For an appreciation of this films incredible visuals, we turned to cinem. The innocents 1961 originally published october 24th, 2012 ive watched the innocents twice, and while its good im not considering it one of the best psychological horror films according to martin scorsese hmm, hes making his. The innocents reminded me of childrens books i read years ago. Lessons the innocents 1961 english, key stage 3 lesson one 675. Based on the novella the turn of the screw by the american novelist henry james, the screenplay was adapted by william archibald and truman. The naive young woman, who has a lived a solidly middle class existence as a vicars daughter, marvels at the stately home and spacious grounds.
A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted. The innocents has kerr donning her late 1900s victorian styled frocks. The innocents jack clayton, 1961 is one of the screens supreme ghost stories, and also one of the last great films shot in blackandwhite cinemascope by the gifted cinematographer freddie francis. By the time she made the innocents, kerr had been both the repressed nun of black narcissus and the sex. In the first scene, miss giddens deborah kerr is applying for a job as a governess.
I found myself wondering as i was watching the film how such a small boy could possess such a wonderful vocabulary and such incredible acting skills. Much of anne fontaines blistering film the innocents is set within the walls of a polish convent in december 1945, just after the end of. The innocents is definitely one of the classics of genre cinema, a disquieting film that shrewdly alternates between traditional gothic imagery dark shadows creeping into a ring of candlelight and bright matteroffactness in its presentation of the otherworldly. Claytons movie is being rereleased for the festive season, while in a new book in. Lillie is fascinating too and id like to count the number of fbombs she uses in the book. With deborah kerr, megs jenkins, michael redgrave, martin. The film begins by showing a pair of clasped hands, and a womans voice is heard, whispering that all she ever wanted was to help the children, not hurt them, and that more than anything, she loves children. The innocents 1961 movie september 8, 2017 a very interesting documentary with insights and information about the making of the 1961 film the innocents, a ghost story based on the henry james novel the turn of the screw.
Apr 25, 2011 a movie trailer for 1961 film the innocents debut movie for the beautiful actress pamela franklin. The screenplay by truman capote was actually based on the 1950 stage adaptation by william archibald and may be one reason henry james purists find fault with the 1961 film version. However in the end, i chose a much acclaimed psychological horror film, the innocents 1961. Aug 24, 2018 the title of the innocents has been used before in film. There is a 2016 french film about nuns in poland who were impacted by wwii and a 1961 horror film written by truman capote based on the.
More so than the book, the film is a haunted house movie. Miss giddens deborah kerr, the new governess for two orphaned children in victorian england, arrives at their idyllic country estate in the beginning of the psychological horror film, the innocents 1961. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, youll ask, tamani said. Sep 17, 2017 the 1961 british film the innocents which is either a horror film about ghosts or a psychological tragedy about female repression in the late victorian period stands astride 20th century film history with one foot planted firmly in arch classicism, the other in the jarring modern styles that were only just coalescing around the world. The innocents a quinn colson novel book 6 and millions of other books are available for instant access. A crackling, eerie, coldly beautiful account of the novel, which reveals. The horror of the innocents, and the forgotten career of. The famous truman capote pens the screenplay for the film. Based on the 1898 novella the turn of the screw by the american novelist henry james, the screenplay was adapted by william archibald and truman capote, who used archibalds own stage playalso titled the innocentsas a primary. Written by william archibald, based on the turn of the screw by henry james.
With that line, nervously delivered in response to a strange, unidentified noise from outside, she reopens a can of worms thats been actively squirming since 1898, when henry james the turn of the. Instead, it is about the painful journey from childhood to adulthood, and all of the confusing emotions, including sexuality, that come with growing up. Based on the 1898 novella the turn of the screw by the american novelist henry james, the screenplay was adapted by william archibald and truman capote, who used archibalds own stage playalso titled the innocents as a primary. Dec, 20 the film thrives on unsettling images of overgrowth and rot, such as the dead flower that drops at kerrs touch, and the beetle that crawls obscenely out of the mouth of a cherub statue. Henry james story the turn of the screw, jack claytons 1961 film is a mini masterpiece. Hey, several people here recommended this film and while it has high production values and isnt even tempted to drift over to being scary or gory, i cant find a heartbeat in the entire film. Deborah kerr and peter wyngarde in the innocents 1961 deborah kerr and. Rent the innocents 1961 starring deborah kerr and peter wyngarde on dvd and bluray. With the bonus of it starring a muchloved, golden hollywood leading lady, deborah kerr. The turning a remake of 1961s masterpiece the innocents. The film thrives on unsettling images of overgrowth and rot, such as the dead flower that drops at kerrs touch, and the beetle that crawls obscenely out of. It is her first position, but the wealthy bachelor.
The innocents was his second feature, following the success of his oscarnominated angry young man drama room at the top, a film notable for its portrait of stewing class resentment in the world. When the last sentence ended, my out loud comment was, is this it. Theres a fairytale quality to these two orphaned siblings living in absolute isolation newfoundland. The innocents, british horror film, released in 1961, that is widely. Fans of classic super natural tales would be most satisfied with this movie. The innocents sweeps you away and takes the audience on a journey that is rarely explored in cinema. The innocents 1961 film wikimili, the best wikipedia. This film has extreme depth in character and story textures. They have no adult to explain their latent desires as they become adolescents. Dec 12, 20 j ack claytons the innocents 1961, now on national rerelease, is an elegant, sinister and scalpprickling ghost story as scary in its way as rosemarys baby or the exorcist.
