This is a loose prequel to the classic Henry James ghost story The Turn of the Screw, which itself was successfully filmed in 1961. Of course, with Michael Winner at the helm of this film, it soon changes from a ghost story to something more exploitational, as the director deals with a sado-masochistic relationship between the gardener and the governess that certainly WASN'T on the mind of Henry James when he wrote his story! In today's society where so-called documentaries on everything from sexual perversion to sex changes are ten a penny on every television channel, these sexual scenes have lost their power to shock; the sight of Stephanie Beacham hog-tied in the bedroom isn't perhaps as outrageous as it would have been in the 1970s.
Elsewhere, the film plods along slowly with a lack of pace and lack of action. Much of the screen time is given to the rather unsavoury character Quint, which is unsurprising considering that he's played by Marlon Brando. Brando gives one of those offbeat, anything-goes type performances that I personally hate; Johnny Depp's turn in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN is the most recent example of this type of "acting". Adopting a surprisingly good Irish accent, Brando boozes, sleeps, and acts odd throughout the film, most memorable in the opening scenes where he causes a frog to explode after making it smoke a cigarette!
The film has some good turns from the adult performers, all of whom are to be seen in rather more genteel fare than what's on offer here. Stephanie Beacham, who resolutely refused to disrobe in many of her other films, shows that she's not camera shy here, regularly stripping off for the torrid sex scenes. Harry Andrews pops up in a few scenes to lend some quiet dignity to the proceedings, while the biggest surprise of all comes from the appearance of Thora Hird as the ghastly housekeeper with maggots in her hair. I'm somebody who knows Hird solely from her role in the long-running sitcom LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE, so her appearance here seems quite extraordinary!
Sadly, the film is let down by some diabolical acting from the 'child' actors – one of whom, Verna Harvey, was actually 20 when this was filmed! Christopher Ellis is particularly bad and his voice really grates on the viewer's nerves. Winner seems to be a somewhat slapdash director, filming bland, boring shots at one moment and overusing the zoom lens at another. He fails to insert any much-needed energy or excitement into the proceedings, even at the shocking climax, which plays out as staidly as the rest of the film. Still, the Cambridgeshire locations are nice to look at – almost as nice as Beacham's ample charms – which is something, I suppose.
Elsewhere, the film plods along slowly with a lack of pace and lack of action. Much of the screen time is given to the rather unsavoury character Quint, which is unsurprising considering that he's played by Marlon Brando. Brando gives one of those offbeat, anything-goes type performances that I personally hate; Johnny Depp's turn in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN is the most recent example of this type of "acting". Adopting a surprisingly good Irish accent, Brando boozes, sleeps, and acts odd throughout the film, most memorable in the opening scenes where he causes a frog to explode after making it smoke a cigarette!
The film has some good turns from the adult performers, all of whom are to be seen in rather more genteel fare than what's on offer here. Stephanie Beacham, who resolutely refused to disrobe in many of her other films, shows that she's not camera shy here, regularly stripping off for the torrid sex scenes. Harry Andrews pops up in a few scenes to lend some quiet dignity to the proceedings, while the biggest surprise of all comes from the appearance of Thora Hird as the ghastly housekeeper with maggots in her hair. I'm somebody who knows Hird solely from her role in the long-running sitcom LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE, so her appearance here seems quite extraordinary!
Sadly, the film is let down by some diabolical acting from the 'child' actors – one of whom, Verna Harvey, was actually 20 when this was filmed! Christopher Ellis is particularly bad and his voice really grates on the viewer's nerves. Winner seems to be a somewhat slapdash director, filming bland, boring shots at one moment and overusing the zoom lens at another. He fails to insert any much-needed energy or excitement into the proceedings, even at the shocking climax, which plays out as staidly as the rest of the film. Still, the Cambridgeshire locations are nice to look at – almost as nice as Beacham's ample charms – which is something, I suppose.