The Changeling (1980)

Réalisateur:

Peter Medak

Scénaristes:

Russell Hunter (story)
William Gray (writer) ...

Date de sortie:

28 mars 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Horreur | Mystère | Thriller

Accroche:

...an experience beyond total fear.

Intrigue:

A man staying at a secluded historical mansion, finds his life being haunted by the presence of a spectre.

Plot Keywords:

House | Mansion | Composer | Ghost | Research

Récompenses:

10 wins & 4 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

Good film!

Ensemble

George C. Scott	...	John Russell
Trish Van Devere	...	Claire Norman
Melvyn Douglas	...	Sen. Joseph Carmichael
Jean Marsh	...	Joanna Russell
John Colicos	...	De Witt
Barry Morse	...	Doctor Pemberton
Madeleine Sherwood	...	Mrs. Norman (as Madeleine Thornton-Sherwood)
Helen Burns	...	Leah Harmon
Frances Hyland	...	Elizabeth Grey
Ruth Springford	...	Minnie Huxley
Eric Christmas	...	Albert Harmon
Roberta Maxwell	...	Eva Lingstrom
Bernard Behrens	...	Prof. Robert Lingstrom
James B. Douglas	...	Eugene Carmichael
J. Kenneth Campbell	...	Security guard

Autre(s) titre(s):

L'enfant du diable (Canada: French title)

Durée:

107 min

Pays:

Canada

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Couleur

Rapport de forme:

1,85 : 1

Son:

Dolby

Classification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Sweden:15 | West Germany:18 (video rating) | South Africa:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | West Germany:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1980) | USA:R (certificate #25883) | Singapore:PG | UK:15

Lieux de tournage:

Boeing Field - 7149 Perimeter Road, Seattle, Washington, USA

Société:

Chessman Park Productions

Anecdotes:

Was the first film to win best picture in the Canadian Film Awards after its name was changed to the Genie Awards.

Goofs:

Révélant des erreurs: When Claire is showing John the piano room (apx. 10 min into the movie), the camera moves backwards and it reveals the shadow of the camera. The camera also touches the piece of cloth covering the piano and you can see it moving.

Guillemet:

De Witt: I understand you lost your wife and daughter a little while ago. Maybe it shook you up. Maybe too much... *Maybe*, you need help.
John Russell: I'd like you to leave now...
De Witt: [making his threat a bit more clear] We can see that you get it... do you understand what I'm saying?
John Russell: [points to the door] Out! Now!
De Witt: [pressing] Listen to me, Russell! You've got something of the Senator's... he wants it back. It's a little gold medal, a family heirloom, he lost it. He thinks *you've* got it.

Connexions De Film:

Référencé sur Kokkuri-san (1997)

Bande son:

Symphony #1 in C minor, Opus 68

Good film!

John Russell (George C. Scott), a widower who lost his wife and child in a roadside accident, moves into an opulent mansion and becomes aware of its tragic history; he works at the solving the mystery with the help of a new acquaintance, Claire Norman (Trish Van Devere, Scott's real-life wife).

Solid, mystery/horror/thriller is competently made and unlike lame junk like "The Amityville Horror", it actually manages to be spooky. And it does this without relying on special effects or any other sort of gimmickry. It just tells a simple ghost story that for once is refreshingly uncomplicated (of course, it helps that Scott's dialog is full of explanation).

It's a nice throwback to earlier classics like 1963's "The Haunting" and I can see why some people would hold it in high regard. In fact, I would put it the same league as Carpenter's "Halloween", another classic masterpiece of subtlety and dread.

Excellent cast of professional actors is a big plus.

One of the better scare movies ever made and worthy of re-discovery.

8/10