Rating "The Innocents"
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The Innocents

The Innocents

NR
Overview:

A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted. In Victorian England, the uncle of orphaned niece Flora and nephew Miles hires Miss Giddens as governess to raise the children at his estate with total independence and authority. Soon after her arrival, Miss Giddens comes to believe that the spirits of the former governess Miss Jessel and valet Peter Quint are possessing the children. Miss Giddens decides to help the children to face and exorcise the spirits.
Released: 1961-12-15
Duration: 01:40:00
Genre: History, Horror, Thriller
Tags: Psychological Horror, Supernatural Horror
Keywords: Hysteria, Hallucination, Haunted House, ...
Director: Jack Clayton
Writer: Henry James, Truman Capote, William Archibald, ...
Cast: Deborah Kerr, Peter Wyngarde, Michael Redgrave, ...
Director: Jack Clayton
Writer: Henry James Truman Capote William Archibald Jeanie Sims
Cast: Deborah Kerr Peter Wyngarde Michael Redgrave Pamela Franklin Martin Stephens Megs Jenkins Clytie Jessop Isla Cameron Eric Woodburn
Genre: History Horror Thriller
Tags: Psychological Horror Supernatural Horror
Keywords: Hysteria Hallucination Haunted House Downward Spiral Fear Child In Jeopardy Kiss On The Lips Old Dark House Bodily Possession Property 1800s 1890s House Young Babysitter In Jeopardy Adult Woman Kisses An Underage Boy Children Governess Estate England Valet Girl Housekeeper Bachelor Death Boy Vision Orphan Apparition Soul Servant Country Estate Tween Girl Costume Horror Train Station Two Word Title Supernatural Horror Old Mansion Female Protagonist Illiteracy Cap Hearing Voices Cat Fireplace Whispering Screaming Church Church Bell Bible Scream School Room Hat Toy Boat Boat Poetry Recitation Poetry Poem Costume Heavy Rain Rain Thunder Nightmare Attic Counting Rocking Horse Drawing Child's Drawing Tower Rooftop Bird Dead Bird Dead Pigeon Gate Wind Butterfly Insect Dress Humming Bedtime Bedroom Bath Tea Lake Pony Crying Countryside English Countryside Country House Belief In Heaven Belief In God Gothic Horror Train Insanity Shock Filth Delusion Suspense Schizophrenia Vile Obscenity Corruption Depravity Lust Sadomasochism Repression Dream Sequence Flower Garden Loneliness Neglect Cruelty London England Rural Setting Job Interview Mental Illness Uncle Niece Relationship Uncle Nephew Relationship Teacher Teacher Student Relationship Supernatural Power Statue Stairway Song Singing Singer School Expulsion Rowboat Roses Praying Prayer Pigeon Piano Pianist Male Female Relationship Photograph Obsession Letter Kiss Jack In The Box Horseback Riding Horse And Carriage Hide And Seek Gazebo Garden Flowers Dancing Dancer Canopy Bed Candle Candelabra Suicide Sibling Relationship Sexual Repression Precocious Child Possessed Human Gothic Deliberate Cruelty Deep Focus Tortoise Recurring Song Music Box Imagination Brother Sister Relationship Ghost Dead Child Maid Possession Haunting Mansion Death Of Child Based On Novel Title Spoken By Character Psychotronic Film
Description

Miss Giddens applies for her first job as a governess. The wealthy bachelor interviewing her is unconcerned with her lack of experience. He values his freedom to travel and socialise and unabashedly confesses that he has \"no room, mentally or emotionally\" for his niece and nephew. They were orphaned and left in his care as infants, and he keeps them at Bly, his large country estate. The previous governess, Mary Jessel, died suddenly less than a year ago. All he cares about is that Miss Giddens accept full responsibility for the children, never troubling him with whatever problems may arise.

At Bly, Miss Giddens is instantly taken with Flora, the niece. She also forges a friendship with Mrs. Grose, the kindly housekeeper. The boy, Miles, is away at boarding school, but soon returns to Bly after being expelled from school for being a \"bad influence\" on his peers. Mrs. Grose says she cannot imagine Miles misbehaving, and when Miss Giddens meets the boy herself, she too thinks his teachers must have exaggerated. He seems charming and mature – though perhaps too mature, with flirtatious flattery toward his governess.

Miss Giddens soon grows disturbed by the children\'s occasional odd behaviours and secretiveness, and is bothered by disembodied voices and apparitions of a man and woman she witnesses in the house, whom Mrs. Grose identifies, from their descriptions, as Miss Jessel and Peter Quint, another deceased employee of the children\'s uncle. Mrs. Grose also reluctantly reveals that the two were in a relationship prior to their deaths. Miss Giddens concludes that the ghosts of Quint and Miss Jessel possess the bodies of the children so they can physically continue their relationship. She is determined to rescue them from this possession.

One night, while left alone with Miles, Miss Giddens presses him to talk about the ghosts, and about why he was expelled from school. Initially, Miles is glib and evasive, but he eventually admits that he frightened the other boys with violence and vulgar language. Miss Giddens enjoins him to say who taught him this language and behaviour. Miles suddenly begins yelling obscene insults and laughing maniacally, and Quint\'s face appears in the window behind him, joining in the boy\'s laughter. Miles then runs outside; Miss Giddens follows, begging him to \"say his name.\" Quint appears on a hedge nearby, but Miles does not appear to see him. He finally shouts Quint\'s name, and Quint appears. Miles grows still and falls to the ground. Miss Giddens cradles him and assures him that he is free. She then realises that Miles is dead. Sobbing, she leans over him and kisses him on the lips.

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