House on Haunted Hill

The ghosts are moving tonight. Restless, hungry.

May I introduce myself? I am Watson Pritchard.

In just a minute I'll show you the only really haunted house...

in the world.

Since it was built a century ago, seven people,

including my brother, have been murdered in it.

Since then, I have owned the house.

I've only spent one night there,

and when they found me in the morning... I

I was almost dead.

I am Frederick Loren.

And I've rented the house on haunted hill tonight...

so that my wife can give a party.

A haunted house party.

She's so amusing.

There'll be food and drink and ghosts,

and perhaps even a few murders.

You're all invited.

If any of you will spend the next 12 hours

in this house, I will give you each 10 thousand dollars.

Or your next-of-kin in case you don't survive.

Ah, but here come other guests.

It was my wife's idea...

to have our guests come in funeral cars.

She's so amusing.

Her sense of humor is, shall we say...

original.

I dreamed of the hearse, it's empty now, but

after a night in the house of haunted hill.

Who knows?

This is Lance Schroeder, a test pilot.

So no doubt a brave man.

But don't you think you can be much braver if you're paid for it?

And I happen to know that Lance needs the 10.000 I'll give him.

If he is brave enough to stay all night.

This is Ruth Bridgers.

You've no doubt read her column in the newspapers.

She says her reason for coming to the party is

to write a feature article on ghosts.

She's also desperate for money. Gambles.

You've already met Watson Pritchard.

A man living in mortal fear of a house

and yet he is risking his life to spend another night here.

I wonder why.

He says it's for money.

This is Dr. David Trent. A psychiatrist.

He claims that my ghosts will help his work...

on hysteria.

But don't you see a little touch of greed there?

Around the mouth and eyes?

This is Nora Manning.

I picked her from the thousands of people who work for me...

because she needed the 10 thousand more than most.

Supports her whole family. Isn't she pretty?

The party is starting now and you have until midnight,

to find the House on Haunted Hill.

HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL

Well, where is everybody?

It isn't a very warm welcome, is it?

Only the ghosts in this house are glad we're here.

Are we all strangers to each other?

Don't you two know each other?

I'm afraid I don't even know your name.

- I am Nora Manning. - Lance Schroeder.

Is Frederick Loren a friend of yours?

I've heard of him, but I've never met him.

I work in one of his companies, but I've have never seen him.

I've never met the man either, just a phone call.

- Do you know him? - No.

Well then, you're the only one of us who does.

I don't know him.

All the details about renting the house...

were done by mail.

- He's quite wealthy, isn't he? - Millions.

And five wives, I believe.

Four, I think so far.

A fifty thousand dollar party for only five people

is a little steepy even for a millionaire.

Well, if I were going to haunt anybody

this would most certainly be the house I'd do it, eh?

Who closed the door?

This thing is made of solid steel.

Annabelle?

Our guest are here and fortunately still alive.

Is your face on yet?

Dust and dirt everywhere. The water barely trickles.

- Couldn't you have the place cleaned? - Atmosphere, darling.

You know how ghosts are, they never tidy up.

Well, that's a very fetching outfit, but hardly suitable for a party.

I'm not going to the party.

Mm, "You Spend The Night Ghost Party" was your idea, remember?

Since it's going to cost me $50,000 dollars, I want you to have fun.

The party was my idea until you invited all the guests.

Why all these strangers? Why none of our friends?

Friends? Do we have any friends?

No. Your jealousy took care of that.

I had a reason for inviting each guest.

I wanted kind of a cross section,

from psychiatrist to typist.

And from drunk to jet pilot.

They share one thing. They all need money.

Now let's see if they're brave enough to earn it.

And you call this a party?

Could be.

Why do you always do that? It spoils the champagne.

- It might explode. - Never does.

Would you guarantee that?

- That isn't funny, Frederick. - Would make a good headline.

Playboy kills wife with champagne cork.

- Would you join me? - No, thank you.

Just a sip might improve your humor.

My humor is fine, thanks.

And I haven't poisoned it.

It's always good to know that.

Have some, you'll enjoy the party more.

Go on.

Your trust is so touching.

And I'm not going to the party.

Of all my wives, you are the least agreeable.

But still alive.

Would you go away for a million dollars in tax-free?

You want it all, don't you?

I deserve it all.

Your jealousy isn't tax free.

And your possessiveness is maddening.

If ever a man had grounds for divorce.

- But can't prove them. - The time will come.

- You'll slip up one of these days. - You think so?

If I live long enough.

You remember the fun we had when you poisoned me?

Something you ate, the doctor said.

Yes, arsenic on the rocks.

Annabelle...

You'd do it again if you thought you could get away with it, wouldn't you?

Darling, what makes you think that?

Something about you.

I hear that hanging is very uncomfortable,

in case you get any more ideas.

Don't let the ghosts and the ghouls disturb you, darling.

Darling, the only ghoul in the house is you.

And don't sit up all night, thinking of ways to get rid of me.

It makes wrinkles.

This is what she used on my brother and her sister.

Hacked them to pieces.

We found parts of their bodies all over the house.

In places you wouldn't think.

The funny thing is the heads have never been found.

The hands and feet, and things like that...

but no heads.

The wife, probably in a rage threatened her husband with a knife,

and then, carried away by hysteria took a swing at him,

and simply went on from there.

Well, she certainly went on. How many people did she kill, Mr. Pritchard?

Only two. Her husband and her sister.

No one else was here.

So there are two loose heads just floating around in here somewhere?

You can hear them at night.

They whisper to each other and then cry.

Since our host isn't here,

would anyone care to mix me a drink?

Certainly, what will you have?

Good evening.

I'm your host, Frederick Loren.

Since we're all strangers to each other,

let's get acquainted with a drink, shall we?

Mr. Loren.

I advise you to call this party off now.

The ghosts are already moving and that's a bad sign.

Let me apologize for my wife. She will join us later.

- What do we have? - Scotch with ice.

- Doctor? - I'll have the same.

Now before the party begins,

let's go over the details.

The caretakers will leave at midnight,

locking us in here until they come back in the morning.

Once the door is locked, there is no way out.

The windows have bars that a jail would be proud of.

And the only door to the outside locks like a vault.

There is no electricity,

no phone,

no one within miles,

so, no way to call for help.

Like a coffin.

So, if any of you decide not to stay for the party

you must let me know before midnight.

Of course if you leave, I shan't be able to pay you anything.

I'm interest in your reason for this... party.

Besides some pleasant company.

Ghosts, doctor.

I think everyone wonders what they would do...

if they saw a ghost.

And now my wife is giving us all the opportunity to find out.

Amusing. Ghosts, etc...

being only creations of hysteria...

your party should be a success.

So Pritchard here promises us genuine ghosts.

Seven now,

maybe more before morning.

That's cheerful.

4 men have been murdered this house.