GOLDEN OLDIES – GHOST FILMS
Most of us love a good ghost/supernatural film. Here is an increasing collection of recommendations of ‘mainly family friendly’, golden oldies - ghost films…some you may not have heard of, but they are all either very good or excellent, which friends and I highly recommend:
Most are in B&W, but don’t let that put you off, the acting and plots far outweigh what’s brought out today. ..the golden oldies ghost films are the best!
We’ve given them a star rating in our opinion:
5 stars
…Excellent.
4 stars
…Very good.
1. ‘The Haunting Of Hill House’ (1963 B&W). Starring, Claire Bloom and Julie Harris.
Although this old horror/thriller is not PG rated as far as I know, I would recommend that children under 12 yrs old avoid watching this film, which is set in an old mansion, called Hill House. Some of the scenes are so spooky that you will remember them for the rest of your life. One particular scene happens in the middle of the night, when one of the team of ghost investigator’s, Nell (Julie Harris) is holding the hand of her friend, whilst they are in single beds - side by side…then Nell wakes to find her friend’s bed at the other end of the bedroom…but who is still holding her hand… :O
Pitch’s rating: ‘I have seen Haunting of Hill House but it has been a while since I have’.
My rating: I’ve seen the most terrifying of horror films, but this is one of the spookiest I have ever seen! This is not family friendly. There is no swearing, gore or sexual scenes, but your kids will likely have nightmares. (This film is often confused with the film, ‘House on Haunted Hill’…not the same film).
The story was written by, Shirley Jackson and considered one of the best literary ghost stories of the twentieth century.
2. ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ (1948 B&W). Starring, Milton Rosmer and Meg Jenkins.
When a mother receives a talisman (a monkey’s paw), one of her three offered wishes is for her deceased son to be brought back to life…little realising the horrific consequences after he leaves his grave and returns home.
My rating: This short, powerful film of 58 minutes is a horror/thriller, which is definitely not for the under 15′s and like ‘The Haunting Of Hill House’ – you will remember it forever. One scene that chills to the bone, is when the son leaves the graveyard and heads for home. When he knocks on the door, you just don’t want to see what’s behind it! But that’s the least of the mother’s worries…he will now - never die!
Here is a classic one, but not too spooky:
3. ’A Christmas Carol’ 
(1951 B&W). Starring Alastair Sim and Kathleen Harrison.
Written by English author, Charles Dickens. The film is about a selfish miser who changes his ways after being visited by 4 ghosts on Christmas eve. This old supernatural film’s main feature is, the wonderful Alastair Sim who plays Scrooge.
Pitch’s rating: ‘Now one of my favorite ghost stories and which is also my favorite Christmas story is of course, A Christmas Carol. The one in cinema now is great and you should really go see it in 3D. You won’t ever regret paying the little extra for the experience’.
My rating: I haven’t seen the new one, but I bet it doesn’t come close to the old version brought out in 1951.
4. ‘The Ghost & Mrs Muir’ (1947 B&W). Starring Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney.
A classic golden oldies ghost film about the spirit of a sea-captain (Rex Harrison) who falls in love with the new single lady occupant (Gene Tierney) of his old home.
Pitch’s rating: ‘That’s one of my favourite ghost movies too and is the type of ghost story I love’.
My rating: It’s a B&W classic supernatural/romance and I love it. I watch it every time I notice that it’s on. It’s a real feel good film, but have the tissues ready at the end.
5. ‘Topper’ (1937 B&W). Starring, Cary Grant and Constance Bennett.
![[Image: topper-200.jpg]](http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss78/darylstevens1931/topper-200.jpg)
A fun-loving couple, finding that they have died and are now ghosts, so decide to shake up the stuffy lifestyle of a friend of theirs.
Pitch’s rating: ‘There are actually two movies of Topper, but the first one is the best made in 1937′.
My rating: I’ve never seen this but it sounds a must see Pitch. Thanks for the recommendation of this supernatural/comedy/romance.
6. ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ (1947 B&W). Starring, James Stewart and Donna Reed. 
This film does not have a ghost, but it does have an angel.
About an angel who helps a caring, but suicidal business person, who is shown what life would have been like if he had never existed.
Pitch’s rating: ‘Well, Eye Priestess, you know ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is my third favorite Christmas movie, and I like the original black & white version with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed the best, although this one has been re-done many times’.
