It ended with a woman's shadow moving at night across a rural landscape accompanied by eerie music. Everyone in the movie thought she was dead, but was she really?
Anyone?
[deleted]
Sadly no. It's somewhat frustrating, but thanks for the suggestion.
It couldn't possibly be "Isle of the Dead" (1945, dir. Mark Robson, prod. Val Lewton), could it? [SPOILERS for that movie] That's in black and white, and there's a brilliant scene in which a woman is moving, essentially floating, through the island. She was thought to be dead but was actually buried alive and has gone insane. It remains one of the scariest scenes I, at least, have ever watched.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_the_Dead_(film)
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/94924/Isle-of-the-Dead-Original-Trailer-.html
Do you remember by any chance what the landscape looked like?
share
It was dark, but it looked like a rural landscape. You couldn't see her, only her shadow slowly moving over the landscape accompanied by eerie music.
Thanks, salzmank. I appreciate your help. This has bugged me for years.
Of course, I'm happy to help. I regularly have these kinds of questions at the back of my head, bugging me.
Funny thing is, it seems a lot like a Val Lewton picture, except that I can't think of any that ends that way except for "Isle of the Dead." I'm sure you're not thinking of the famous "pool scene" in "Cat People," where you see the shadows flickering on the walls, or anything from "I Walked with a Zombie." (A lot of shadows and landscapes in the latter, but nothing that I can place from any one scene.)
By "she was thought to be dead," do you mean that (or do you remember if) she was a ghost, or was it like "Isle of the Dead," in which she was buried alive?
I suppose it wouldn't be "The Innocents," in which you see the dark female ghost float above the lake? But, no, that happens in the daytime and halfway through the movie.
I'll do some more searching and get back to you if I find anything.
Thanks! I really do appreciate it. I checked and it's none of those, but it would be great if you could keep searching.
In this nutty quest I need all the help I can get. π
Btw, SHE doesn't think she is dead. She is "thought to be dead" by others. They think she's dead, and the bad things have ended. The clear implication at the end is that she is going to do more harm.
It didn't seem like a sci-fi picture, more of a murder mystery/thriller.
Got it.
You're sure it's 40s-50s? Black and white?
Because there are a few like that after the time period and in color. But, if you're sure, then I'll rule them out.
I know it was B&W. I remember that distinctly. B&W worked really well for the final scene. I think it was 40's or 50's by the style. And I was born in 1950, and saw it on TV as a child. So I'm pretty sure it predates the 60's. π
Could it have been a British film?
Because the '49 "Fall of the House of Usher" (I should have thought of "Usher" immediately, with that synopsis) ends quite similarly to what you describe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAxS5EKDE9s
Could be. Another excellent suggestion, and you're right the ending is similar. However, I checked the ending on you tube, and that's not it.
Come to think of it, we could probably include the early 60's. I was only 10 in 1960.
Thanks again. U da man!
π
Have you tried this site?
http://www.whatismymovie.com/results?text=1940s+horror+movie%2C+woman+thought+to+be+dead%2C+wanders+in+final+scene%2C+shadow%2C+rural+area&qid=9de7f053-999e-4639-9fb9-eb2b4a30dbd1
"Isle of the Dead" keeps popping up at the top, so apparently the site is "thinking" as I thought! I know you said that's not it, but, just to be sure, there is an earlier scene, before the ending, where it's all shadow.
OK, if you don't mind, I think I'll give this a break for a while, but don't worry, I won't give up the search!
I will try that site. Thanks!
It sounds like a Val Lewton movie, for sure. Maybe The Leopard Man.
share
Thanks for the suggestion, but that's not it. I will check his others films also. You know the more I think about it, I think it might have been a TV show.
π
You know the more I think about it, it might have been a TV show.
π
Hm...
If it's a TV show, you may want to check out Boris Karloff's "Thriller."
Very much that type of program.
Here's a good site on it:
http://athrilleraday.blogspot.com/?m=1
Going off the presumption that it's a TV show, maybe "Thriller," I've been looking through the site I linked there--it's been too long since I've seen most of the episodes for me to remember all that well--and I came across a few which you may want to check out...
"Hay-Fork and Bill-Hook" (which I do remember: I don't recall anything that matches up with your description exactly, but it may be similar)
"The Premature Burial" (which I haven't seen)
"The Last of the Sommervilles" (which I also haven't seen)
"The Bride who Died Twice" (ditto)
"God Grant that She Lye Stille" (which I have seen and opaquely remember something similar to your description)
Heck, and I may just as well throw in "La Strega," one of the best episodes of "Thriller," if only because there are a few similar elements.
Hope that helps!
Salzmank
That is an excellent suggestion. I will check that out. Thanks for the idea and the blog address!
π
Those are excellent suggestions, but alas, I checked them on You Tube, and none of them are it. But I will check more into shows from Thriller.
Thanks also for the suggestion for Is This Your Movie?. I had tried them before, but didn't have any results. However entering the data like you suggested got better results. I will continue to use that resource. Thanks again. You have more helpful than anyone else in this goofy quest of mine.
π
Just so you know, I posted your question to the Monster Kid Classic Horror Forum with a list of movies/TV shows that have been ruled out. If anyone can figure it out, they can. Here's the link: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/66474/Trying-to-Help-Someone-Find-a-40s50s-Horror-Movie#.WOPSQxjMzow
share
Thanks salmank! U da man!
π
Salzmank,
You have been very helpful in my crazy quest, and I do appreciate it. Thank you so much.
Nine of us are forming a movie discussion group call "At The Movies" (ATM). Would you be interested in joining? If so, please go to the "Video" section and see the post: "Movie discussion group. Let's discuss!"
MovieManCin2
π