The Innocents [Film Music with Dialogue] (1961)

Описание: The Innocents [Film Music with Dialogue] (1961)
A soundtrack that mixes the films dialogue, George Auric's folkloric melodies, and Daphne Oram's electronic sound design, resulting in a masterpiece of moody, atmospheric soundscapes...

Directed and produced by Jack Clayton (1921-1995), 'The Innocents is an exquisitely made British psychological horror that is widely considered not only as one of the best ghost stories ever filmed, but the finest screen adaptations of Henry James' novella 'The Turn of the Screw (1898). The film has an unforgettable cast that includes Martin Stephens, Pamela Franklin, Clytie Jessop (1929-2017), Deborah Kerr (1921-2007), Michael Redgrave (1908-1985), Megs Jenkins (1917-1998), and Peter Wyngarde (1927-2018). Filming took place partly on location at the Gothic mansion at Sheffield Park in Sussex, with additional shots occurring at Shepperton Studios in Surrey. The unique black-and-white cinematography by Freddie Francis (1917-2007) created the film's eerie effect which helped achieve a distinctive, and sometimes claustrophobic atmosphere. Through the use of shadows, oblique camera angles, and an atmospheric score, Clayton not only captured the horror of James' story, but also its deeper sadness: the children's isolation from the real world, the governess' problematic sexuality, and the curiously pitiful nature of the former governess, Miss Jessel. Over sixty years later, the film has lost none of its ability to disturb. An immortal achievement....

Since the death of their parents, adolescents Miles (Martin Stephens) and Flora (Pamela Franklin) have been under the guardianship of their wealthy but selfish uncle (Michael Redgrave), who admits he has no place emotionally for them in his life. While he lives in London leading his bachelor lifestyle, the children stay at his country estate under the direction of Miss Jessel (Clytie Jessop). After Miss Jessel passes away, the uncle hires a new governess, Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr), who has permission to raise the children with total independence and authority. Miss Giddens' first challenge deals with the news that Miles has been expelled from school for corrupting other students. Upon meeting Miles, Miss Giddens cannot understand how such a well-mannered boy could be expelled. She also finds Flora to be a charming young child. But as time progresses, Miss Giddens begins to feel that something is not quite right at the estate and starts to see visions of a man and woman who she has not met and who should not be there according to the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose (Megs Jenkins). She also finds that Miles and Flora exhibit odd behaviour at times, especially with each other. She ultimately comes to the conclusion that there was just cause for Miles' expulsion having to do with activities at the estate, and that she needs to bring these issues out into the open to exorcise the demons that affect Flora and most specifically Miles.

The original score was composed by Georges Auric (1899-1983), but director Clayton was dissatisfied with Auric's final score and requested he make alterations; however, due to his ailing health, Auric was unable to do so, and re-orchestration was completed by W. Lambert Williamson (1907-1975). The film also pioneered the use of synthesized electronic sounds created by Daphne Oram (1925-2003), an incredibly innovative composer of early electronic music who was responsible for setting up the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in 1958 and is now considered a pioneer of the genre. These 'spectral massed tones' were incorporated into the film's sound design, though sadly Oram was never credited for them. What you are listening to here is a custom soundtrack (with dialogue) taken straight from the film. An eerie collection of field recordings, sparse musical arrangements, and manipulated vocals have been edited together into one continuous collage that combines all of the film's sounds and musical themes into a single track. Included is the haunting 'O Willow Waly, which features lyrics by screenwriter Paul Dehn (1912-1976) and sung by Scottish actress Isla Cameron (1930-1980), who was a prolific traditional folk singer in the early 1960's. Isla was asked to sing in a childlike manner and appears briefly in the film as the servant girl Anna. This is a masterpiece of moody, atmospheric suspense and psychological terror that is a very far cry from the vast majority of today's film scores.

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