The Innocents (1961)

[Akijama]

The Innocents Blu-ray PRE-ORDER/REVIEW

This genuinely frightening, exquisitely made supernatural gothic stars Deborah Kerr as an emotionally fragile governess who comes to suspect that there is something very, very wrong with her precocious new charges. A psychosexually intensified adaptation of Henry James’s classic The Turn of the Screw, cowritten by Truman Capote and directed by Jack Clayton, The Innocents is a triumph of narrative economy and technical expressiveness, from its chilling sound design to the stygian depths of its widescreen cinematography by Freddie Francis.

New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
Audio commentary featuring cultural historian Christopher Frayling
New interview with cinematographer John Bailey on director of photography Freddie Francis and the look of the film
Archival interviews with editor James Clark, Francis, and script supervisor Pamela Francis
Trailer
More!
PLUS: An essay by critic Maitland McDonagh

The Innocents (1961) - Trailer - YouTube

[Show spoiler]Yes, sir. According to moviefanfare.com

And keeping with horror, Criterion has a treat up its sleeve for Halloween with the arrival of The Innocents (1961). This adaptation of Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw” is a gothic spooker, with Deborah Kerr as a new governess encountering unnatural circumstances at a country estate. Expect premium extras on this one.

[AKORIS]

yes!!!!!

[*PREACHER*]

Have been so on the fence about importing this...I can wait a little while longer.

Great news!

[NoirFan]

On the short-list of greatest horror films ever made. I can't see them besting the BFI release though, unless there's a new 4k transfer (which there may very well be). They definitely need to include 'Bespoke Overcoat'.

[welcometothepartypal]

Just watched the DVD. Great spooky little movie, one of those "watch alone in the dark" type. Great acting, great atmosphere, the ending surprised me the most. For those who have seen it

[Show spoiler]do you think she was crazy the whole time? or was driven mad by an actual ghost? I feel she was nuts.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by welcometothepartypal

For those who have seen it

[Show spoiler]do you think she was crazy the whole time? or was driven mad by an actual ghost? I feel she was nuts.

That's the ambiguous beauty of it. Henry James' source novella takes the same approach.

[The Great Owl]

Oh my dear sweet Lord, this is great news.

I saw The Innocents on DVD a few years back, and it really unnerved me. It's a beautiful companion film to the original 1963 version of The Haunting.

I also recommend the source novella, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, if you get a chance.

[Judex]

Nice. I already have the BFI blu, but if Criterion improve on picture quality & extra's I'll ditch that and get this.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by Cortiz

I saw this recently along with the original The Haunting and did not like them at all. Too slow for my taste, and really nothing really happened that would be classify as "scary". Of course, this is just my opinion.

This is one of those films that has the elusive "atmosphere". And a very creepy atmosphere at that. I think it's more of a psychological horror film than the much easier to pull off scarefests. You are pulled along with the disintegrating mind of Kerr's character. I think it works quite well.
The present 20th Century-Fox DVD is of very good quality, so the Criterion Blu-ray should be terrific.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by yellowcakeuf6

This is one of those films that has the elusive "atmosphere". And a very creepy atmosphere at that. I think it's more of a psychological horror film than the much easier to pull off scarefests. You are pulled along with the disintegrating mind of Kerr's character. I think it works quite well.
The present 20th Century-Fox DVD is of very good quality, so the Criterion Blu-ray should be terrific.

Yeah, if creepy, gothic, 'things that go bump in the night' is your thing - and it's definitely mine - this is one of the best.

[AlexIlDottore]

My favourite gothic/ghost/psychological horror film. Creepy as hell.

I may double dip if Criterion do a new transfer, but the BFI disc is fantastic.

[monorail91]

I really like The Innocents and this would be cool news. I'd hope the whole October slate is horror / spooky movies so we get Eraserhead too.

[joie]

I don't think it's a ghost story.

[Show spoiler]When she's interviewing for the job, Miss Giddons is asked whether she has a good imagination.

I don't know whether it's relevant, but Henry James' brother was a goto psychologist of his time.

[widegambler2012]

I need to have this Disc Now AAHH 5 More DAYS

[Ray Jackson]

Thinking about buying this

[Steve Freeling]

Originally Posted by Cortiz

I saw this recently along with the original The Haunting and did not like them at all. Too slow for my taste, and really nothing really happened that would be classify as "scary". Of course, this is just my opinion.

Me neither. The original Poltergeist beats the hell out of both of those. I almost fell asleep on those two. I just don't understand what the big fuss is about.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Steve Freeling

Me neither. The original Poltergeist beats the hell out of both of those. I almost fell asleep on those two. I just don't understand what the big fuss is about.

I love Poltergeist, and I grew up watching that movie, but I have to give the edge to The Haunting, The Innocents, and The Uninvited when it comes to haunted house chills. These older movies are paced differently, and they're more subtle, but they hit the mark when I turn out all of the lights in my apartment.

[dsman71]

I love the Innocents, it's moody, atmospheric films with great acting - if you want mindless action films, this isnt it
I love Poltergeist (not the sequels) , and I like the Others...

Im not into Uninvited or the original Haunting.. I just cant get into those.. It's odd since they fit into that Innocents type of film.. I guess the feel of the film makes a difference for me

[ambient_indie]

Originally Posted by Steve Freeling

Me neither. The original Poltergeist beats the hell out of both of those. I almost fell asleep on those two. I just don't understand what the big fuss is about.

Different era. The focus of The Haunting and The Innocents is on the strange things you don't see or think you saw. It's the opposite in Poltergeist.

I love Poltergeist, but you're rewarded for paying attention during The Haunting and The Innocents. Those movies test you.

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by Steve Freeling

Me neither. The original Poltergeist beats the hell out of both of those. I almost fell asleep on those two. I just don't understand what the big fuss is about.

Poltergeist is good but has aged a bit for me. It goes downhill towards the end of the film. The Innocents is very good and The Haunting is even better.