Problems I had with the movie

If you want the points you mentioned fleshed out more, the simple answer is to read the book. I love the aesthetics of this movie, but it condenses the plot considerably, and cuts out several of the darker aspects of the story (I can only assume due to censorship issues). It's been a few years now since I read it, but I seem to recall Katrine being sent away to live with Johanna's relatives. Nicholas never wanted her, and wanted to eliminate all reminders of Johanna from his life. I don't remember many particulars about the maid, but I do remember that the version in the movie is sort of an amalgamation of two separate characters. I think Miranda's lady's maid in the book is not particularly creepy, but takes her down to the servant's quarters to visit a creepy, older servant who tells her the story of Azilde and the harpsichord. The story of Azilde is also fleshed out a bit more, and takes on much more interesting themes than a mere ghost story.

As far as the curse goes in the context of the film, I don't think it is supposed to be entirely clear that the haunting is real. We as an audience hear it, but we don't know if we are hearing it inside Nicholas and Katrine's head or not. The argument against it being real would be that Nicholas is imagining it due to his drug-induced insanity. But Katrine seems relatively sane, if morose and neurotic. I lean more toward a supernatural explanation for this reason.

I haven't read the novel either but no doubt the story would had to have been hugely abridged to fit a 90min or so film. I didn't miss the child but I thought the creepy maid was good. I expect she had to be replaced by Peggy who was more of a guardian to Miranda than the ghost-loving first maid. I didn't recognise Jessica Tandy as Peggy (later in The Birds) till I checked the imdb cast for the film.

Two hours would have been too long a film for me. But it is rushed at the end as you say. I was just glad to see a bearded Vincent Price after he was suddenly revealed to be a drug addict. More like the horror Vincent that he was to become rather than clean-shaven version at the beginning of the film. I think the curse was supposed to be on the Van Ryans so I expect that the ghostly singing was only meant to be heard by the members of the family.

Gene Tierney and Vincent Price gave great performances. I know Vincent was oscar nominated for 'Laura' two years before. But I thought that he made a bigger impact in this film.

I'm with you the acting was on point but there were so many holes in the movie that were left unanswered to the viewers. Maybe I need to read the book too.

For starts I think I'll break your neck.-Charles Kane (Citizen Kane)