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| Film Cover |
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| Quint's ghostly appearence on the window whilst possessing Miles |
Set in 19th
century Britain, the film attempts to create a psychological film set around
the life of Miss Giddens. Based on Henry James’ “Turn of the screw”, the film
uses elements to create dark, mysterious horror into the film such as exaggerated
lighting of the candlelight’s, cockroaches that sprung out of the mouth. “Clayton's
filmmaking, mustering frisson by both candle and blazing daylight, could serve
as an object lesson in its genre” (Atkinson, 2005) Long staircases are also used as part of the
horror genre, giving the idea of no return as well as ghostly appearances on
the windows or out on a very rainy day near the river bed which reflects on the
story of how Miss Jessel killed herself.
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| The innocent siblings with Miss Giddens |
The characters is
pretty similar to the style of “who dunnit” or “Cluedo” where each character is
as mysterious than each other only this time is through the perspective of Miss
Giddens, in particular Miles, who looked like a ten year old child but seemed
too mature for his age especially in the scene where Miss Giddens gives him a
kiss goodnight, Miles kissed her directly on the lips. “Meanwhile, slow fades and a bravura dream sequence hint at
the blurring of boundaries – between life and death, rationality and
imagination – that so disturbs Miss Giddens, endowed by Kerr with a frisson of
hysteria from the start. Whatever is happening, she knows it is ‘something
secretive and whispery and indecent’” (Walters, 2006) The siblings play an innocent-yet- mysterious
pair of children where sharing secrets could either be a good thing or that
they’re creating something sinister. “Kerr runs a wide gamut of emotions in a difficult role in which she has
to start with an uncomplicated portrayal and gradually find herself involved in
strange, unnatural goings-on, during which she sometimes doubts her own sanity.
Clayton has also coaxed a couple of remarkable pieces of playing from the two
youngsters, Martin Stephens and Pamela Franklin, extraordinary blends of
innocence and sophistry.” (Varity Staff, 1960)
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| Miles kissing Miss Giddens |
The strangeness
of the film is how it ends. With Miles dead whilst on Miss Gidden’s lap as she
cradles him after Quint appearing on the hedges when Miss Giddens urges Miles
to “say him name” and Quint clasping his hands before disappearing, it gives the
audience a question of whether Miles was actually got set free or was the “clasping”
of the hand a symbolism of “I has taken your soul” this is for the audience to
decide.
List of Illustrations:
Clayton, J (1961) Film Cover (online):
http://divxm.com/the-innocents-1961-480p-brrip-xvid-ac3-ltrg-t333799.html - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
http://divxm.com/the-innocents-1961-480p-brrip-xvid-ac3-ltrg-t333799.html - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
Clayton, J (1961) Miles kissing Miss Giddens (online):
http://www.cineplex.com/Movies/Archives/CS11986/The-Innocents/Photo.aspx?id=123667 - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
Bibliography:
Atkinson, M
(2005) Resurrecting an Unsung
Horror Gem (online):http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-08-30/screens/resurrecting-an-unsung-horror-gem/ - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
Walters, B (2006)
The Innocents – (1961) (online):
http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/76028/the_innocents.html - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/76028/the_innocents.html - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
Variety Staff
(1960) The Innocents (online):
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117791964?refcatid=31 - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117791964?refcatid=31 - (Accessed on 30/11/2011)
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