Review: The Innocents (1961)

IMDb Synopsis: A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted.


Can I just start off by saying this film was fantastic? I hadn't heard that much about it prior to viewing, but I was quite blown away by how much I enjoyed it. The Innocents is a film that truly defines "classic horror".


I've always been a big fan of Deborah Kerr, and I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said this was the best of her performances I've seen so far. I'm quite surprised she did't get a Best Actress Oscar nomination in 1962. The whole cast itself was marvelous, including Megs Jenkins, Martin Stephens and Pamela Franklin.  


I can't finish this review without mentioning the direction and cinematography. Between director Jack Clayton (who also made Room at the Top and The Pumpkin Eater) and cinematographer Freddie Francis, The Innocents contains a very Hitchcockesque quality to it, which few films can pull off. Also worth noting are the Victorian-style costumes by Sophie Devine, who also made similar costumes for films such as Long Day's Journey Into Night and Great Expectations.


Overall, The Innocents is a wonderful and haunting film that I'd recommend to suspense/horror fans, or just classic film buffs in general. If you'd like to watch it, you can do so here.

5/5 stars

Review: Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

 IMDb Synopsis: In 1948, an American court in occupied Germany tries four Nazi judges for war crimes. 

I'm going to start off and say that this was one of the most amazing and mind-blowing films I've ever seen. Stanley Kramer made an absolute masterpiece that should have taken home the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1961.

Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich, Maximilian Shell, Judy Garland, and Montgomery Clift. If it's not already obvious, this film has a heckuva cast. All of the actors delivered flawless performances, but I think the most profound ones came from the supporting cast- particularly Judy Garland and Montgomery Clift. Anyone who has seen A Star Is Born knows that Judy was a wonderful actress, and she proves it again in Nuremberg. Monty Clift is one of my all time favorite actors, and I think it's safe to say that this is my personal favorite of his performances (although I do love A Place In the Sun and From Here to Eternity). His acting was so deep and genuine to the point that I found it to be heart-breaking.

The direction in Nuremberg is stunning, but I don't expect anything less from Stanley Kramer, who also directed two of my favorite films, The Defiant Ones (1958) and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), Spencer Tracy's last film. Rob Reiner actually compared it to his film A Few Good Men, which I have not seen, but is considered to be one of the all time greats.

Overall, Judgment at Nuremberg is an amazing film and a complete essential for anyone who loves films as much as I do. You can watch it here if you have not already done so.

5/5 stars