The Ghost of Rashmon Hall

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.