The Changeling (1980)

Director:

Peter Medak

Writers:

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

Release Date:

28 March 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

"How did you die, Joseph...? Did you die in this house...? Why do you remain...?"

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Drowning | Composer | Politician | Child Murder | Ghost

Awards:

10 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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	...	Parapsychologist
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

Also Known As:

Enfant du diable, L' (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Sweden:15 | Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | West Germany:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1980) | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #25883) | Singapore:PG | UK:15

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Chessman Park Productions

Trivia:

Before Peter Medak was given the job, two British directors were considered; Tony Richardson declined due to creative differences.

Goofs:

Continuity: The level of the flames changes inconsistently several times during the end sequence.

Quotes:

John Russell: [speaking to Senator Carmichael about Joseph] There's no logical explanation for what I'm going to say to you now... The boy was badly crippled. I believe he was killed... in an attic room of that house.
[pauses]
John Russell: I, um... I *saw* what happened. And I believe it was Richard Carmichael, your father... who murdered the boy, his natural son, Joseph Carmichael. And then there's a substitution from the Sacred Heart Orphanage, the boy was taken to Europe... cured miraculously... returned... to inherit an empire. That changeling was you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kokkuri-san (1997)

Soundtrack:

Rondo in A minor for Piano, K. 511

One Of The Best, Classiest Haunted-House Movies

"The Changeling" is an old-fashioned, but hair-raising ghostly tale, very much at the level of classics of the subgenre like "Legend of Hell House (1973)" and "The Haunting (1963)." The film's narrative is interesting, and at times, even moving. Also, the film proves that old adagio that you don't really need to show anything in order to scare the audience. There are hardly any special effects in the film; violence is mostly implied. Director Medak puts his trust on the audience, allowing the viewers to fill in the blanks – the movie stimulates the imagination of the viewer like the best horror films often do. I wish more directors were as smart as Medak because his technique really pays off – this is one helluva scary movie! Plenty of spooky sequences will keep horror fans glued to the TV and those of you that don't particularly care for this type of production will surely enjoy this film's classy, elegant style. George C. Scott is terrific as the man tangled in a complicated web of ghostly mysteries. Many other familiar faces show up throughout the film (Melvyn Douglas, John Colicos, Madeline Sherwood, etc.). John Coquillon's camera work is eerily patient, and composer Rick Wilkins is a great accomplice when it comes to help scare the audience. It is simply one of the best haunted-house movies that I have seen.