The Innocents

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The Innocents ★★★½ 1961

Incredibly creepy version of Henry James' “The Turn of the Screw.” Minister's daughter, Miss Giddens (Kerr), is hired by Redgrave (known only as “The Uncle”) as governess to young Flora (Franklin) and her brother Miles (Stephens) at his country estate. Miss Giddens begins to see the specters of a man and a woman and is told her descriptions match that of former estate manager Peter Quint and the last governess, his mistress, whose influence on the children was thought to be malevolent. Indeed, Miss Giddens believes the children are possessed by evil—but is it true or a product of her own hysteria? 85m/ B VHS, DVD . GB Deborah Kerr, Michael Redgrave, Pamela Franklin, Martin Stephens, Peter Wyngarde, Megs Jenkins, Clytie Jessop, Isla Cameron, Eric Woodburn; D: Jack Clayton; W: Truman Capote, William Archibald, John Mortimer; C: Freddie Francis; M: Georges Auric.

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