Was Miss Giddens pedophile? - The Innocents (1961) Discussion

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] phillipsdan83 11 years ago

Part of the point of the story is "are the ghosts real, or is Miss Giddens insane?". I vote for ghosts, myself, but even if they weren't real Miles and Flora are two screwed up kids and Miles at least was almost certainly molested by Peter Quint. And Miss Giddens is out of her league sane or not.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] writerchick89 10 years ago

Really? I didn't get that at all from the book. I would have to read it again, as it's been a while, but I know I believed it was real & all about her trying to save the children's souls.

"Not all who wander are lost."--J.R.R. Tolkien

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[–] cmashieldscapting 10 years ago

The way the kissing scene was played left room for doubt. For one, her ten-year-old charge, Miles, kisses her on the mouth. For two, even were that acceptable, the kiss lasts way too long for a child-to-teacher-type kiss. In this movie, her reaction is mixed--like she questioned its being all right, but didn't come right out against it. In the same scene in the Valerie Bertinelli version, her reaction is clearly shock--where did such a child learn to kiss like that, and why would he think that was an acceptable type kiss to a governess?

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[–] ElectricWarlock 10 years ago

I watched the movie today and a family member watched with me for part of it. During the kissing scene, the family member commented that there did seem to be something sexual to it and that Miss Giddens was a pedophile. I don't really think she was, though. I think she genuinely cared about the children and wanted to protect them. I believe that Miles was possessed by the spirit of Quint (who possibly did molest him while he was alive), and Quint being the pervert that he is was interested in Miss Giddens so he kissed her provocatively because of that. I don't think she was crazy, I believe there genuinely were supernatural forces at work.

Death lives in the Vault of Horror!

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[–] first-things-first 10 years ago

I saw the movie last night and agree with you. I also think that she was caught off guard, but didn't make a fuss about it. Miles appeared mature for his age and she didn't want to hurt his feelings.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

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[–] bastasch8647 10 years ago

Off the wall idea - is it possible that she was weirdly attracted to the mysterious, dark Quint, and Myle's eroticism was merely a pathway to her experiencing Quint?

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[–] first-things-first 10 years ago

Yes, or maybe trying to prove to herself that Quint wasn't all in her mind.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

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[–] Anorensic 10 years ago

No Miles was more of a little pervert (likely from Quint and Jessel's bad influence). The way he acts all grown up around her, calling her many times inappropriately for a student-teacher's relationship. When they are playing hide and seek, he keeps hurting her inspite of her serious protests (much like Quint used to hurt Jessel when they were having their perverted affair in front of the children). And that bold kiss of his probably means Miles may have been included by Quint in his perverted games with Jessel. He's not that innocent and probably tried something like this at school which is why he was expelled.

Sure some will say, hey I used to watch porn when I was 8-10 years old and I still turned out fine....but most kids have a lot of imagination at that age and are deeply affected by such things, Miles was no different, trying to imitate things he didn't fully understand. Quint possessing him or not...that kid was a pervo.

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