My rating: One of the best supernatural/feel-good films ever!
7. ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947 B&W). Starring, Maureen O’Hara (the one who played the mother in the original ‘Parent Trap’ with Hayley Mills), John Payne & Natalie Wood.
People in New York city are left wondering if the Santa in a department store is the real thing when amazing things happen to deserving people.
A supernatural theme, which warms the heart!
Pitch’s rating: ‘My second favorite Christmas movie. It’s a bit spooky, what with the magic that happens in it, and as before, it is the 1947 black & white version that I like the best’.
My rating: Just watched this and it’s excellent!
8.’The Innocents’ (1961 colour). Starring, Deborah Kerr and Michael Redgrave. 
A young, inexperienced governess is terrorized by the ghostly goings on in a spooky, country mansion, while looking after the niece and nephew of a callous socialite (Redgrave) who resides mainly in London. He stipulates that she is solely responsible for their welfare in his absence.
My rating: This chiller is very spooky and full of twists! A bit dark for children under 12 yrs old.
9. ‘Bell, Book & Candle’ (1959 colour). Starring, James Stewart, Kim Novak and Jack Lemmon.
A beautiful witch falls for her neighbour, but she has to get rid of his fiancé first. So she enchants him with witchcraft.
Pitch’s rating: ‘Another Jimmy Stewart movie I like. It’s about witchcraft and a man being seduced by a beautiful witch’.
My rating: Great cast in this bewitching comedy/supernatural/romance.
10. ‘Portrait of Jennie’ (1948 B&W – colour). Starring, Jenifer Jones and Joseph Cotton.
A struggling artist meets a mysterious girl in the park who is dressed in old-fashioned clothing. He asks if he can paint her, but strange things start to happen as she grows into a beautiful woman before his eyes.
My rating: This is a supernatural/fantasy film suitable for 12 yrs and upwards.
11. ‘Wizard Of Oz’ (1939 colour). Starring, Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton and Frank Morgan.
A young girl, Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog, Toto are transported to another dimension - beyond the rainbow, when a tornado hits her Kansas farm. In this magical place Dorothy meets the wicked witch of the west and other strange characters, who join her on the yellow brick road and their quest to find the Wizard of Oz.
Pitch’s rating: ‘A most magical, scary movie of all time in my opinion. We have a wicked witch, a good witch, a cowardly lion, a talking scarecrow, and my favourite character, the tin man’.
My rating: We can’t leave this supernatural/fantasy/musical out, it’s got to be one of the all time classics. If you’ve never seen it, the original is by far the best. For all members of the family.
12. ‘The Ghost & Mr Chicken’ (1966 colour). Starring, Don Knotts and Joan Staley. 
A ‘wanna be’ reporter, Luther Heggs gets a big break when the editor of his local paper asks Luther to spend the night in a house with a murder/suicide history, ‘the Simons mansion’. This assignment turns into a nightmare for Luther who soon discovers it is haunted with many unhappy ghosts.
Pitch’s rating: ‘One of my favorite, not too scary, but soooo funny movie is this with the ever comedic performance of Don Knotts… if you want to die laughing, then this is your movie’.
My rating: This supernatural/comedy has it all and is recommended for all the family.
13. ‘The Picture Of Dorian Gray’ (1945 B&W – colour). Starring, Hurd Hatfield, Donna Reed, Angela Lansbury and Peter Lawford.
The immensely handsome Dorian Gray, commissions a portrait of himself, which creates an obsession with his appearance. Desperate to keep his beauty, he makes a pact with the devil….only the painting is allowed to show the ravages of time on his face. However, the sins of his life recreate the painting, until it becomes the most grotesque sight imaginable…with hideous consequences.
Written by, Oscar Wilde.
My rating: This is the only masterpiece written by Wilde, which was made into a film – in this gothic/horror and it’s magnificent - with an all-star cast! In my opinion, it’s not suitable for children under 15 yrs old.
14. ’The 13 Ghosts’ (1960 B&W). Starring, Charles Herbert and Jo Morrow. 
An impoverished family inherit a haunted house from eccentric uncle Dr. Plato Zorba. Twelve horrifying ghosts inhabit the mansion and can only be freed if the thirteenth ghost is located. But there’s more…a treasure is hidden and someone is willing to kill for it!
