The Innocents
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Movie Reviews of The Innocents
Movie Review: Interesting Film
Summary: 4 Stars
I found this film very interesting and thought provoking. It is the perfect movie to watch on a dark raining night. Scary and it reminded me of a gothic tale of old. Loved the costumes.
It is also a perfect movie for a "movie" club, to discuss.
Movie Review: "Truth is very seldom understood by any but imaginative persons..."
Summary: 5 Stars
Produced and directed by Jack Clayton (Room at the Top, The Great Gatsby), The Innocents (1961), based on the short story "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James, was adapted for the screen by William Archibald (I Confess), Truman Capote (Breakfast at Tiffany's, In Cold Blood), and John Mortimer ("Rumpole of the Bailey") and photographed by Freddie Francis (The Elephant Man, Dune). Starring in the film is Deborah Kerr (From Here to Eternity, The King and I, An Affair to Remember), the only actress, to date, to have been nominated for six Academy Awards and never to have won (she received an honorary Oscar for her achievements in 1994). Also appearing is Megs Jenkins (Oliver!), Martin Stephens (Village of the Damned), Michael Redgrave (The Lady Vanishes), Peter Wyngarde (Night of the Eagle), and Pamela Franklin (The Legend of Hell House, The Food of the Gods), in her silver screen debut.
As the film begins we meet a middle-aged woman named Miss Giddens (Kerr), who's in the process of interviewing for a position as governess for two, young orphaned children left in the charge of their rather well to do uncle (Michael Redgrave). Seems the man, a somewhat dedicated bachelor, has neither the time nor desire to look after the children, so he's looking for someone he can give complete authority of the children to, removing himself as far from the burden as possible. Miss Giddens accepts the position and soon finds herself whisked away to a large, lonely country estate in the English countryside, populated by a handful of servants including Mrs. Grose (Jenkins) and the man's niece Flora (Franklin)...turns out the nephew Miles (Stephens), is currently away at boarding school. After Miss Giddens settles in, she learns Miles is coming home after having been dismissed (i.e. expelled) from school under curious circumstances, but after finally meeting him, he, or his sister for that matter, seem hardly the type to cause any trouble. As time goes by one can't help notice a subtle weirdness in the children given the fact they're constantly whispering to each other and they, especially Miles, seem to speak and act beyond their years. As the strangeness persists, Miss Giddens begins asking questions about the previous governess, a woman named Miss Jessel, and learns of an `improper' relationship Miss Jessel had with a valet named Quint (who was described as being handsome and obscene), both of whom were close to the children and both of whom died under mysterious circumstances. She also learns Quint, an abusive sort, had complete control over the estate while his master was away, and often abused his authority in various ways (no one seemed all that broken up when Quint was found dead, except for Miss Jessel). Anyway, Miss Giddens soon comes to believe the children, given their close relationship to Miss Jessel and Quint, have become corrupted in someway, and their increasingly odd actions not necessarily their own...
As far as gothic ghost stories, The Innocents is one heck of a humdinger. If you're looking for atmosphere, this film has it in spades...a huge, lonely Victorian house complete with creaking doors, clattering windows, squeaking floorboards, flickering candlelight, ethereal voices wafting in on the wind, shadowy corners, and so much more. From the moment we first enter the house there's a persuasive sense of creepiness, one that continues to grow as the story goes on...throw in a couple of spooky children and the occasional apparition and you've got most everything you need for a frightful cinematic experience, the kind rarely enjoyed in this day and age given the heavy reliance on computer generated effects. There are a number of aspects about this feature I thought immaculate, including the performances, the direction, the photography, eerie music, and the writing. I thought both Deborah Kerr and Martin Stephens (who played Miles) did a wonderful job. I really appreciated Kerr's character in that she was fleshed out enough for us to understand why she didn't get while the getting good. In another film we, the audience, might find it questionable why a character wouldn't remove herself from a situation she thought fraught with peril but here it's clear Kerr's character's motivation, along with her belief that the children aren't to blame for their situation or held accountable for some of their wicked behavior. Both the children came off as spooky, but Miles more so as his manipulations and deceitful ways were less obvious (and more sinister). I think what bothered me the most about his character was the way he'd talk to Miss Giddens. His tone felt a little condescending at times, as if it was all some sort of game, one that he was orchestrating, his sister more or less a pawn following his lead. The story is actually pretty simple, but that doesn't make it any less frightening (there's no, cheap `pop out' scares here). The pacing may appear slow at times, but I found it appropriate to the creepy nature inherent within the material. As far as flaws apparent in the production I really couldn't find any, but then I wasn't really looking. I suppose someone could make the argument some aspects of the story weren't fully explained but I felt everything in the story, including the ambiguity, were intentional. The best ghost stories, in my opinion, often leave one feeling unsure, asking questions that may never be answered...and it's not like anything within the story came out of left field, as if it didn't belong. As far as endings go, this one featured a real doozy. All in all, if you're interested in a fantastic chiller reliant heavily on solid storytelling, strong performances, and excellent production values, The Innocents will definitely fit the bill.
