I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

The Imagery in this film is just incredible and I didn't expect it to be so subtle and yet so beautiful when I purchased the film. I had wanted to watch it for a long time and when I did I certainly wasn't disappointed. Whereas I wouldn't go as far as calling this film scary and because of this it may immediately seem disappointing to some fans of horror, it's ambiguity and Gothic setting make it well worth a watch.

Producer: Jack Clayton. Executive producer: Albert Fennell. A Jack Clayton Production. Copyright 15 December 1961 by 20th Century- Fox/Achilles Film productions. New York opening simultaneously at the Criterion and the 72nd Street Playhouse: 25 December 1961. U.S. release: 25 December 1961. U.K. release: 10 December 1961. 8,993 feet. 100 minutes.SYNOPSIS: In London, Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr) is engaged by the master of Bly House (Michael Redgrave) as governess for his nephew, Miles (Martin Stephens) and his niece, Flora (Pamela Franklin). Miss Giddens goes to Bly House, a country estate, to begin her new post.NOTES: Locations filmed in Sussex at Sheffield Park estate. Jack Clayton, was named Best Director of the year by the National Board of Review.Deborah Kerr was nominated for Best Actress (won by Sophia Loren for "Two Women") — New York Film Critics.Archibald and Capote were nominated for Best Screenplay (won by Abby Mann for "Judgment at Nuremberg") — New York Film Critics.Number 7 on the Saturday Review's "Ten Best of 1961" list. Number 4 on both the National Board of Review and Pauline Kael. Named on the alphabetical best-of-the-year lists of the New York Journal American, Don Miller; and number 6 on the Filmfacts composite listing. Best film released in the U.K. in the period 1 July 1961 to 30 June 1962, according to the nation's number one movie critic, F. Maurice Speed.VIEWER'S GUIDE: Strictly adults.COMMENT: Easily the most stylish and artistic of the black-and-white CinemaScope films, "The Innocents" is actually the ultimate in period ghost stories. From the faultless performances through to the ingeniously re-worked script, plus the driving direction and the chillingly moody photography, "The Innocents" is one of the few genuine masterpieces in the CinemaScope format where the widescreen is not seen merely as a nuisance to be re-framed, or blotted out, or simply ignored, but actually an integral and essential part of the whole terrifying mise-en-scene.

I'm not sure how "forgotten" this movie is, but I had never heard of it until recently. I love the genre of horror, and this is as good as it gets. While it has nothing in the way of gore or jump scares, the plot develops into something truly twisted and disturbing. All the roles are very well acted and convincing, which makes the deeply creepy subject matter even creepier. If you like horror/Gothic stories at all, this one is a must.

This is an example of what you can get when you put together a good story (the film is based on a novel from 1898 by Henry James), an actress who can play any part with perfection (Deborah Kerr) and a director of photography like Freddie Francis (also a filmmaker specialist in horror movies). "The innocents" is the best adaptation of Henry James (along with "The heiress –1948–, the excellent melodrama directed by William Wyler with Olivia de Havilland and Montgomery Clift) and one of the greatest (if not the greatest) horror films about haunting ever made. This atmospheric and unforgettable film is so deep and tense that is difficult find another title that can give us so much darkness and suspense (only some of the masterpieces by Alfred Hitchcock). Do yourself a favor and watch this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!