Henry James' The Turn of the Screw

Rating:
Summary: Compelling Adaptation of Henry James' Classic
Review: "The Turn of the Screw" is as much a psychological thriller as it is a ghost story. This Masterpiece Theatre adaptation is, for the most part, very faithful to Henry James' text, although it does add some interesting interpretive touches. "Miss" (portrayed by the wonderful Jodhi May, with just the right mix of toughness and vulnerability) is a young governess discovering her identity and her way in the world for the first time. Her interview with Bly's owner, which is mentioned only in passing by James, is portrayed at length here, with a powerful sense of sexual tension between the youthful "Miss" and the sophisicated lord of the estate. Indeed, there is a palpable sense of sexual tension and repression throughout this version, although it is very discreetly and tastefully handled. The appearances of "the ghosts" are unsettling without being melodramatic or corny. I recommend this version to any fan of James' text, and it would make an excellent addition to the video libraries of high schools and universities.

Rating:
Summary: CHILLING HORROR
Review: Any adaptation of a literary work to the screen runs the risk of coming across as too shallow. Such is not the case in Mobile Masterpiece Theatre's presentation of "The Turn of the Screw". You are immediately drawn into the psychological horror with its varied twists and turns that leads to who knows where?

Identify with the naive character who is given the responsibility to manage the family affairs of a young bachelor who refuses to be bothered with his niece and nephew. Beguiled by his sexually powerful aura, our herione takes on the task. She meets perfectly sweet children in Flora and Miles. Miles in particular is precocious. He is also very adept at playing power games that go beyond that of a child having his or her way. She has the perfect job but there is an unsettling sense of evil in the manor. Ghosts of the former governess and valet haunt the scene and "Miss" becomes unglued but ever ready to "save" her charges.

The psychological changes she goes through hits home. Is she mad? Have these ghost pocessed this children? How is it that a ten year old boy sounds and acts like a mature man making a pass at her? How "Miss" solves this mystery yet managing to keep her mind intact is the great challenge. Jodhi May does a splendid job in her performance as she battles evil that has enveloped the children. Truly this is a psychological drama befitting our attention. Its horror as to what has been done to the children is horrifying. Journey with the character through this dilema. At the beginning of this drama we are given an introduction as to the background of this story by James. Setting it in its context makes it all the more chilling for is it indeed fact or fiction? You decide.

Rating:
Summary: CHILLING HORROR
Review: Any adaptation of a literary work to the screen runs the risk of coming across as too shallow. Such is not the case in Mobile Masterpiece Theatre's presentation of "The Turn of the Screw". You are immediately drawn into the psychological horror with its varied twists and turns that leads to who knows where?

Identify with the naive character who is given the responsibility to manage the family affairs of a young bachelor who refuses to be bothered with his niece and nephew. Beguiled by his sexually powerful aura, our herione takes on the task. She meets perfectly sweet children in Flora and Miles. Miles in particular is precocious. He is also very adept at playing power games that go beyond that of a child having his or her way. She has the perfect job but there is an unsettling sense of evil in the manor. Ghosts of the former governess and valet haunt the scene and "Miss" becomes unglued but ever ready to "save" her charges.

The psychological changes she goes through hits home. Is she mad? Have these ghost pocessed this children? How is it that a ten year old boy sounds and acts like a mature man making a pass at her? How "Miss" solves this mystery yet managing to keep her mind intact is the great challenge. Jodhi May does a splendid job in her performance as she battles evil that has enveloped the children. Truly this is a psychological drama befitting our attention. Its horror as to what has been done to the children is horrifying. Journey with the character through this dilema. At the beginning of this drama we are given an introduction as to the background of this story by James. Setting it in its context makes it all the more chilling for is it indeed fact or fiction? You decide.

Rating:
Summary: Henry James would have approved.
Review: I have seen several versions of Henry James' classic thriller "The Turn of the Screw" on film, but this one is the best yet. It was as if the image in my mind when I read the story was suddenly transfered to the screen. The film is perfectly cast, especially Jodhi May as "Miss" the governess. She gives a very strong performance. The soundtrack is haunting, the cinematography spectral - this is just a great film. Henry James would have aproved - I can't put it any stronger than that.

Rating:
Summary: Henry James would have approved.
Review: I have seen several versions of Henry James' classic thriller "The Turn of the Screw" on film, but this one is the best yet. It was as if the image in my mind when I read the story was suddenly transfered to the screen. The film is perfectly cast, especially Jodhi May as "Miss" the governess. She gives a very strong performance. The soundtrack is haunting, the cinematography spectral - this is just a great film. Henry James would have aproved - I can't put it any stronger than that.