I thought the picture, available in both widescreen anamorphic (2.35:1) and fullscreen (1.33:1), came across clean and clear, and the audio, available in Dolby Digital stereo in English and Dolby Digital mono in Spanish, came through well. There's not much in the way of extras except for subtitles in English and Spanish, a goofy theatrical trailer for the film, and trailers for The Cabinet of Caligari (1962), The Legend of Hell House (1973), and Phantom of the Paradise (1974).
Cookieman108
Movie Review: Terrifying!
Summary: 5 Stars
Professional Nanny Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr) is persuaded by a handsome playboy to take on the care of his neice and nephew on his large country estate. Before long, Miss Giddens becomes convinced that the spacious estate is inhabited not only by her and the children, but also by evil spirits that mean to do harm.
The Innocents is a brilliant adaptation of Henry James's novel, The Turn of the Screw. It is one of the greatest haunting films ever made and is a movie that everyone should see. Unfortunately, it has been unavailable on VHS and DVD until this year. I've been waiting for the day it would be available since the first time I saw it in a theater in college in 1996.
The Innocents is a very scary movie and I wouldn't show it to small children. The language is clean and there is no violence, but it's terrifying nonetheless.
Movie Review: A Textbook Example of Reactive Attachment Disorder
Summary: 5 Stars
Watch this movie if you want insight into how childhood sexual abuse, neglect and trauma horribly affects children's emotional development and ability to authentically attach to new caregivers. If you're a foster parent, adoptive parent, teacher or therapist of a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder, this movie lays out all the triangulation, manipulatiion and "craziness" that comes into play. Though the abusive caretakers are dead, they continue to "haunt" the children and the children channel or are possessed by them. This is symbolic for how abused children continue to recreate the chaos and abuse they experienced from their birth parents for years and years after removal. I could go into greater detail, but this movie would certainly make an excellent subject of study and analysis for a graduate course in psychology or social work.Movie Review: Interesting, if cheesy in spots.
Summary: 3 Stars
The Innocents (Jack Clayton, 1961)
Jack Clayton didn't direct many films over the course of his life, but it seems as if every one of them has developed at least a cult following over the years. The Innocents is one that continues to keep its director's name alive. Based on Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw," The Innocents is the story of Miss Giddens (the mighty Deborah Kerr), who takes a position as a governess to Miles (Village of the Damned's Martin Stephens) and Flora (Pamela Franklin, who went on to be a familiar TV actress, guest starring in a number of shows) after the death of their previous governess. The childrens' behavior gets somewhat odd, and Miss Giddens, with the help of her only real friend, Mrs. Grose (Oliver!'s Megs Jenkins), must determine whether the children are simply being malicious, or whether supernatural elements are afoot.
This is good stuff, a mystery/horror film that relies mostly on atmosphere to get its point across. There are some times when it crosses the line into cheesiness-- the "eerie" reflection of a ghost's face in the window, for example-- but there's been far, far worse in the ensuing forty-five years. Clayton did this one up right, and it deserves to be seen. *** ?