This one seems to have divided critics. Firstly, there's the rather unpalatable pairing of Marlon Brando with director Michael Winner. Secondly, it's a prequel to the story in Turn of the Screw / The Innocents which lays plain what Henry James left ambiguous. It is actually quite good. Winner did make plenty of terrible films but this isn't one of them. It's well acted and beautifully shot if a bit low on shocks for a horror picture.
A selfish country squire ( Harry Andrews ) abandons his orphaned nephew and niece , except financially. They are left with a fussy housekeeper Mrs Grose ( Thora Hird ) , prim governess Miss Jessel and unkempt Irish valet Quint ( Brando ). The children Miles ( Christopher Ellis ) and Flora are far more interested in what the dissolute atheistic Quint teaches them than their formal lessons.
Stephanie Beacham (as Miss Jessel )
Sex : Miss Jessel is in a sado-masochistic relationship with Quint
Death : Drowns after getting into a sabotaged boat
Though she revealed more in the Italian-made Super Bitch , this film is often thought to contain Stephanie's only nude scenes which she's been quite happy to discuss. I guess if they'd been with say, Robin Askwith, it might be a different story.
Verna Harvey ( as Flora )
Sex : Flora and Miles act out the bondage scene he's witnessed
Death : Survives
Another objection to the film was that the children had to be older because of the sexual content . Londoner Verna was actually 19 when she made the film. She worked with Winner again in Chato's Land and was also in Super Bitch where she too flashed some flesh. She disappears from view after having a regular role in seventies comedy Bery'ls Lot.She is now 65.
Anna Palk ( as the New Governess )
Sex : No
Death : Survives
This was a small and thankless role for Anna. It has no other purpose than spelling out the link with The Innocents.
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