The Innocents (Jack Clayton, 1961) wr. Truman Capote, William Archibald, John Mortimer, based on Henry James story 'The Turn of the Screw'; Deborah Kerr, Megs Jenkins, Michael Redgrave, Clytie Jessop
In Victorian England, the uncle of orphaned niece Flora and nephew Miles hires Miss Giddens as governess to raise the children at his estate with total independence and authority. Soon after her arrival, Miss Giddens comes to believe that the spirits of the former governess Miss Jessel and valet Peter Quint are possessing the children. Miss Giddens decides to help the children to face and exorcise the spirits.
The brilliant thing about Clayton's film is that adheres exactly to James's story. The ambiguity is maintained until the very last line, and the denouement revealed by that line, just as James wrote it.
Jack Clayton also sdirected the 1974 production of The Great Gatsby, the relatively good one.
Garry Gillard | reviews | New: 9 August, 2018 | Now: 12 November, 2021