The BBC's The Turn of the Screw is an adaptation of Henry James' celebrated novel written by Sandy Welch and broadcast in December 2009 whilst not produced under the umbrella title A Ghost Story for Christmas, it is virtually an instalment of that program by default. And whilst some critics lambasted Welch for the film's differences from the source material, it makes a suitably chilling seasonal supernatural tale.
Originally airing on ABC on April 15, 1974, this Dan Curtis-produced and directed film takes the videotaped look of Dark Shadows to the Henry James novel and wraps it all up in a little under two hours. And if you love that gothic fiction soap opera, good news.
I thought this was quite effective and scary, despite what many reviewers here say. An excellent ghost story.
Dark, gothic and impendingly grim, while I wouldn't watch this again, I enjoyed it the first time around.Could have used more fleshing out and some tighter editing, but all in all, decent film with a beautiful cast.
Why do writers of classics TV adaptations feel the need to change the story. There's no mental institution, no psychiatrist and the story should start with a ghost story telling group.
I have watched several MR James adaptations, both film and TV, and admit that I have found some difficult to follow. Thankfully at 90 minutes long no such problem here.
I watched this film without knowing much about it in advance. I'm glad I did, otherwise I might have been influenced by the very negative reviews on this site.
The book was written in 1898. I cannot confirm whether the motor vehicles in the programme would have been about in that year, but they would certainly not have had reg plates.
Ann (Michelle Dockery) is hired to act as a governess to two orphaned children, a boy and a girl. She travels to a country house and an all female household.
