The Innocents (1961 Jack Clayton)

Worth seeing for Freddie Francis' black and white CinemaScope photography alone - not just for the lighting but also the deep focus (made harder in the widescreen ratio), the compositions and movement (future Oscar-winner Ronnie Taylor operating). We also have some marvellous editing from Jim Clark - the two together artfully produce an amazing dream / montage sequence - music from the unpredictable Georges Auric and a team of interesting sound people edited by Peter Musgrave.

It's an adaptation of Henry James' 'Turn of the Screw' (1898) by William Archibald and Truman Capote, with additional scenes and dialogue from John Mortimer.

Deborah Kerr is the nervy governess, Megs Jenkins the slightly questionable housekeeper and the young wards are Martin Stephens and Pamela Franklin (And Soon the Darkness). Michael Redgrave is the ruthless and absent uncle.

From 13 September 2009 (when we last saw it):
Are we frightened? No. The sound effects predate The Haunting. The kids talking like adults is fun. Believe it or not Jason King (Peter Wyngarde) is the male ghost, whose TV career ended when he was caught in a compromising position in the lavs of Gloucester bus station.
Megs Jenkins made me think of the Queen's maid in Black Adder.
B&W photography impressive except for candelabra scenes.

It was then not at all annoying that at 1 hour 10 the DVD fucked up as we were well hooked and enjoying it. Though the next day we were treated to an HD ending...