Looking for a good ghost story

Dear Mr. Smithee: In the late 1940s or maybe '50s, I saw a movie in which a young woman was living in an old mansion haunted by two ghosts, one always accompanied by the fragrance of mimosa. I don't know the movie's name or the actress, but she was very good at being terrified. It might have been Joan Fontaine. I would love to be able to see it again.

DOT BUCKINGHAM, BROOKLYN CENTER

Dear It Wasn't Joan Fontaine: You have good taste in ghost movies.

The film is 1944's "The Uninvited" with Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey and Gail Russell. It was a psychological horror film involving death, hauntings, an impressive mansion and the distinct aroma of mimosa.

If you liked "Uninvited" -- and I suspect you will again -- you would probably enjoy these great movies: "The Haunting" (1963) with Julie Harris, "The Innocents" (1961) with Deborah Kerr, "Lady in White" (1988) with Lukas Haas and "The Old Dark House" (1932) with Boris Karloff and Gloria Stuart.

I am a big fan of "The Blair Witch Project" (1999), although many who don't know better despise it.

And if you are feeling especially open to the bizarre, check out Lars von Trier's full TV miniseries "The Kingdom" (1994). Good stuff.

ALAN

P.S. You get a "Young at Heart" T-shirt and a "Kung Fu Panda" plush toy.

Dear Mr. Smithee: Until Christmastime, my husband and I went to a movie every Saturday night. Since then, we have seen three movies, and they were not very good. It seems to me that there is a lack of good plots, compelling characters, good writing and fresh ideas. Is it that way to you?

MICHELLE BARNETT, POWDER SPRINGS, GA.

Dear Seems? How is it that you have not realized that Hollywood is a business geared mainly toward teen males?

It is an industry of horror films and action movies with an emphasis on jokes about the two P's (hint: poop and penises).

ALAN

P.S. You get a "Kung Fu Panda" plush toy and a "Young at Heart" T-shirt.

After my recent list of movies I'd take with me to a deserted island, I got this dismissive missive from an apparently uninformed reader known only as anythinguwantidontcare: "Those are your top 10 movies? Joking, right? If serious, makes me wonder if you have ever seen any great movies."

My humble reply: Who said anything about those being my top 10 movies? Three of them would be in my top 10. Some are just guilty pleasures.

And since it's an island with just me on it, you don't have to be bothered viewing films you don't appreciate.

Send e-mail to alansmithee@ajc.com. Include your name, city and daytime phone number.