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The Innocents
Directed by	Jack Clayton
Produced by	Jack Clayton
Written by	Novella: Henry James Screenplay: William Archibald Truman Capote John Mortimer
Starring	Deborah Kerr
Music by	Georges Auric
Cinematography	Freddie Francis
Editing by	Jim Clark
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	December 25, 1961 (NY premiere)
Running time	100 min.
Country	UK
Language	English
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Innocents is a 1961 horror film based on the novella The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Directed and produced by Jack Clayton, it starred Deborah Kerr. Falling into the subgenre of psychological horror, the film makes use of its lighting, music, and direction for its effect rather than gore and shock factor. Its atmospheric feel was achieved by cinematographer Freddie Francis, who employed deep focus in many scenes, as well as bold, minimal lighting. The film also marked the first film role for child actor Pamela Franklin.

The Innocents was nominated for two BAFTA Awards, including Best British Film and Best Film from any Source. For his direction, Clayton was awarded the National Board of Review Award for Best Director. William Archibald and Truman Capote won a 1962 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Motion Picture Screenplay.

The Innocents tells the story of an inexperienced governess, and daughter of a country parson (Kerr) who is hired to care for the niece and nephew of a callous socialite (Redgrave). While caring for the children, the governess discovers that her predecessor was having an affair with the valet Quint, and that both of them died in bizarre circumstances. Thereafter, the governess comes to believe that the ghosts of Quint and his lover are attempting to possess the bodies of the children.

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• "The Infant Kiss", a song by Kate Bush, from her 1980 album Never for Ever, was inspired by the film.
• Co-writer Archibald had previously written a stage adaptation of James' novella that premiered on Broadway in 1950. The name of the play was also The Innocents.
• An audiotrack from this film was sampled into the cursed tape of the 2002 film The Ring.

• The Innocents at the Internet Movie Database

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