Rating:
Summary: It Must Be Me!
Review: I want to be fair to this movie, but I must preface my remarks with the fact that, admittedly, I thought it was absolutely spineless and horrid. But in fairness, I have never read the book, and am unfamiliar with James as an author.

I think that the problem must be in me, because all other reviews said the movie was sterling. I, however, did not actually understand it. Perhaps I will muster up the strength to view it again, but it did nothing for me, left me with no take-away value, disappointed and blue.

I do not think that the Governess May ever connected with the children. But was she supposed to? It appeared that she was enamored with them, but they never bonded to her. This was confusing to me, for it appeared that she was maniacal, obsessed with fighting for children she supposedly loved, but appreared to have no real clear connection with. Yes, I know it is dubbed a psychological thriller. I need to pull out my Psychology books for this one. Or read the book. In my ignorance, the film made no sense to me. Being a screenwriter myself, if nothing else, the movie taught me great lessons about what I do not want in my films.

I had not done my homework, also, in fairness. I thought that Colin Firth had more of a role in the film, which was my first disappointment. I was hoping to see him throughout the film, which did not happen. I literally was clueless throughout the entire film.

I did not understand the servant who seemed to know all that Governess May mentioned, who the ghosts were, etc., but who still seemed obsure, suspicious herself. I did not understand the function of the ghosts, or their connection to everything else going on. You see----I obviously missed the film's entire essence.

As I said, it must be me. This type of movie, though fraught with some great moments of suspense and wonder, and cinematic triumphs in the sense of great shots, still held no greatness to me. The end was a major disappointment. Obviously dark movies are not my favorites. Don't look at this one uninformed. Read up on its plot beforehand.

Rating:
Summary: Two Views of James' Elegent Chiller in one hit.
Review: In this new Masterpiece Theatre spin on James'classic bone-chiller Ben Bolt depicts an elegent but updated reinterpretation of the book . Unlike versions before it, we have a choice of interpretaion of events.
Other versions have underlined the analogy of the single metallic turn of the screw within resisting but eventually accepting softer material(analogous of the outward relationship between a young governess and her charges).
You eventually realise that Bolt might be presenting another dimension for us to unravel this evidently infamous mystery. The story is presented thus: just whom has taken charge of the care of two upper-middle class orphans; their very material new governess the attractively humane and proper "Miss" or possibly more ethereal antagonists from the recent past? Do we really have a choice in this matter? And if we do should we vote for the obvious?
In Mr Bolt's production the answer to the mystery may be more shocking even than the evil desires of malevolent phantoms. We may enevitably ask ourselves,what side of Miss's bodice, within or without, so to speak, is propelling the awful inevitability of what happens?
Does Miss really see phantoms of the recently fallen and self destroyed evil, local protagonists or are they merely a product of her own semi-repressed sexual infatuation with her employer or someone in her past? Here you may note the young Governess' slight fetish with her employer's wardrobe cupboard.
Is the large, chatty housekeeper's growing fear for the children developed from her agreement with the young carer's constantly expressed misgivings or is she becoming terrified of the young lady's own obsessions and their effect on her charges?
Is Miles, the dapper little boy under her care, a roguish but vulnerable young charmer recently and tragically orphaned of both parents or a manipulative future monster-in-the-making presently apprenticed to an evil phantom?
Finally, Bolt's tribute to the author is made clear by his even handed approach. For me he seems to find it difficult to discount either understanding except to realise that such a genuine genius as James is somewhat more a pioneer of the then new psychological side of the literary than a recreator of the literary methods and archetypes from his own cultural past. Inevitably a fiercely partisan view of either take on the story is, I think, useless. This production is both humble and majestic and is a signature effort by the director and all listed in the credits. The best "Turn of the Screw" I have seen.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This is the best version of "Turn of the Screw" that I've seen (so far I've seen four versions). You may remember Jodhi May from her quiet role in "Last of the Mohicans". Again she has delivered a very subtle and beautiful performance. If you're even thinking of getting this video, I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I was hanging on the edge of my seat and I've already read and seen other versions of this story. Well done!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This is the best version of "Turn of the Screw" that I've seen (so far I've seen four versions). You may remember Jodhi May from her quiet role in "Last of the Mohicans". Again she has delivered a very subtle and beautiful performance. If you're even thinking of getting this video, I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I was hanging on the edge of my seat and I've already read and seen other versions of this story. Well done!