Product Details

• Actors: Jodhi May, Pam Ferris, Colin Firth, Joe Sowerbutts, Grace Robinson
• Directors: Ben Bolt (II)
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: PBS
• DVD Release Date: April 13, 2004
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001WTUJO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,007 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Henry James' The Turn of the Screw" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Henry James's classic ghost story of psychological suspense provides the basis for this Masterpiece Theatre presentation. Jodhi May, with her warm and open demeanor, is perfectly cast as "Miss," the generically named governess at a grand British estate. Her charges are two seemingly angelic little orphans. Miss can't believe her good fortune at landing such a delightful job. "Am I dreaming?" she asks kindly, corpulent housekeeper Mrs. Grose (Pam Ferris). But dream turns to nightmare as the house's spectral inhabitants reveal themselves to her. Miss becomes obsessed with protecting her precious "little creatures" from the vile phantasms. The movie is satisfyingly spooky and makes us jump in all the right places. The children, Flora (Grace Robinson) and Miles (Joe Sowerbutts), are genuinely creepy. "When I'm bad, Miss, I really am extremely bad," asserts little Miles, and we believe him. This provocative adaptation of The Turn of the Screw breathes new life into James's morbid Victorian obsession with sexuality and morality. --Laura Mirsky

Product Description

A naive, young governess (May) is hired by a charming bachelor (Firth) to look after his two young children in a grand mansion in rural England. She is determined to make the most of her situation, despite the Master's strange stipulation that she never contact him. Her first impressions are all good—the house is beautiful, the housekeeper (Ferris) is friendly, the children are lovely and the job is a perfect delight. But then, she sees the ghosts of the former valet, Peter Quint and a previous governess, Miss Jessel, and everything changes. The young governess is convinced that the children can see the ghosts, that they can communicate with them, and and that their very souls are in danger. She feels she alone can save them from a horrifying fate.

Jodhi May (A World Apart), Pam Ferris (Matilda) and Colin Firth (Pride and Prejudice, Shakespeare in Love) star in this chilling adaptation of Henry James' gripping horror story, The Turn of the Screw.

Special DVD features include: link to the Masterpiece TheatreWeb site; scene selections; and closed captions.

On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: 4 x 3 full frame.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing and rather chilling, March 23, 2005

By 

Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Henry James' The Turn of the Screw (DVD)

When a young woman (played by Jodhi May) begins her job as governess, everything seems to be perfect. However, there are secrets in her new house, and when she begins to see the ghosts of recently deceased servants, it becomes clear that there is evil afoot. However, no one else can see the ghosts, and her actions begin to seem more and more deranged. How can she protect her two charges, and what must she do? [Color, released in 1999, with a running time of 1:40 (2 hours with the Masterpiece Theatre introduction and so forth).]

Overall, I found this to be a disturbing and rather chilling movie. The original Henry James' story is considered a classic ghost story, but in this movie, things are much less clear. Is the governess a sensitive young woman, who is struggling to overcome the machinations of a pair of evil ghosts who are establishing a grip on the previously angelic children? Or, is she a sexually repressed young woman whose psyche is moving her towards madness? It's up to you to decide...if you can!

Yes, this is an excellent movie, one that is certain to scare and disquiet you. I enjoyed this movie, and highly recommend it to you.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHILLING HORROR, September 8, 2000

By 

Bonita L. Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henry James's The Turn of the Screw (Masterpiece Theatre) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best adaptation of this James ghost story, August 19, 2005

By 

J. Vogelsang "Cinema and theater devotee" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Henry James' The Turn of the Screw (DVD)

This is the best adaptation of this James' work with the possible exception of "The Innocents" with Deborah Kerr, whose emphasis is strictly on the ghost story. This film however, is a must for those who love great story telling and want to be titillated by the twists and turns of not only the main plot but the very subtly intricate sub-plot that is raging underneath

For a long time this 19th century fireside ghost tale has entertained audiences for its thrilling and supernatural side. Those fans of the psychological bent that are more interested in its dally with a supposed "sexual hysteria" undercurrent, will be entertained as well. Some type of emotional regression takes place and that drives the main character, Miss, (Jodhi May) from careful dominance and maintenance of a fine household and her two beautiful charges, nicely turned by Joe Sowerbutts (Miles) and Little Grace Robinson (Flora) to a final and terribly complete conclusion.

Miss replaces a former governess who has died under questionable circumstances. That her employer, The Master, (Colin Firth) has frankly 'seduced' her into hurridly engaging as governess is only the tip of an iceberg of innuendo, symbolism and complicity. Having read the short story and seen this film, I am not totally convinced of the sexual hysteria theory although actress May, an Oxford English Literature graduate, has alluded to that very concept when questioned about this role. And that mystery and those questions are what make this tale so darned intriguing.

As Miss, May is complete. The very proper parson's daughter, well educated, mannered in all ways, pretty, and quite mindful of the impossible demands of her position: "Never trouble him, but never, never, neither appeal nor complain nor write about anything; only meet all questions herself, receive all moneys from his solicitor, take the whole thing over and let him alone"; as written by Henry James, places her in a position of power with no room for self-doubt or escape from failure.

As the story approaches its end Miss asks her God: "Victory requires only another turn of the screw of ordinary human virtue". And turn the screw she does with tragic and unforgivable results. May captures both the subtleties of confidence and passion while allowing this wonderful governess to slowly and completely unravel. The only thing better than watching this performance would have been to hear this story told on a dark, cold night by the fireplace 100 years ago.