Alex da Silva Barbara Stanwyck (Ruth) and her niece Kitty Winn (Sara) move into a new house in the country. We know it's haunted as we watch them through someone else's eyes from an empty room, having just heard a soundtrack to some evil event that previously occurred there. Neighbour Richard Egan (Pat) drops by to welcome them and invite them to dinner. It's here that they meet college student Michael Anderson Jr. (Stan), Egan's relative Mabel Albertson (Mrs McDougall) and friend Doreen Lang (Sylvia). The cast is now complete and we follow proceedings as Lang suggests a séance at Stanwyck's house and all agree to attend. God knows why she does this. It's just not the first thing you think of for a house warming! Unfortunately, Lang is a very annoying mystic who screams a lot. Shut up and do your channelling properly! No screaming. It should be rule number one. I went to a séance and nobody screamed – it is not necessary. Anyway, she's not in the film much, thank goodness. Things don't get much better, though. Whilst this film does have a few set pieces that keep you watching, there is nothing new in any of it and you can guess what's going to happen from the beginning. I got the whole story pretty early on. Maybe it's because I've watched lots of these kinds of stories, but maybe it's because the film is just not very good. I needed something more tricky. My wife thought it was amateurishly done as the cast explain in simple fashion what they are going to do. Other reviewers have likened it to Scooby Doo and the plot solving is very much like that. There are also the obligatory stupid moments when things that are needed are dropped or sharp objects handed to people who clearly shouldn't be holding these objects based on passed performance! Still, this is not a gore fest so it scores on that front. It passes the time but there's not much to this offering, especially if you've seen a couple of these types of film

bayardhiler Recently I had the good fortune of coming across an old ABC movie of the week called "The House that would not Die", starring the always talented Barbara Stanwyck. In the movie, Ms. Stanwyck and her niece buy an old, charming house in the country, thinking that they have found their dream home. However,as is always the case in these films, strange things begin to happen, such as disembodied voices, bizarre wind gusts that seemly appear out of no where, and Stanwyck's niece, Sara, begins acting as if someone or something has taken her over. The result is a well done ghost film that relies on creating a spooky atmosphere rather than any gore or violence. Such a shame that television does not have more movies like these anymore. God, how I miss the age of the miniseries. If you get a chance, check this out on you tube. We won't be disappointed. 9 out of 10.

Kelly E.F. Wiebe I've had the chance to view many of the movies I saw as a youth and have found that many of them have not withstood the test of time. This is not the case with "The House That Would Not Die" I saw this movie of the week when I was ten years old and can remember enjoying it. The next time I saw it was when I was 17 and again I enjoyed it. Twenty-two years later, in 1992 I was able to record it when it was shown on TBS. I found the movie very enjoyable. Especially considering the fact that it was made for TV. The only visual effects applied was that of character overlay. If only I could see and compare this with another movie of my youth - The Norliss Tapes (1973).

Bob-274 For those of us who love intelligent horror films (a very rare genre indeed), this is very high up on my list of 10 best ghost stories [cannot decide between this and 13 Ghosts, The Innocents, the Uninvited, the Haunting (the orginal not the recent remake), A Matter of Life and Death, and the House Where Evil Dwells]. Intelligent ghost movies hardly ever happen on US TV or cinema (only the British really understand ghosts!) but to have a really well-thought out script, great characters and a writer who actually understands the occultism of ghosts coupled with a small cast of superb actors - well, what more can anyone ask??Stanwyck was at her acting peak in the 60s having developed her characterisation of the ideal mature woman - strong, intelligent, well-spoken, charming and able to rise to any occasion. She is always enchanting to watch being one of those master craftsmen (like Katie Hepburn) able to create a scene and simply hand it to the other actors, not unlike the dignity and grace in the lost art of serving tea. Ruth becomes increasingly disturbed by strange sounds in the house until one night she is attacked by her normally gentle niece who appears to be sleepwalking. Despite the gentle mocking of her neighbor Pat, Ruth is determined to get to the bottom of this.The suspicion that the house is haunted leads to a seance by a local psychic whose initial enthusiasm for the old house turns to overpowering fear. The much underrated Kitty Win plays her niece Sara who becomes very convincingly possessed as a result of the seance and the psychic manifestations in the house increase (both of which is a little known danger of genuine seances). But Ruth will not be outdone and in uncovering the history of the occupants of the house begins to piece together the awful truth of a callous murder that took place. But written records only give a version of truth - the real truth can only be told by the participants.What makes this movie so intelligent is that instead of refusing to acknowledge the possession as real and treat Sara as a nut case, Ruth and Stan try to find out what troubles the ghost by letting her speak through Sara. This leads to a unique story development - Sara's ghost is guarding the house from another more malevolent ghost.Finally they piece together where the heart of the house is and that to free Sara's ghost there must be a confrontation with this second ghost to reveal the terrible secret which binds them both to the house. This climax is beautifully done and should go done in the annals of movie history for its insight into the occult dynamics behind many hauntings as well as its sheer dramatic power.If you've ever wondered if there is any power in love or hate, this film will demonstrate it. If you think Bruce Willis' The sixth sense is a great film (it certainly is!), you'll adore this film!