won't ever be able to. Just one of those things. Like déjà-vu - that great information highway in the ether from another dimension that we occasionally all tap into and fool ourselves into thinking we've been somewhere before. We haven't been there at all. We are just tapping into the memories of someone else (dead or alive) who has been there before. Well, that's my theory on it. The film is ok as it is different but it's not outstanding.

The Ghost of Rashmon Hall (1948)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Ghost story from Great Britain has a group of people listening to a radio program dealing with hauntings. A new person arrives at the party and the guests start talking about their opinions of ghosts when it's announced that someone there has seen a real ghost. The story then flashes back to a newlywed couple who finally find a house to call their own but they soon realize that they're not the only ones there.

THE GHOST OF RASHMON HALL is a film that not too many know about, which I guess is understandable since the film probably didn't get released anywhere outside the U.K. and even today not too many talk about it. The film was based on a short story and even the title is somewhat of a stretch because in the film the house is constantly called "Ramelsham" so I'm not sure what the deal is with the title. Either way, for the most part there's really nothing too special here and it certainly can't compare to movies like THE UNINVITED but if you view it on its own terms then there are a few good moments.

I think the best thing going for the picture is the ending, which I'm not going to spoil here but it's quite effective in its own way. I thought the film also benefits from some nice performances by Anne Howard, Alec Faversham and Valentin Dyall. There are several ghosts that appear throughout the film and while the special effects to show their appearances aren't all that special, the film still contains a nice bit of atmosphere. I'd also argue that at just 50 minutes the movie moves at a very good pace. With that said, the short running time means that there's really no character development or decent details in the story.

Still, THE GHOST OF RASHMON HALL is a film that probably deserves to be better known than it is. It's certainly not a masterpiece but it's actually better than some of the American films that are better known but not quite as good.