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The Innocents

  • 1961
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
32K
YOUR RATING
The Innocents (1961)
Trailer for The Innocents
Play trailer3:09
1 Video
89 Photos
Horror

A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted.A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted.A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted.

  • Director
    • Jack Clayton
  • Writers
    • Henry James
    • John Mortimer
    • William Archibald
  • Stars
    • Deborah Kerr
    • Peter Wyngarde
    • Megs Jenkins
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    32K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jack Clayton
    • Writers
      • Henry James
      • John Mortimer
      • William Archibald
    • Stars
      • Deborah Kerr
      • Peter Wyngarde
      • Megs Jenkins
    • 262User reviews
    • 144Critic reviews
    • 88Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 3 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Innocents (1961)
    Trailer 3:09
    Watch The Innocents (1961)

    Photos89

    Deborah Kerr in The Innocents (1961)
    Deborah Kerr and Peter Wyngarde in The Innocents (1961)
    Martin Stephens in The Innocents (1961)
    Deborah Kerr and Martin Stephens in The Innocents (1961)
    Deborah Kerr and Pamela Franklin in The Innocents (1961)
    "The Innocents" Deborah Kerr 1961 Twentieth Century Fox
    "The Innocents" Deborah Kerr 1961 Twentieth Century Fox
    Deborah Kerr in The Innocents (1961)
    Deborah Kerr in The Innocents (1961)
    Deborah Kerr and Martin Stephens in The Innocents (1961)
    Deborah Kerr, Pamela Franklin, and Martin Stephens in The Innocents (1961)
    Deborah Kerr in The Innocents (1961)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Deborah Kerr
    Deborah Kerr
    • Miss Giddens
    Peter Wyngarde
    Peter Wyngarde
    • Peter Quint
    Megs Jenkins
    Megs Jenkins
    • Mrs. Grose
    Michael Redgrave
    Michael Redgrave
    • The Uncle
    Martin Stephens
    Martin Stephens
    • Miles
    Pamela Franklin
    Pamela Franklin
    • Flora
    Clytie Jessop
    Clytie Jessop
    • Miss Jessel
    Isla Cameron
    Isla Cameron
    • Anna
    Eric Woodburn
    • Coachman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jack Clayton
    • Writers
      • Henry James
      • John Mortimer
      • William Archibald
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To create such sharp visuals, director of photography Freddie Francis used lots of huge bright lamps. Deborah Kerr sometimes had to resort to wearing sunglasses between takes. He also had candles custom made with four or five wicks entwined to produce more light.
    • Goofs
      An obvious center back zipper in several of Miss Kerr's costumes, as well as in Mrs. Gross & Flora's costumes. The Innocents is set during the Victorian period, 1837-1901. Commercial zippers were not used in clothing until 1925.
    • Quotes

      Miles: What shall I sing to my lord from my window? What shall I sing for my lord will not stay? What shall I sing for my lord will not listen? Where shall I go when my lord is away? Whom shall I love when the moon is arisen? Gone is my lord and the grave is his prison. What shall I say when my lord comes a calling? What shall I say when he knocks on my door? What shall I say when his feet enter softly? Leaving the marks of his grave on my floor. Enter my lord. Come from your prison. Come from your grave, for the moon is a risen. Welcome, my lord.

    • Crazy credits
      The film begins with a totally black screen and the sound of Flora singing for several seconds; then the 20th Century Fox logo fades in and out. The singing continues for a few seconds before the opening credits begin. As the credits display, we see an anguished Miss Giddens praying on the left side of the screen. Her actions are not explained until the film's climax.
    • Connections
      Featured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: The Innocents (1974)
    • Soundtracks
      O Willow Waly
      Music by Georges Auric

      Lyric by Paul Dehn

      Performed by Isla Cameron

    User reviews262

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    One Full Turn of the Screw
    The Innocents (1961)

    The title loads this gun a little differently than the original from the long short story (or novella) by Henry James--The Turn of the Screw. But Jack Clayton's version of the story gets at the point with great ambiguity--uncertainty is key, and the suspense is partly under pressure because we don't quite know which side to take.

    I can't say more, of course, because even a hint of a hint will start a viewer off on the wrong foot. But know that The Innocents is vigorously filmed in widescreen black and white, that Deborah Kerr, always a cool actress, is perfectly cool here (some might just say British, but she has no Julie Andrews in her governessing, and no Elizabeth Taylor in her at all). The two kids are both rather poised and charming as well as chilling, the boy especially intriguing for his precociousness (and preciousness). We empathize with all three equally, and yet, as you see, you can't quite see the events from their three pairs of eyes equally. Something is wrong, and you wait to see what, and how it will be revealed.

    If it ever is. One of the brilliant things about Henry James is how you finish one of his books (the novels are better than the stories for this, I think) knowing what has happened but not knowing completely why. I mean, it all makes sense and feels right, but it feels suspended with an air of lingering needs. So you end up thinking about it later. As you will with this film.

    There are some moments of special effects that are very well done even if a kind of 1950s/60s style of overlapping images and dreamer/dreamed simultaneousness. And the ghosts, not to give anything away, are pretty matter of fact. This is more an appreciation than a complaint, because the lack of gore, of cheap surprise, or of obvious scare tactics makes the movie a relief, and a bit of cinematic magic.
    helpful•43
    2
    • secondtake
    • Jul 24, 2009

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    FAQ9

    • What is "The Innocents" about?
    • Is "The Innocents" based on a book?
    • What does "the turn of the screw" mean?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 15, 1961 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Turn of the Screw
    • Filming locations
      • Sheffield Park Garden, Dane Mill, Uckfield, East Sussex, England, UK(house and grounds)
    • Production company
      • Achilles
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • £430,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $30,103
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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