October 28, 2005
It's Halloween weekend!
My celebration began today with a long-awaited viewing of Jack Clayton's 1961 adaptation of Henry James' 'The Turn Of The Screw,' The Innocents.
I've been wanting to see this film ever since the (rather terrifying) scene depicted above was mentioned somewhere in the pages of 'Lynch On Lynch,' but it was unavailable on DVD until just a few weeks ago. It's without doubt one of the best cinematic ghost stories I've ever seen. It's legitimately frightening; although there are some overt scares, the best ones come and go so quickly that by the time you've had a moment to think about them, and realize how scared you are, they're already long over, leaving you with a profound sense of unease that is sustained long after the film is over (I'm scaring myself right now, just thinking about that first appearance of Miss Jessell).
The b/w Cinemascope photography by Freddie Francis (who went on to shoot a few Lynch films) is outstanding, and the disturbing sound design seems ahead of its time: was anyone else using drones to such effect back in 1961? The screenplay (co-written by Truman Capote) is a model of perfection in literary adaptation. It sticks close to James' novella, but nudges certain elements forward (that transgressive kiss at the very end, for example) and holds other things back (the religious element, suggested so succinctly during the opening credits).
The Shining is the best haunted house movie ever, but The Innocents certainly falls into place right behind it, alongside Wise's The Haunting, and probably a few others that are slipping my mind. Anyone have any favorites they'd like to recommend?
The day continued at the Meyerson Symphony Hall, where the Dallas Symphony Orchestra provided a live score to a screening of a beautifully restored print of the 1925 version of The Phantom Of The Opera. Although our front row seats weren't ideal for film-viewing, it as still an altogether grand experience. Lon Chaney's performance has always been beyond reproach, but seeing it on the big screen was just...well, let me just say that it made the musical seem that much worse. That Chaney's big reveal still manages to elicit shrieks is a beautiful thing indeed.
Then it was on to the Angelika, for the midnight show of The Roost, which opens in Dallas this weekend. Everyone loved it. Curtis and Valerie were dressed up as Dios De Los Muertos skeletons, which made me feel underdressed.
Ti's film left me in the mood to go home and watch some old horror movies on TV. Of course, there weren't any on (at least on broadcast - I don't get cable), so I popped in Lucky McKee's brilliant May instead. Which I'm watching right now, as I type this. I'm at the scene with the blind children and the doll. You know the one - and if you don't, you should, as soon as possible.
More to come tomorrow...
Posted by David Lowery at October 28, 2005 11:49 PM
Comments
Hey Ghostboy, great post... I've never heard of this film "The Innocents" before, but was instantly compelled to buy it. Any online-shop who's selling it indecently cheap? PLAYUsa is at 16.99 dollars...
Posted by: Karsten Meinich at October 30, 2005 4:28 AM