The innocents, a 2019 novel by michael crummey film and television edit the innocents 1961 film, a british film directed by jack clayton, based on the turn of the screw by henry james and on archibalds play. The innocents is more tense than frightening though it is very, very frightening. The innocents 1961 stream and watch online moviefone. Written by william archibald and truman capote, with additional scenes and dialogue by john mortimer, based on henry jamess the turn of the screw and archibalds stage adaptation, the innocents. The innocents 1961 originally published october 24th, 2012 ive watched the innocents twice, and while its good im not considering it one of the best psychological horror films according to martin scorsese hmm, hes making his second appearance in the references this week. Sometimes one cant help imagining things, fragile british governess miss giddens tells one of her countrymanor wards early in 1961s the innocents. The innocents is a fascinating and unusual ghost story filled with complex emotions and themes. The whole world was about to change, and no one would be affected more. Rent the innocents 1961 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. Ill keep you safe, tamani said, sweeping a lock of hair from. It is, of course, based on the novella the turn of the screw by henry james, and is arguably one of the most faithful translations of his work to the screen. The innocents is a 1961 film about a young governess for two children who becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted.
J ack claytons the innocents 1961, now on national rerelease, is an elegant, sinister and scalpprickling ghost story as scary in its way as rosemarys baby or the exorcist. Like any victorian novel, the film is slow at first. Despite its origins on the page, the innocents is one of the most cinematically literate of all british horror films, and still packs a powerful punch five decades on. As its only a few miles away from another famous horror film location, we did two locations in one trip. Apr 21, 2020 deborah kerr, the innocents 1961 the innocents. A pictorial record 20, film writer anthony slide noted. The innocents, british horror film, released in 1961, that is widely considered one of the best ghost stories ever filmed and the finest screen adaptation of henry jamess novella the turn of the screw 1898.
Deborah kerr, peter wyngarde, megs jenkins, michael. The innocents was at most a big disappointment from the novel and would have been a total flop were it not for the brilliant and eerily good acting of the child actor, martin stephens who plays miles. Deborah kerr portrayed miss giddens, a spinster governess, hired. Harem cinema favorite favorite march 1, 2018 subject. Now lilie, the acting sheriff, has the hots for him. It is based on a play by the same name the innocents by william archibald, which in turn is based on turn of the screw. Sep 04, 2011 the unusual opening of the film the innocents 1961. The performances are good, though in typical 1950sstyle melodramatic form. It still contains at least one of the great scares of cinema.
The book its based on the turn of the screw is deliberately written to be ambiguous and that movie adaptation is fairly faithful to it. Jun 21, 2016 the innocents was at most a big disappointment from the novel and would have been a total flop were it not for the brilliant and eerily good acting of the child actor, martin stephens who plays miles. The innocents was his second feature, following the success of his oscarnominated angry young man drama room at the top, a film notable for its portrait of. Can someone explain the ending of the innocents 1961. I dont do patrols, i dont go hunting, i just stick close to you. The great cinematographer freddie franciss brilliant work on jack claytons chilling 1961 horror movie the innocents is widely admired by movie lovers and professionals. With deborah kerr, peter wyngarde, megs jenkins, michael redgrave. The innocents 1961 film wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The 1961 british film the innocents which is either a horror film about ghosts or a psychological tragedy about female repression in the late victorian period stands astride 20th century film history with one foot planted firmly in arch classicism, the other in the jarring modern styles that were only just coalescing around the world. But the two make a great law enforcing team that solves the mysteries in the book. Among the many film versions, however, most agree that the innocents 1961, directed by jack clayton, is the most elegant, evocative and frightening of them all. The innocents is crummeys fifth novelscotiabank nominated his first, river thieves, for canadas giller prize, and hes also published several books of poetry. Youre powerless to stop it and it feels terribly invasive. The innocents is a very wellmade film, with many subtle touches.
Watching jack claytons psychological suspense film, the innocents, is a bit like peering over someones shoulder as they descend irrevocably into madness. Today, the innocents is often referred to as a psychosexual thriller, and while thats somewhat true, the movie really isnt that racy even by 1961 standards. Released 1961, the innocents stars deborah kerr, martin stephens, pamela franklin, michael redgrave the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 40 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. But gradually the tension is ratcheted up until before you know it youre holding a pillow close to your face. If you read the short book youll see what i mean i believe. Yesterday, we went to look at the main location used for the legend of hell house.
I wont tell you what it is, except to say that, like so many things in this film, it involves a window. Oct 09, 2015 the innocents 1961 originally published october 24th, 2012 ive watched the innocents twice, and while its good im not considering it one of the best psychological horror films according to martin scorsese hmm, hes making his second appearance in the references this week. All i want to do is save the children, not destroy them. The title of the innocents has been used before in film. They dont even know what sex is or how humans reproduce. Quinn colson is a great character who has more women after him than anyone. Deborah kerr portrayed miss giddens, a spinster governess, hired by an affluent bachelor.