The Turn of the Screw (TV 1999)

A governess put in charge of two young children begins to see the ghost of her dead predecessor.

Director:

Ben Bolt

Writers:

Nick Dear (teleplay), Henry James (short story)

Stars:

Caroline Pegg, Jodhi May, Colin Firth

Cast

Cast overview:
Caroline Pegg	...	Miss Jessel
Jodhi May	...	Miss
Colin Firth	...	Master
Pam Ferris	...	Mrs Grose
Grace Robinson	...	Flora
Jenny Howe	...	Cook
Jason Salkey	...	Quint
Joe Sowerbutts	...	Miles

Storyline

A governess put in charge of two young children begins to see the ghost of her dead predecessor.

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Plot Keywords:

governess | children | ghost | rowboat | reference to shakespeare's macbeth | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS [us]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Skruen strammes

Company Credits

Production Co:

Martin Pope Productions, Meridian Broadcasting, United Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 120 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of The Turn of the Screw (1974)

User Reviews

Interesting Adaptation

This was an interesting adaptation of James' equivocal little masterpiece. This production leaned a bit towards the Freudian camp/interpretation.

I liked it. They took a bit of liberty on some of the Jamesian dialogue e.g. Flora's speech to the governess by the lake. Not as many liberties, though, as in "Wings of the Dove"

Note for the pedantic: One surprising bit was the first apparition of Quint; he appears in the afternoon in broad daylight. Devotees of the James' piece and the ghost story frisson will surely remember that this occurred in twilight.