The Screaming Woman

Laura Wynant, a wealthy woman who has recently left psychiatric care, returns to her family estate to rest. While walking the grounds she hears a terrified woman's screams coming from beneath the earth, and she becomes convinced someone is trapped out of sight. Instead of getting help, Laura's family questions her sanity, suggesting her recovery isn't complete. They see her alarm as proof she can't manage her affairs, and some relatives quietly move to gain control of her money. Laura then tries to make others hear what she hears and persuade them the threat is real, even as suspicion and mistrust grow around her.

This 1972 television movie was directed by Jack Smight, with creative credit to Merwin Gerard and Ray Bradbury. Olivia de Havilland headlines as Laura Wynant, supported by Ed Nelson, Laraine Stephens, Joseph Cotten, and Walter Pidgeon. The production feels rooted in classic suspense, adapting Bradbury's sensibility for an intimate, small-scale thriller.

As a TV film, it didn't have a theatrical run or box office figures, it was produced for television and first reached audiences via broadcast in 1972. Any financial performance should be measured by ratings and syndication rather than ticket sales.

Over time the picture has been noted among fans of vintage TV horror, partly because it pairs a top Golden Age actress with a Ray Bradbury premise. Viewers familiar with early 1970s television often point to its eerie setup and the effective use of a single, isolated location as memorable elements.

Critical reaction has tended to be mixed to positive, with a Vote Average around 6.8 out of 10 from contemporary viewers. Commentators highlight themes of gaslighting, the vulnerability that comes with age and illness, and how greed can corrupt family bonds. Many reviews single out Olivia de Havilland's steady performance, saying she brings credibility to a story that depends on convincing others to trust what only she seems to hear.