The Innocents (Jack Clayton, 1961)
"Sometimes one can't help imagining things"
Hallucinogenic & dreamlike, Jack Clayton's 1961 masterpiece is arguably the best ghost story ever committed to celluloid. Deborah Kerr is the new governess of a large English mansion, Bly House, who has been employed by the dandyish Michael Redgrave, a rich bachelor who couldn't care less about the house or its inhabitants, namely his creepy-yet-adorable niece & nephew, the latter played by Martin Stephens, who was the sinister little boy in the classic 1960 sci-fi/horror Village of the Damned (which inspired an pointless re-make by John Carpenter).
As soon as Kerr arrives at Bly House, she begins to see the ghosts of a deceased couple who worked there previously, most notably Peter Wyngarde in an eerie cameo role. But is the new governess really experiencing these apparitions, or is it all in her mind? This ambiguity is one of the movies most potent weapons.
The performances are all exquisitely played in a frightfully, terribly, awfully English way, and I never saw Deborah Kerr any better. Not only are the minimal cast wonderful, but the script -based on Henry James' the turn of the screw is co-adapted by Truman Capote, with additional dialogue by John Mortimer. What a pedigree! And if that wasn't enough, the beautiful black & white photography was by Freddie Francis, who's use of light is sublime. All this is masterly handled by Director Jack Clayton, who uses both visual & audio trickery to enormous effect. His direction -combined with Freddie Francis' visuals- is what gives The Innocents its incredible atmosphere… the opening scene alone sets the tone like no other film of that time or since. (A totally black screen with a child singing; only after 50 seconds does the 20th Century Fox logo actually appear).
The similarly-themed The Haunting was made two years later, and although The Innocents trumps it with its effective storytelling and beautiful imagery, The Haunting is not quite as scary. The Innocents is very much a less-is-more type of story.. An eerie masterpiece.
2015 Update: Criterion has now released a stunning Blu-ray from a brand-new 4K master. The beauty of the visuals is now even more remarkable! Absolutely recommended!
