WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Innocents, The
Genre:Drama

Reviewed In Issue 17 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Deborah Kerr, Peter Wyngarde, Megs Jenkins, Michael Redgrave, Pamela Franklin & Martin Stephens

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 1.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 1318-85
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 100
(Color Type): Black & White
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1961
(LD Release Date): 10/1/95
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Jack Clayton
(Screenplay/Written By): William Archibald & Truman Capote
(Story): NA
(Music): Georges Auric
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Wilfrid Shingleton
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): James Clark
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Albert Fennell
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Jack Clayton

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
The Innocents is an adaptation of Henry James 1898 novella The Turn Of The Screw and has been called the finest ghost story ever told on film. It stars Deborah Kerr as Miss Giddons, the governess for the niece and nephew of a London bachelor played by Michael Redgrave. Truman Capote contributed to the screenplay which has two view-points, either real ghosts attempting to possess two children or imagined ghosts, seen in the mind of their governess who has gone mad. The film is structured to present both viewpoints. Miss Giddons is the governess played by Deborah Kerr. When strange things begin to occur, Miss Giddons suspects that the perfectly-mannered children she cares for may be concealing a dark secret. Are they pawns in a horrifying plot from beyond the grave?

LaserDisc Picture:
The CinemaScopeŽ picture is properly framed at 2.35:1. The picture quality is marred by a reddish/purplish hue and poor gray scale. Detail is good and except for the coloration, blacks are deep and solid. Some slight noise and minor artifacts are apparent as well, but aside, the cinematography is wonderful and the story is captivating.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The sound is undistinguished mono.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: