#488: IVORY, James: Howards End (1992)

IVORY, James (United Kingdom)
Howards End [1992]
Spine #488
Blu-ray
OOP


The pinnacle of the decades-long collaboration between producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory, Howards End is a luminous vision of E. M. Forster's cutting 1910 novel about class divisions in Edwardian England. Emma Thompson won an Academy Award for her dynamic portrayal of Margaret Schlegel, a flighty yet compassionate middle-class intellectual whose friendship with the dying wife (Vanessa Redgrave) of rich capitalist Henry Wilcox (Anthony Hopkins), commences an intricately woven tale of money, love, and death that encompasses the country's highest and lowest social echelons. With a brilliant, layered script by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (who also won an Oscar) and a roster of gripping performances, Howards End is a work of both great beauty and vivid darkness, and one of cinema's best literary adaptations.

142 minutes
Color
Surround
2:35:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2009
Director/Writers


Based on the novel by E. M. Forster.
Screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.
James Ivory was 64 when he directed Howards End.

Other Ivory films in the Collection:

#775: A Room With A View (1986)

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Sixteen-page booklet featuring an essay by critic Kenneth Turan.

Commentary

None.

Video appreciation

Of the late Ismail Merchant by Ivory.

Building “Howards End”

A documentary featuring interviews with Ivory, Merchant, actress Carter, costumer designer Jenny Beavan, and Academy Award-winning production designer Luciana Arrighi.

The Design of “Howards End”

A detailed look at the costume and production designs for the film, including original sketches.

The Wandering Company

A 50-minute documentary about the history of Merchant Ivory Productions.

Original 1992 behind-the-scenes featurette

Original theatrical trailer


Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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