The House of Mirth **** (2000, Gillian Anderson, Eric Stoltz, Laura Linney, Dan Aykroyd, Eleanor Bron) – Classic Movie Review 2,810

Gillian Anderson gives a knockout performance as the romantic but eventually tragic Lily Bart, in British director Terence Davies’s exquisite 2000 film adaptation of the early-20th-century-set novel by Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth.

One woman heads for a downfall in this polished, stately and truly magnificent critique of the manners, characters and social whirl of posh society in 1905 New York. That woman is Lily Bart, who seeks a wealthy husband but, in trying to conform to social expectations, misses her chance for real love with Lawrence Selden.

Free at last from the X Files and finally able to show what she’s capable of, Gillian Anderson gives a knockout performance as the romantic but eventually tragic Lily Bart, in British director Terence Davies’s exquisite 2000 film adaptation of the early-20th-century-set novel by Edith Wharton. This author was previously responsible for the source works that gave us the movies of The Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome.

Eric Stoltz does his finest work to date as the callow Lawrence Selden, Laura Linney is marvellous cast against type as the slimy bad guy Bertha Dorset, Dan Aykroyd plays ‘Gus’ Trenor and Eleanor Bron is outstanding in support as Lily’s aunt, Mrs Julia Peniston.

A fine ensemble cast of underused players gives of its absolute best for Davies, and so do the technical team, especially cinematographer Remi Adefarasin and set designer Don Taylor. Working on a strict budget, they have come up with miracles. This time, no one can complain that British National Lottery (or Arts Council) money is badly used.

Also in the fine cast are Terry Kinney, Anthony LaPaglia, Jodhi May, Elizabeth McGovern, Penny Downie, Pearce Quigley, Helen Coker, Mary MacLeod, Paul Venables, Serena,, Gordon, Lorelei King, Linda Marlowe, Anne Marie Timoney, Claire Higgins, Ralph Riach, Brian Pettifer, Philipe De Grossouvre, Trevor Martin, David Ashton, Lesley Harcourt, Mark Dymond, Pamela Dwyer, and Kate Wooldridge.

Terence Davies said his 1995 film The Neon Bible is ‘a transition work… and I couldn’t have done The House of Mirth without it.’

British screenwriter and film director Terence Davies died aged 77. His manager John Taylor said: ‘I am deeply saddened to announce the death of Terence Davies, who died peacefully at home in his sleep after a short illness on Saturday October 7 2023.’

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© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2,810

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