Wonderful Classic
Set on the dramatic cliffs of Cornwall, the story begins with Roderick "Rick" Fitzgerald (Ray Milland) and his sister Pamela (Ruth Hussey) stumbling upon a beautiful, abandoned mansion called Windward House. The place is a steal—too much of a steal. They buy it on a whim, charmed by its beauty, despite vague warnings from the owner, Commander Beech.
But surprise surprise—Windward House is haunted.
It starts with little things: sudden cold spots, crying in the night, a pervasive sadness in certain rooms—especially the former studio where the deceased artist Mary Meredith once painted. The haunting gets more intense: doors slam, lights flicker, and the air grows heavy with a presence.
Then we meet Stella Meredith (Gail Russell), the young and dreamy granddaughter of Commander Beech. She has an inexplicable pull toward the house—particularly the studio—despite being strictly forbidden from going there. Turns out she lived in the house as a child and lost her mother, Mary, under suspicious circumstances.
As Rick and Pamela dig into the mystery, they discover some juicy family secrets. Mary wasn’t the sweet angel she’s been made out to be. In fact, she was a cold and possibly cruel woman. The real tragedy was Stella’s actual mother, a Spanish woman named Carmel, who had been the nanny—and possibly Mary’s rival in love.
There are two spirits haunting Windward House:
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Mary’s ghost, who is a dark, oppressive force—she doesn’t want Stella there and tries to harm her.
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Carmel’s ghost, who is protective and loving toward Stella.
In a truly bold twist for the 1940s, the film suggests Carmel was Stella’s real mother, and Mary was a bitter woman who manipulated the narrative after death. It's a story of identity, truth, and buried love rising to the surface.
Rick, falling in love with Stella, becomes her protector. With the help of Pamela and a séance gone sideways, they uncover the full truth, confront Mary’s angry spirit, and banish her from the house. In the end, Carmel’s spirit gets a moment of peace—embracing Stella one final time before disappearing.
The film ends with Windward House no longer cursed, the dead at rest, and Stella finally free from the ghostly grip of lies and trauma.
Why it’s so good:
It’s got that classic Gothic British ghost story feel—cliffside fog, candlelight, secrets, tragedy. But it’s also deeply emotional. The ghosts aren’t just spooky—they represent guilt, grief, love, and truth long denied.
And the score—especially that theme “Stella by Starlight”—is haunting in the best, most romantic way.
9.5/10
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