I've wanted to have an in-depth discussion about this movie forever, and now that several MoFos have seen it, including Harry Lime and birdygyrl recently, now's as good a time as ever. If you haven't watched it yet, watch it as part of the MoFo Movie Club (Classic Division) and get back here to have a party with us (I hope). Otherwise, BE WARNED that we plan to discuss this in every way possible, and this is one of the most open-to-interpretation movies which doesn't make you think you "missed it" (I hope), and I also find it one of the most deeply-disturbing (AND wildly-entertaining) films ever made.
I don't want to hijack my own thread by tainting the jury pool and telling you flat out what I really think happened and why, but I want to mention a few things and questions.
1. What did you think of the bookends? The scenes which happened during and even before the opening credits and then also during THE END of the movie? What did you think of the song and sound effects to those bookends? Do they affect the way you interpret the film at all?
2. What about the Uncle (Michael Redgrave)? Did he know a lot more than he let on during the interview with the prospective governess, or was he just being honest when he expressed his utter callousness about the children?
3. Did anybody notice anything in Scene 20 at exactly the 1:11:00 mark? I realize that you probably don't have the film anymore,but it's worth a shot. Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr) is upstairs with the candles, hearing/imagining noises, and she seems to look out to the end of the hall to either a patio or a window. There's a cut away from her, and in the middle of the screen at the far end of the hall, you see a brightly-lit head rise up and then to the right out of view. It certainly looks like Quint to me. Miss Giddens acts like she didn't see anything. Happy searching.
4. Has anyone made a list to determine the evidence of whether the ghosts are real or not? Either way, if Miss Giddens is correct, what's happening in the film could border on X-rated child pornography. If Miss Giddens is incorrect, why would a minister's daughter who loves children flip out? Sexual frustration? That is why I find The Innocents far more disturbing than a Lynch flick.
5. What is your interpretation of the ending? What happened and why? What about the kiss?
That's enough for now. I hope I get some responses and that more people choose to watch it without getting too much spoiled in advance.
I don't want to hijack my own thread by tainting the jury pool and telling you flat out what I really think happened and why, but I want to mention a few things and questions.
1. What did you think of the bookends? The scenes which happened during and even before the opening credits and then also during THE END of the movie? What did you think of the song and sound effects to those bookends? Do they affect the way you interpret the film at all?
2. What about the Uncle (Michael Redgrave)? Did he know a lot more than he let on during the interview with the prospective governess, or was he just being honest when he expressed his utter callousness about the children?
3. Did anybody notice anything in Scene 20 at exactly the 1:11:00 mark? I realize that you probably don't have the film anymore,but it's worth a shot. Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr) is upstairs with the candles, hearing/imagining noises, and she seems to look out to the end of the hall to either a patio or a window. There's a cut away from her, and in the middle of the screen at the far end of the hall, you see a brightly-lit head rise up and then to the right out of view. It certainly looks like Quint to me. Miss Giddens acts like she didn't see anything. Happy searching.
4. Has anyone made a list to determine the evidence of whether the ghosts are real or not? Either way, if Miss Giddens is correct, what's happening in the film could border on X-rated child pornography. If Miss Giddens is incorrect, why would a minister's daughter who loves children flip out? Sexual frustration? That is why I find The Innocents far more disturbing than a Lynch flick.
5. What is your interpretation of the ending? What happened and why? What about the kiss?
That's enough for now. I hope I get some responses and that more people choose to watch it without getting too much spoiled in advance.
__________________
It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. - John Wooden
My IMDb page
It's what you learn after you know it all that counts. - John Wooden
My IMDb page
Last edited by mark f; 08-21-09 at 08:45 PM.