The Wings of the Dove *** (1997, Helena Bonham Carter, Linus Roache, Charlotte Rampling, Alex Jennings, Michael Gambon, Alison Elliott, Elizabeth McGovern) – Classic Movie Review 12,212

Helena Bonham Carter.

Director Iain Softley’s 1997 British-American romantic drama film The Wings of the Dove is based on the 1902 novel by Henry James, and stars Helena Bonham Carter, Linus Roache, Charlotte Rampling, Alex Jennings, Michael Gambon, Alison Elliott, and Elizabeth McGovern. A very handsome looking film, it won BAFTA awards for Best Cinematography (Eduardo Serra) and Best Make Up/ Hair (Sallie Jaye, Jan Archibald).

The life of Kate Croy (Helena Bonham Carter) is changed forever when her wealthy aunt Maude (Charlotte Rampling) invites her to reclaim a privileged existence in return for severing all ties with friends and family. Disowning her father (Michael Gambon) is easy, but saying farewell to her poor journalist lover Merton Densher (Linus Roache) proves difficult. Kate then befriends lonely American heiress Milly Theale (Alison Elliott) and offers her Merton as her beau.

Bonham Carter impresses in this chilly but intense, elegant and conscientious adaptation of the novel by Henry James. All the acting is very solid, and the production is handsome, with fine cinematography, set designs and costumes, but some might miss the more sumptuous and emotionally satisfying Merchant-Ivory approach to the classics.

Henry James would have been very surprised to find a sex scene in the film, with Kate and Merton naked on a bed. Iain Softley recalled: ‘We had no qualms. We felt it was essential in indicating the sort of scene it was, and making it relevant and familiar in the most stark way possible.’

There were four Oscar nominations, but no wins, and five BAFTA nominations (for Best Performance by an Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Make Up/ Hair, and Best Costume Design).

The cast are Helena Bonham Carter as Kate Croy, Alison Elliott as Milly Theale, Linus Roache as Merton Densher, Elizabeth McGovern as Susan Stringham, Charlotte Rampling as Aunt Maude, Michael Gambon as Lionel Croy, Alex Jennings as Lord Mark, Ben Miles, Philip Wright, Alexander John, Shirley Chantrell, Diana Kent, Georgio Serafini, and Rachele Crisafulli.

The Wings of the Dove is directed by Iain Softley, runs 102 minutes, is made by Renaissance Dove and Miramax, is released by Buena Vista, is written by Hossein Amini, based on the novel by Henry James, is shot by Eduard Serra, is produced by Bob Weinstein (executive producer), Harvey Weinstein (executive producer), Paul Feldsher (executive producer), Stephen Evans and David Parfitt, is scored by Ed Shearmur, and is designed by John Beard.

Filming took place in the summer of 1996, with eight weeks in London and six in Venice.

The notable costume design is by Sandy Powell.

Iain Softley’s films include Backbeat, Hackers, The Wings of the Dove, K-PAX, The Skeleton Key, and Inkheart.

Hossein Amini also wrote the screenplays of Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive (2011) and The Two Faces of January (2014), his directorial debut.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,212

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