This is an intriguing and unusual film based on a ghost story by Sheridan Le Fanu. It portrays the painter, Gottfried Schalken, working under the tutelage of his teacher, Gerrit Dou [wonderfully played by Maurice Denham] as he falls in love with Dou's daughter, Rose. But everything changes with the sudden arrival of a mysterious stranger who seeks her hand in marriage. The action of the film is commented on by a narrator [the inimitable voice of Charles Gray], which adds another dimension to the film as well as giving insight into the mystery of one of Schalken's paintings. The sets brilliantly conjure the mood of classic Dutch interiors of the period and there's one moment where we glimpse Rembrandt himself, the actor cleverly made to look just like the man we've come to know from his many self-portraits. While some might find it a little slow in places, the build up of tension is well controlled as the atmosphere grows ever darker. The running time is relatively short, just 70 minutes. This film is a neglected masterpiece, a classic ghost story that deserves much wider acclaim and it's wonderful to have on blu-ray with many extras. Highly recommended.Read full review
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