Friday, October 29, 2010

Hallowe'en reading, viewing, listening, shivering

Probably the most famous ghost story is "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James, and it would be a most appropriate choice for reading at Hallowe'en.  Of course, spookiness is subjective, rather like one's choice of ice cream flavors, and what could send one person running from the house in terror might merely induce yawns in another.

That said, here come our choices for Hallowe'en fright night:

Book:  Much as we admire the classic tales spun by Cambridge scholar Montague Rhodes James, and Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House" (a favorite of Stephen King), the Pointless Digressions crew favors "The Green Man" by Kingsley Amis.  Brilliant. Funny. Scary.

Film:  "The Uninvited."  Wonderfully chilling, and a clever mystery, as well.  Theme music introduced Victor Young's lovely "Stella by Starlight."

Music:  Miklos Rozsa's Oscar-winning score for Hitchcock's "Spellbound," played by twenty-four violins and a very eerie theremin.

There.  Do enjoy a good scare.
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2 comments:

  1. LYNDON GROVEOctober 29, 2010 at 9:47 PM

    Most charming ghost film: "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," with Rex Harrison (the ghost) and Gene Tierney (guess).

    Funniest ghost novel: "Topper," by Thorne Smith, fast man with a martini and a fantasy.

    Most evocative ghost music: "The Grey Ghost" by William Bolcom.

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  2. tozanNovember 9, 2010 at 2:51 PM

    May I suggest adding:

    Funniest ghost music: Howard Shore's score for Tim Burton's "Ed Wood" complete with theramin and bongos.

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