The Innocents movie storyline. Victorian England. Since the death of their parents, adolescents Miles (Martin Stephens) and Flora (Pamela Franklin) have been under the guardianship of their wealthy selfish uncle (Sir Michael Redgrave), who admits he has no place emotionally for them in his life. While he lives in London leading his bachelor lifestyle, the children stay at his country estate, the children under the direction of a governess, Miss Jessel (Clytie Jessop).
After Miss Jessel passes away, the uncle hires a new governess, Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr), who admits that this would be her first posting as such, and about which she is nervous. The uncle has only two directions for her: (1) take control of every aspect of Miles and Flora’s life, and (2) don’t bother him with anything concerning the children. She will only have to care initially for Flora as Miles is away at boarding school. Miss Giddens’ first challenge ends up dealing with the news that Miles has been expelled from school for behavior corrupting the other students.
Upon meeting Miles, Miss Giddens cannot understand how such a well mannered boy could be expelled, he being overly charming in an overtly mature manner. She also finds Flora to be a lovely child. As time progresses, Miss Giddens begins to feel that something is not quite right at the estate, as she sees visions of a man and a woman on the estate who she has not met and who should not be there according to the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose (Megs Jenkins).
She also finds that Miles and Flora exhibit odd behavior at times, especially with each other. She ultimately comes to the conclusion that there was just cause for Miles’ expulsion having to do with activities at the estate, and that she needs to bring these issues out into the open to exorcise the demons that affect Flora and most specifically Miles.
The Innocents is a 1961 British psychological horror film directed and produced by Jack Clayton, and starring Deborah Kerr, Michael Redgrave, and Megs Jenkins. 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 Archibald’s own stage play—also titled The Innocents—as a primary source text. Its plot follows a governess who watches over two children and comes to fear that their large estate is haunted by ghosts and that the children are being possessed.
Archibald’s original screenplay for The Innocents was based on the premise that the paranormal events depicted were legitimate. Displeased with Archibald’s take on the material, director Jack Clayton appointed American writer Truman Capote to rework the script. Capote’s rewrites incorporated psychological themes, resulting in a final work that suggests other alternatives to the plot. Filming took place partly on location at the Gothic mansion of Sheffield Park in Sussex, with additional shoots occurring at Shepperton Studios in Surrey.
Shot in CinemaScope, The Innocents incorporated bold minimal lighting as well as deep focus, employed by cinematographer Freddie Francis to achieve a distinctive—and sometimes claustrophobic—atmosphere. The film also pioneered the use of synthesised electronic sound created by Daphne Oram.[6] Clayton was dissatisfied with the original score of the movie by French composer Georges Auric and requested some alteration. But because Auric was not available due to health problems, Clayton had to turn to W. Lambert Williamson.
The Innocents received international distribution from the American film studio 20th Century Fox, and received its London premiere on 24 November 1961. It was released in the United States the following month on 15 December in Los Angeles and Christmas Day in New York City. The psychological underpinnings of the film’s screenplay have resulted in it being the subject of numerous critical and scholarly essays, particularly in the area of film theory. Of the various film adaptations of James’s work, The Innocents has received the most critical debate. It was selected by The Guardian as one of the 25 best horror films ever made.
The Innocents (1961)
Directed by: Jack Clayton
Starring: Deborah Kerr, Peter Wyngarde, Megs Jenkins, Isla Cameron, Michael Redgrave, Pamela Franklin, Martin Stephens, Clytie Jessop, Eric Woodburn
Screenplay by: William Archibald, Truman Capote
Production Design by:
Cinematography by: Freddie Francis
Film Editing by: Jim Clark
Costume Design by: Sophie Devine
Art Direction by: Wilfred Shingleton
Music by: Georges Auric
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: November 24, 1961 (London), December 15, 1961 (Los Angeles)
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