BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

SparkMore n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Coventry TV-movies from the early '70s, and particularly those legendary "ABC Movies of the Week", make it look so easy to deliver tense and compelling thriller stories! I truly love most of these gems, and "The Screaming Woman" instantly became a new personal favorite! Like the very best of its kind, this film is short and sober but tremendously compensates in atmosphere and plot-intelligence what it lacks in action footage. When a film is based on a story written by Sci-Fi genius Ray Bradbury, you can rest assured the script is pure quality. The plot is simple and straightforward, but oh-so ingenious and intriguing! The ageing and wealthy but mentally unstable Mrs. Laura Wynant returns home to her country estate to recover from a period in an institution. During her first estate tour, out on the horse carriage, however, she hears petrified woman's screams coming from underneath the soil. While Laura is convinced that an innocent woman is buried alive at her property, her greedy family members see her hysterical behavior as the ideal opportunity to control her finances. The already capturing story is made extra stirring thanks to the grisly sub plots and mysterious supportive characters, like the constant bickering between Laura Wynant's son and daughter-in-law and the odd-behaving neighbors. The amazing Olivia de Havilland is phenomenal as the misunderstood and disrespected elderly lady in distress, but she also receives good support for the entire rest of the cast, notably Ed Nelson, Charles Knox Robinson and Laraine Stephens. Jack Smight ("Airport 1975", "Damnation Alley") was one of the most underrated directors of his generation and he delivers some of his best work with this film. My only main complaints are that Joseph Cotton (one of my favorite actors of all times) should have had more screen time and that also the luscious Alexandra Hay's role is too small. The climax is genuinely spine-chilling and guaranteed to haunt your memories for the rest of your life.

MartinHafer Olivia de Havilland is one of my all-time favorite actresses. She's been marvelous in many films and deservedly earned the Oscar twice. However, for a fan, it's not especially enjoyable watching her in "The Screaming Woman". I think most of it is that she overacts and the director should have done a better job in getting a slightly more restrained performance. It also didn't help that the story was very simple and had to be padded in order to get the film to full length. When the film begins, Laura (de Havilland) has just returned home from an extended stay in a mental institution. You can tell she is rich because it's describes as a 'sanitarium'...a nice way of referring to such a place! Soon after her arrival home, Laura is walking about her property and hears a woman's muffled scream coming from beneath the ground! However, because of her reputation, everyone just assumes it's her imagination. And, try as she might, she cannot get anyone to listen.Apart from the overacting (only in a couple scenes), the film suffers from logical problems. After all, when Laura gets a kid to help her dig and he ALSO hears the screaming, this should have solved the problem....but still no one (including the boy's father) believes her. Folks are TOO quick to laugh her off and ignore her when five minutes of digging would have ended the problem. As a 30 minute production this might have worked...as it is, it's difficult to recommend.By the way, I noticed one reviewer lamented that it was NOT available on DVD or video...but it IS available on YouTube....which is how I saw the film.

ednelson-1 Working with this wonderful performer was a great thrill for me. She was like and beginner with great joy and loved every suggestion I made and wanted to rehearse over and over again. I was shocked somewhat because few Oscar winners seem to want to do that with and "unknown" which I kind of was in those days. When waiting around we talked once about Errol Flynn who I think did 8 pictures with her, back in the Warner Bros, days. She said all the bad press he got on being Pro Nazi and other things, was to quote Her. "was ridicules, and believe me I knew him better then anyone." Joe Cotton,all the way back with Wells in "Citizen Kane," was a regular guy, and was the star of the first film I did, still in New Orleans, It was entitled "The Steel Trap" with the wonderful Teresa Wright. I was an extra and scared to death standing next to him in a big scene. The title of this ABC TV movie was something else and they changed it after we started shooting. Olivia really hated the title saying, "All the audience will see is my face screaming from this title."I wrote this because you all liked the picture so much. Thanks Ed Nelson

jturner this is the best version of ray bradbury's story...olivia de havilland at her best. i found the story to be true to the short story. if you like a thriller with plot twists, insanity, voices from the grave..then this video will have you screaming.