Pitch’s rating: ‘Not as freaky as the remake and more kid friendly’.
My rating: A great mild horror for 12 yrs upwards.
Do you have any golden oldies ghost films you’d like to include? Scroll down to comment:
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By J Reynolds, copyright 2010 @ World Mysteries And True Ghost Tales
Well, Eye Priestess, you know ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is my third favorite Christmas movie, and I like the original black & white version with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed the best, although this one has been redone numerous times.
I have seen Haunting of Hill House but it has been quite a while since I have.
How about the orignal 13 Ghosts, the orignal black & white 1960 version. Not as freaky as the remake and more kid friendly.
I’ve seen that Pitch, 13 Ghosts, but i think it was the re-make which i wasn’t keen on. I’ll check out the 1960 version.
What’s your second favourite film Pitch?
My second favorite Christmas movie is, ‘Miracle on 34th Street.’ It’s a bit spooky, what with the magic that happens in it, and as before, it is the 1947, black & white version that I like the best.
Oh that one was brilliant, although i haven’t seen the old version. Two to check out tomorrow and i will put the short synopsis’s up too.
Thanks for the recommendation
I will be looking online for these. Cheers for the reviews.
You’re welcome Eric!
Are we forgetting ‘the Wizard of Oz’? A most magical, scary movie of all time in my opinion. It is in color and was released I think in 1947, but unsure. We have a wicked witch and a good witch, a talking scarecrow, my favorite character, a tin-man and a cowardly lion.
One of my favorite not too scary but soooo funny movie is ‘The Ghost and Mr, Chicken’ With the ever comedic performance of Don Knotts, if you want to die laughing, then this is your movie. It’s in color and film in the 60s.
Another Jimmy Stewart movie is ‘Bell, Book and Candle’ It is about witch craft and a man being seduced by a beautiful witch.
Of course Pitch, the wizard of Oz!!!
That movie with Jimmy Stewart rings a bell, i’ll go and have a look online for it. It sounds great.
I don’t understand why these oldie’s aren’t shown more often on tv, just because they are B&W people, especially children, like my daughter, go huh, i’m not watching B&W, noooooo way!!! Then she watch’s ‘The Ghost & Mrs Muir’ and cries like a baby at the end, ha!
My Favorite was, “A Portrait of Jenny” 1948.
It was with Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotton.
Thanks Nancy, i’ll go and check it out now
Arsenic and Old Lace, with Cary Grant. Two sweet little old ladies have gentlemen boarders who checked in but do not checked out. And their three nephews, one thinks he’s Theodor Roosevelt, one is an insane murderer but one is normal. Which one is Cary Grant? And what is in the cellar? Have fun in this dark comedy. Black & white.
Thanks Pitch, i’m going to see if i can watch that, it sounds wonderful!
You brought back a lot of memories listing these movies! My mom is a movie nut…loves all of them, and I think the only one on that list that I’ve never seen was Portrait of Jennie…although I’ve heard it’s very good.
Thank you for sharing these! Now off to my DVD cabinet….
Hey scary, well i love the old films, they are so much better than most films now, so it’s great to be able to get people interested, i hope.
I completely agree with you about the movies…they just don’t make them like they used to, that’s for sure! I remember seeing the “Wizard of Oz” every year when I was growing up…they would show it once a year (in the days before VCR’s and then DVD players!) The magic of it all…I know the effects were a little cheesy by todays standards, and the colors just a little too bright…but the ACTING!!! That’s what made the movies back then…they didn’t need all the extra special effects…the performers stood on their own.
The Devil and Daniel Webster, 1941 deals with a farmer, down on his luck and about to lose the family farm when Scratch appears and offers him a deal. For seven years his every wish is granted but when it comes to paying the devil his due, the young farmer calls on Daniel Webster to defend him in a court of hell. It was released under the title, “Everything that money can buy” but later had it title changed back. One of my favorites and really keeps you guessing.
Oh i love the vibrant colours of the old films just after black and white. What i also love about the oldies, you just know you’re going to be entertained.
Did you know Michael Jackson was a big, big fan of the oldies.
Thanks Pitch, i’ll look at that film, not sure if i’ve seen it. It’s great checking out all the old films isn’t it?
I haven’t seen that one, Pitch…it sounds like a really good one. I will check it out for sure.
