Night Comes Too Soon

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.

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.

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.

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.