Jack Clayton's intricate film The Innocents is a flawless display of cerebral horror. The protagonist Miss Giddens' emotional stability slowly diminishes throughout the film, which shows the main theme: corruption of innocence. The success of this film is mostly due to this films magnificent multiple dissolves, discordant soundtrack and exquisite irony of The Innocents. Filmed at Sheffield Park in Sussex and Shepperton Studios, this gothic horror film features outstanding acting and an arty but effective atmosphere. Taken from Henry James' The Turn of the Screw, the script (co-written by Truman Capote) turns James' deep psychological insights into a compelling but somewhat simple ghost story.
             Miss Gibbons (Deborah Kerr) arrives at a country estate to watch over two seemingly angelic young children, Flora (Pamela Franklin) and Miles (Martin Stephens). Shortly after her arrival, Miss Gibbons sees specters walking the estate and during a hide-and-seek game with the children is frightened by a dark, evil man's face at a window. Miss Gibbons gradually believes that these innocents maybe possessed by the spirits of a former governess and her lover, over the objections of the friendly housekeeper (Megs Jenkins). The deceased were involved in a sadomasochistic relationship and Miss Gibbons grows obsessed about whether or not the children may still be influenced by them.
             Determined to rid them of what she calls "those horrors," Miss Gibbons makes unsuccessful attempts to confront the children with what may be happening. At the same time, as her repressed sexuality and self-righteousness overwhelm her, she blindly proceeds to "exorcise" the children, which leads to tragedy.
             Carried in large part by Deborah Kerr's extraordinary performance, we must also single out the child actors' amazing work, as well. Martin Stephen...