Making great horror is like great comedy- lots of it is obvious and bad, but has the great promise of being art.
Kubrick’s masterpiece adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Shining” is one of the most beautiful-and horrifying-in the genre. The great Jack Nicholson is at his masnic, frightening best. It brings a deep shiver on a cold snowbund Colorado night!
Oscar Wilde may have been the greatest raconteur of all time-certainly still hilarious! He also could write convincing horror. The adaptation of “Picture of Dorian Grey” still is the stuff of nightmares.
What was the the movie made a few years back… “The Others”? It was about a woman and child alone in a remote house on Jersey during the War. When she finds out herself and her child are THE GHOSTS, OMG!!!!
I have heard great raves about “Portrait if Jennie” but never saw it.
Aleister Sim’s Scrooge is still the best version in the 1951 “A Christmas Carol” The b&W makes it all the creepier!
“The Wizard of OZ? What can you say? The American Dream on…something! Incredible art direction. Years ago I worked for a Hollywood painter. He has a brush he used to paint the bricks yellow on the Yellow Brick Road!!!
The original “Alien” still makes my midnight creep!!!
Great examples there JHC!
Another that comes to mind is “the Sixth Sense” with Bruce Willis and Haley Joe Ozment. Ozment, then a 10-year-old, steals the show with his incredible acting. His great line “I see dead people!” is the greatest tag ever!
the original “The Haunting” is still the better of the two versions. What made it SO frightening was that the revenants didn’t appear- you just heard them and saw their powers.
I loved sixth sense, I wanted to adopt Osment…loved that kid and i agree what a great actor. We should do ‘Golden Newies’ now!
If anyone is interested in reading about Joe Osment (full name is: Haley Joel Osment), here is a link to wikipedia about him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haley_Joel_Osment and another: http://www.kidactors.com/haley/
I am an addict of the great cable series, MADmen, about a mid-range New York advertising firm in the 1960s. The series is excellent; giving anyone over 50 memories of their parents. They also have ghostly visits on two occaisons.
In season four there is an episode ,”The Suitcase”. Stand alone, it is excellent writing… could have been a short story. Late in the night, a woman (the main character loved) appears to him and wave good-bye. Turns out she died that night.. I highly recommend this remarkable series. Lots of drinking, smoking and bad behavior!
I don’t think i’ve ever seen this advertised, i suppose they’ll have it somewhere on youtube though. Thanks JHC it sounds brilliant!
Question
As a child I watched a black and white movie about girls in a home,possibly a group home and one tries run away only to find a severed hand in a suitcase after she is captured. Looking for the title of this film.
Can’t think what that film was?
The only film with a hand I can think of is “The Hand” 1981 with Michael Caine. He is a cartoonist who loses his hand in a car accident, and the hand comes to life.
Hi i stumbled upon here looking for some B & W movies i’ve just finished watching The Ghostbreakers starring Bob Hope forgot how funny it was brought back memories of when i was a little girl. Hope you can get to watch it .
Here’s a couple more.
1. Five Million Years to Earth. A science fiction film which is spooky, horrifying, and something you will never forget. I saw it when I was about 12 years old and I think maybe that’s a bit young. It scared me and I still remember it to this day.
2.Psycho. A thriller so horrifying my mother has never taken a shower since. She always uses the bath instead. Keepi in mind that when the film was made, it was a first and shown to a less sophisticated audience than what movie-goers are today. But if you can put yourself in the timeframe of the movie, it is a terrifying film. Not a ghost story, per se, but definitely scarey!
Thanks for all the recent comments!
Victoria, oh i agree with your mum, but lock the bathroom door tell her
will look for that Jacky, thank you!
When I was young,I am now 65, I watch a movie with Laurel and Hardy or was it with Bob Hope and his partner? I am not shure,anyway they where in a haunted house they went to the house by boat ,it looks like it is in the jungle. In the house there was a big chair and when Laurel(?) did something with the chair handle a coffin on the floor starts to move…. Do you know the picture? Can you tell me the name? and so on…
That movie rings a bell Carra, not sure if it was Abott and Costello???
Thanks for your fast answer….I now remember that it was Abott and Costello !
Greetings from Sweden
The film is called, ‘Hold That Ghost’ Carra, just googled it.
Greetings from England
Thanks ! Thanks !