Film Review: The Turn of the Screw
Film: The Turn of the Screw (1974). Young Actress: Eva Griffith, age 8.
There's plenty to enjoy in this drama/horror film, if you can look past the somewhat slow pace and poor production value. (In its defense, this was a '70s TV movie and probably had a very small budget.) The film opens as Miss Cubberly (Lynn Redgrave) is hired as a nanny for two orphans, little Flora (Eva) and her teenage brother Miles. She moves in with a Mary Poppins approach to the job, determined to make the children's lives fun and happy. Flora is called "a little angel" in her first scene, and for a while, that's exactly what she is. But things change when Miles comes home from school, and his spooky personality and behavior lead Miss Cubberly to realize that the house is haunted. The two ghosts haunting it are specifically after the children and have already gotten their hooks into them much deeper than the adults know.
Eva as Flora
Although the dialogue is effected and a bit annoying (Flora "ever so" loves to play games), the acting is excellent all around, and the gradual build of suspense keeps you watching. Author Henry James ( What Maisie Knew) apparently intended The Turn of the Screw as a straightforward ghost story, but it can also be taken as a deeper debate about human nature. The adults wonder, are Flora and Miles innocents who have been corrupted by the ghosts? Or are all humans born with the potential for evil already in them? Had the film explored this more directly, it probably could've been much better, but as is, it's still smart and works fine.
Another highlight of the film is definitely Eva's performance as Flora. The role is large, with lots of dialogue and different emotions. Flora starts out cutesy and sweet, then develops a slightly sinister edge as she spends more time with Miles. She cries, rages, throws tantrums, and even tries to drown herself in a pond while under the spell of a ghost. Eva handles all of this with the skill of a seasoned actor, and she's matched in every scene by young Jasper Jacobs, who is supremely creepy as Miles. Together they create the chemistry of an evil sorcerer and his apprentice. I used to think that Eva has done little acting as an adult because she can't get cast anymore, but after seeing her performance here, I think it's equally likely that she would just rather do other things. (Eva is now a historian who lectures on 17th-century theaters.)
Miss Cubberly, Miles, and Flora
You can see screencaps of Eva in this film here at ChildStarlets, and here originally uploaded by MovieKids and now online elsewhere, since MovieKids is sadly defunct.
There's plenty to enjoy in this drama/horror film, if you can look past the somewhat slow pace and poor production value. (In its defense, this was a '70s TV movie and probably had a very small budget.) The film opens as Miss Cubberly (Lynn Redgrave) is hired as a nanny for two orphans, little Flora (Eva) and her teenage brother Miles. She moves in with a Mary Poppins approach to the job, determined to make the children's lives fun and happy. Flora is called "a little angel" in her first scene, and for a while, that's exactly what she is. But things change when Miles comes home from school, and his spooky personality and behavior lead Miss Cubberly to realize that the house is haunted. The two ghosts haunting it are specifically after the children and have already gotten their hooks into them much deeper than the adults know.
Eva as Flora
Although the dialogue is effected and a bit annoying (Flora "ever so" loves to play games), the acting is excellent all around, and the gradual build of suspense keeps you watching. Author Henry James ( What Maisie Knew) apparently intended The Turn of the Screw as a straightforward ghost story, but it can also be taken as a deeper debate about human nature. The adults wonder, are Flora and Miles innocents who have been corrupted by the ghosts? Or are all humans born with the potential for evil already in them? Had the film explored this more directly, it probably could've been much better, but as is, it's still smart and works fine.
Another highlight of the film is definitely Eva's performance as Flora. The role is large, with lots of dialogue and different emotions. Flora starts out cutesy and sweet, then develops a slightly sinister edge as she spends more time with Miles. She cries, rages, throws tantrums, and even tries to drown herself in a pond while under the spell of a ghost. Eva handles all of this with the skill of a seasoned actor, and she's matched in every scene by young Jasper Jacobs, who is supremely creepy as Miles. Together they create the chemistry of an evil sorcerer and his apprentice. I used to think that Eva has done little acting as an adult because she can't get cast anymore, but after seeing her performance here, I think it's equally likely that she would just rather do other things. (Eva is now a historian who lectures on 17th-century theaters.)
Miss Cubberly, Miles, and Flora
You can see screencaps of Eva in this film here at ChildStarlets, and here originally uploaded by MovieKids and now online elsewhere, since MovieKids is sadly defunct.