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Storyline
Ben and Marian Rolf rent a grand old country mansion as a summer getaway for themselves, their twelve year old son Davey, and Ben's Aunt Elizabeth. They feel they can't turn down the rent deal offered to them by the house's owners, siblings Roz and Arnold Allardyce, despite some reservations. First amongst those reservations, they are to take care of the house on their own, which Ben feels is too big a job, especially for Marian and the interior housekeeping. In Marian's words, the large size of the house is a "waste". And second and perhaps more important amongst those reservations, the Allardyces' aged mother will be staying in her room at the house, the Rolfs who are to provide a tray of food left outside her room three times a day, which Marian vows to take care of on her own, with no other members of the family to go into that isolated wing of the house so as not to disturb Mrs. Allardyce's peace. Upon their arrival at the house for the first day of their stay, they find a note ... Written by
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Up the ancient stairs, behind the locked door, something lives, something evil, from which no one has ever returned. [UK]
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Did You Know?
Goofs
When Ben is kissing Marian on the lawn, after they emerge from the pool one night, blue eyeshadow appears & disappears on Marian's face.
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Quotes
Roz Allardyce:
God when it comes alive - tell them, Brother. Tell them what it's like in the summer.
Arnold Allardyce:
Well they'd never believe it - it's beyond *anything* that you have you *ever* seen in your life.
Roz Allardyce:
There are centuries in this room, Mrs. Rolf... there are years, years in this house.
Arnold Allardyce:
Oh yes, and this house will be here long, long after you have departed. You'll believe me.
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Connections
Referenced in
Blue Nude (1978)
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Soundtracks
A House Reborn/End Title
Written, composed and conducted by Robert Cobert
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I enjoyed this movie immensely. The creepy score, the precarious atmosphere, and the Erie flashbacks of the chauffeur with that huge grin. It was a great ghost story. Some say a bit slow paced, but It just added to the tension. Ben was played well by Reed. A man with many problems, compounded by this house from hell. And Karen Blacks performance from loving wife and mother, to the caretaker of the "old lady". Betty Davis comes off a bit aloof, but that also work well in the story. And the scene with the house "shedding", very creepy. Now for the ending. One of the best I have ever seen. I would even put it up against the original "Wicker Man".