The Innocents
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Movie Reviews of The Innocents
Movie Review: "It was only the wind, my dear."
Summary: 4 Stars
Atmospheric period thriller, ghost story, psychological study of repressed fears and sexuality, "The Innocents" (1962) adapted by Jack Clayton from Henry James' novella "The Turn of the Screw" fits perfectly all these genres and blends them in the unique, one of its kind film. Ms. Giddens (Deborah Kerr) is hired by a rich, self-centered man (Michael Redgrave) to take care of his young orphaned niece and nephew who live in the country side. He needs her to be completely responsible for them and never bother him with any problems. The young woman is very eager and exited to meet two children and to become not just their governess but their friend. She is ready to love them. The huge mansion where a brother and sister live is full of dark and gloomy secrets. Very soon, the young and inexperienced governess begins to suspect that the children who act strangely may be possessed by the spirits of two former servants who both died under the mysterious circumstances. Are the children possessed or is that Ms. Giddens' imagination and fears play with her mind? Do the ghosts appear or is she the only one who sees them? We would never receive a definite answer but it does not make a movie any less interesting and compelling.
Movie Review: Disappointing at Best
Summary: 1 Stars
The Innocents says it all! There was not a lot of talent, other than a few of the actors, displayed throughout this movie. This movie was not at all what I expected and was a big yawn.Movie Review: Gothic Horror Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
It is hard to imagine anyone capturing the mood of Henry James' 19th century ghostly tale better than Jack Clayton and company did with this version of his short story, 'A Turn of the Screw'. The company in this case was the masterful triumvirate of director Clayton, cinematographer Freddie Francis, and script writer Truman Capote.
I will leave the plot to other reviewers and stick to the things that set this apart from most other horror films.
The juxtaposition of youthful innocence and ghoulish malevolence plays beautifully against the backdrop of an english landscape. Even daylight is not enough to ward off the heebie-jeebies one feels whether it's a ghostly call for a child wafting through a grove of willows, a shadow-like form staring downward from a tower, or a lonely apparition standing in the midst of distant high grass.
There is no blood, nor is there any gore. Fans of today's slash and gash cinema will be lost in this film's intellectual study of psychological terror. Music, sound effects, and a creepy darkness work together to subtly weave a chilling skein that raises goosebumps the old-fashioned way.
There is a great story regarding one of the scenes, involving Deborah Kerr and the actor who masterfully played the silent but wickedly evil Quint (Peter Wyngard). Kerr's character, Miss Giddens, playing hide-and-seek, was hiding from the two children, and chose to place herself behind a curtain covering a glass door leading to the outdoors. It was night when they shot this scene. Miss Giddens was to turn (supposedly seeing something out of the corner of her eye) and scream aghast at the image her character sees: an apparition, a man (Quint) staring at her from the other side of the glass (at that moment, the shot the director was trying to get, was simply see her reaction). The shot of her turning and reacting was taken several times and each failed to win over the director - it just wasn't real enough. So finally, on one particular take, Peter Wyngard moved into the place on the other side of the glass and did so without alerting the actress. The shot we see in the film of Deborah Kerr turning and reacting to seeing the ghoul, Quint, so close by was un-rehearsed and absolutely authentic. According to Kerr, her reaction was completely natural - she had no idea that Wyngard had moved himself into position behind the glass glowering directly into her face as she turned.
This is a film to watch late at night, with all of the lights turned off, preferably alone in a large house, a house whose floor boards occasionally creak on their own.
Movie Review: Top-notch film; awful fake stereo soundtrack
Summary: 3 Stars
As the reviews below have already noted, this is a first-rate adaptation of "The Turn of the Screw" with extraordinary atmosphere and fine performances. Unfortunately, the DVD is a travesty. The original English-language soundtrack is nowhere to be found. Instead, we are offered only a ghastly fake stereo version that sounds like it was re-recorded inside a tin can for maximally phony reverb. The result is almost unlistenable, especially through headphones.
YOU CAN'T GET STEREO FROM MONO! Good Lord, how stupid do the DVD companies think we are? The record industry went through their period of fake stereo "improvements" twenty or thirty years ago; the DVD industry seems intent on providing their own incarnation of this stupidity.
Movie Review: Monumentally good, genuinely frightening.
Summary: 5 Stars
Green young Preacher's daughter Miss Giddens (Kerr) accepts a post as Governess-cum-Mother to young, orphaned Miles (Martin Stephens) and Flora (Pamela Franklin). Befriending the well-meaning housekeeper Mrs. Grose (Meg Jenkins), Miss Giddens soon discovers that the seemingly harmless relationship between bother and sister is much, much more serious and sinister than meets the eye.
The first and most satisfying aspect of "The Innocents" is the undeniable quality with which every aspect of the production is handled. On the acting front, Kerr, Stephens and Franklin give powerhouse performances, whole and plausible and thoroughly riveting. I won't even refer to the latter pair as 'child actors' - these kids are so good that they equal in every respect the performances given by their adult costars. Kerr is a beautiful, winsome and righteous-without-indignation Miss Giddens, and her skill at keeping the viewer guessing while maintaining the Julie Andrews-like facade of goodness and kindness is consummate.
Direction by Jack Clayton (who, as a Joan Crawfordophile, I had only ever come across directing "The Story of Esther Costello" before - a good movie, sure, but simply not in this league) is superlative - in his hands, the screenplay, which could have been filmed at a much slower pace, becomes an energetic and charismatic locomotive of thrills and genuine scares. His use of audio is extremely remarkable for the period, too - and the experimental nature of the mixed dialogue samples and the haunting theme tune make a perfect, perfect accompaniment to the starkly gothic visuals.
The screenplay is great, the dialogue comes thick and fast and keeps us quite literally riveted from start to finish. Of course, the powerhouse performances by the three lead characters could have made up for most things, but William Archibald, in adapting Henry James' classic tale "The Turn Of The Screw", has created an enthralling script with a minimum of dull moments.
And here's the real kick: this is one of the most effective, genuinely frightening films I've seen for years. The last movie I remember seeing that unsettled me this much was Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining", and that's real praise: I'm a huge fan of horror, and have seen so many movies - but "The Innocents" will stay with me forever. I can't give you examples because I might give the plot away, and I really want for you to experience this movie for yourself, but please, trust me: this is well worth your time and money.
DVD conversion is very good: although the sound is simply mono the print is crisp and clean, and picture quality is very high. Special features don't amount to much but what the hell, the feature itself would be cheap at twice the price.
Get this movie, it's as simple as that. You don't need to know anything else, except that you're in for a literate, polished, effective and truly brilliant ride.
Wholeheartedly recommended.