In a mid-19th century Essex country house, a young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted by ghosts and that the children are being possessed.
"Apparitions? Evils? Corruptions?"
Top Billed Cast
Deborah Kerr
Miss Giddens
Peter Wyngarde
Peter Quint
Megs Jenkins
Mrs. Grose
Michael Redgrave
The Uncle
Martin Stephens
Miles
Pamela Franklin
Flora
Clytie Jessop
Miss Jessel
Isla Cameron
Anna
Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews
J John ChardVerified TMDB Critic
2013-11-02
The Innocents (1961)
Oh willow I die, oh willow I die...
Based on Henry James' novel, The Turn Of The Screw, The Innocents is a thoroughly absorbing chiller that pot boils with almost unbearably knowing glee as to what it's doing to the viewer. Deborah Kerr stars as Miss Giddens, the lady hired by Michael Redgrave to act as governess to his young niece and nephew. We find ourselves in Victorian England, out on some country estate at Bly Mansion, where the children are angelic and enchanting in equal measure. Yet there’s an eeriness hanging over this place and it starts to se...
W WuchakVerified TMDB Critic
2021-06-07
_**Low-key Gothic horror with Deborah Kerr**_
A new governess (Deborah Kerr) takes over as nanny of two orphaned siblings at a remote English manor at the turn of the century, but there’s a secretive past to the situation and seemingly ghostly happenings. Pamela Franklin plays the girl.
"The Innocents” (1961) is a cinematic version of Henry James 1898 novella “The Turn of the Screw,” shot in B&W. It’s technically well-made and has Gothic mood, but the story is intrinsically one-dimensional, resting on the shoulders of Kerr and essentially only involving three other actors.
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D Dr NostromoVerified TMDB Critic
2026-07-27
63/100
Hired as governess for two children a woman soon realizes they aren't quite normal ...and now she's seeing ghosts. A classic ghost story with the performances the highlight of the film, especially Deborah Kerr at her very best and the two children excelling at creepy. The photography was exceptional with what appeared to be a slight fish-eyed distortion what was barely perceptibly but unsettling. I had issues with the story in that it seemed to involve some pretty big leaps of logic, at times. But, considering it's 60+ years old, it's exquisitely well made and good fun. - DrNostromo....
