The Innocents (film)

Infobox_Film
name = The Innocents


amg_id = 1:96596
imdb_id = 0055018
producer = Jack Clayton
director = Jack Clayton
writer = Novella:
Henry James
Screenplay:
William Archibald
Truman Capote
John Mortimer
starring = Deborah Kerr
Michael Redgrave
music = Georges Auric
cinematography = Freddie Francis
editing = Jim Clark
distributor = 20th Century Fox
released = December 25, 1961
(NY premiere)
country = UK
runtime = 100 min.
language = English

"The Innocents" is a 1961 horror film based on the novella "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James. Directed and produced by Jack Clayton, it starred Deborah Kerr and Michael Redgrave. Falling into the subgenre of psychological horror, the film makes use of its lighting, music, and direction for its effect rather than gore and shock factor. Its atmospheric feel was achieved by Academy Award winning cinematographer Freddie Francis, who employed deep focus in many scenes, as well as bold, minimal lighting. It was filmed on location at the gothic mansion of Sheffield Park in East Sussex. The film marked the first film role for child actor Pamela Franklin.

"The Innocents" was nominated for two BAFTA Awards, including Best British Film and Best Film from any Source. For his direction, Clayton was awarded the National Board of Review Award for Best Director. William Archibald and Truman Capote won a 1962 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Motion Picture Screenplay. The title of the film was taken from Archibald's stage adaptation of James' novella.

Plot

The Innocents tells the story of an inexperienced governess, and daughter of a country parson (Kerr) who is hired to care for the niece and nephew of a callous socialite (Redgrave) at his country mansion, Bly House, whilst he continues to reside in London. He stipulates that the whole responsibility for looking after the children is hers. The gothic Bly House proves to have many dark secrets: the governess discovers that her predecessor, Miss Jessel, was having an affair with the valet Quint, and that both of them died in bizarre circumstances. Thereafter, the governess starts seeing their apparitions in the house and grounds and comes to believe that the ghosts of Quint and his lover are attempting to possess the bodies of the children.

Cast

Production Notes

According to Professor Christopher Frayling's commentary on the British Film Institute DVD (2006), much of the screenplay is derived from William Archibald's play of the same name, which premiered on Broadway in 1950, rather than coming directly from James' novella. Frayling attributes the Freudian subtext to screenwriter Truman Capote, whose contribution gives the film a Southern Gothic feel - with the governess's repressed erotic sensibility counterpointed by shots of lush and decaying plants and rapacious insect life. Reportedly, when first screened. Twentieth Century Fox executives were disturbed by the scene (which doesn't occur in the novella) where the governess kisses the boy Miles directly on the lips. Although there in no explicit sex or violence the film has been given a 12 rating by the BBFC.

"The Infant Kiss", a song by Kate Bush, from her 1980 album "Never for Ever", was inspired by the film. An audiotrack from this film was sampled into the cursed tape of the 2002 film "The Ring".

External links

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