The Wings of the Dove

Plot synopsis:
In early 1900s London, Kate Croy lives under the careful watch of her domineering Aunt Maude, who is determined that the young woman does not follow in the path of her recently deceased mother, whose dissolute husband, Lionel, squandered her wealth in order to support his opium addiction. Maude wants Kate to marry the well-off Lord Mark, who has a title and estates, despite the fact that Kate does not love him. Kate is dependent on her wealthy aunt's goodwill and abandons her plans to defy her aunt when she is reminded that her father is at Maude's mercy as well. Kate's boyfriend, the financially struggling muckraking journalist Merton Densher, wants to marry her, but is skeptical of Kate's intentions despite her pleas for him to wait as she tries to find a way out of her dilemma.One day, Kate is introduced by Lord Mark to the wealthy and outgoing American orphan and heiress Millie Theale, who is on an extended trip through Europe with her best friend Susan Stringham, and the cynical Kate is captivated by Millie's beauty, openness, and amusement at the conventions of society. Millie and Kate become fast friends and Millie invites Kate to accompany her and Susan to Venice as part of their excursion. Prior to their departure, Millie meets Merton, with whom she is smitten, and she asks him to join them.Lord Mark secretly reveals to Kate that Millie is terminally ill, and that he desires Kate but has to marry Millie to avoid losing his estates. Knowing Millie is repulsed by Lord Mark's crudity, she decides to adopt his scheme and persuade Merton to woo Millie. She fully expects Millie's generous nature will lead her to include Merton in her will, making him wealthy enough to satisfy her aunt and allow them to marry. He despises her scheme but can't resist the opportunity to be in Venice with Kate.Over the next several days, Kate becomes so jealous of the genuine affection growing between Merton and Millie that she lures him away one night, abandoning Millie in a crowd. Millie confronts her the next morning and Kate realizes she must leave, without warning Merton, if her scheme is to succeed. What neither she nor Merton anticipate is how things will change when she is gone.Some months later, following Millie's death in Venice, Kate comes to Merton's flat. She asks why he has not come to see her and finds a letter, telling Merton that Millie did indeed bequeath a sizeable portion of her estate to him. He tells Kate that he will not take the money, and she must marry him without it, if she will. She agrees, and they re-cement their bond by making love. But afterwards, Kate asks him to tell her that he is not still in love with Millie, or his memory of her, and he cannot. So, Merton returns to Venice...alone.

Tags: romantic

Review:
In this most affecting adaptation of Henry James's dense and difficult novel, Ian Softley brings passion back to the oft-derided genre of "period" movie.
Helena Bohnam-Carter, in the pinnacle of her career, embodies the fierce intelligence and ruthless determination of Kate Croy, a woman born in a wrong era, whose effort to hold on to both love and wealth tragically backfires.
Linus Roache, playing Kate's secret love, brings tortured Merton Densher (where does James come up with these names?) vividly to life.
He has the sort of intense good looks and physical presence required for this role in spades; and his dramatic ability shines though, especially in his last scene with Millie, where he acknowledges his duplicity before the all-accepting love of the dying girl with an incredible raw emotionality.
The story and the actors are tremendously aided by gorgeous cinematography (especially the mournful beauty of rain-soaked Venice) , costumes-to-die-for by Sandy Powell (who wore that fabulous red dress to this year's Oscar, accepting the award for "Shakespeare in Love".
I have read the book, and seen all the other films made of Henry James novels, and this one is by far the best at translating at least some of the moral ambiguity at the heart of most James novels.Helena plays a woman forced to give up her boyfriend Merton because he has no money.
The film is about Merton's moral awakening as he realizes how horrible what he's doing is, and WHO Helena's character really is.You would have to read the novel to understand how difficult it is to adapt this material, and what a great job they really have done.
This invented scene crystallizes all of the emotion and makes the movie fulfilling in a way a straight working of the novel could not have been.Helena is good, but her character is simplified somewhat from the book.
The Wings of the Dove is an incredible film.Helena Bonham Carter performs her role with nuances of visage and body, and in particular eyebrow, which capture the essence of Kate's manipulation and longing.
The final sequence represents graphically the vacuity which has enveloped Kate and her love with haunting realism.Do not watch the film to be "entertained"--it depresses with little reserve and wrenches the heart.
Helena Bonham Carter, Linus Roach and Allison Elliot are all excellent, and Charlotte Rampling is always good.
Helena Bonham-Carter is magnificent as she takes us from thinking of her in sympathetic terms, to beginning to have second thoughts about her character, to becoming aghast at the cold calculation of her plot.
He does labor a bit in trying for tragedy, but that's only a quibble.Alison Elliot, a good actress (I liked her in THE UNDERNEATH and the otherwise flawed THE SPITFIRE GRILL), takes awhile to warm up as Millie, because she seems a little too modern, but she avoids easy sentiment as the dying heiress.
Kate (Helena Bonham Carter) is a young woman in love with a poor journalist, Merton (Linus Roache).
This stunningly gorgeous film, based on the novel of Henry James, is a superior piece of movie making that cannot be denied.
The three actors, Bonham Carter, Roache, and Elliott are extremely compelling in their difficult roles and all of the lesser cast members do fine work, too.
The fourth struggles, falters, then comes forward again, then falters, finally, by making a demand that can never be met.It's unfair to compare this kind of period movie (set around 1910 even though James's book was published in 1902) to "A Room with a View" (set in the same decade) but the reason this happens is that the 1985 Merchant-Ivory masterpiece seemed to open up a new way of making period films, filled with beauty and lingering thoughts and, well, feeling.
It so happens the star of this 1997 film, Helena Bonham Carter, also starred (magnificently) in the first one.The other star is a man, Linus Roache, who almost overplays his understated character by making him dry and deadpan and polite.
Director Iain Softley takes a couple of turns that the book avoids--a little sensational talk toward the beginning, and a frank and sex scene at the end--and both are okay in the film but not actually in keeping with the tone of the rest of it, which is about never quite showing your hand even to your closest friends.
The most striking caliber of the film is indisputably the acting stretch, Helena Bonham Carter is magnetically absorbing in her puberty of mixing brisk gal, smart aleck manipulator and sophisticated lovelorn victim, her career-best so far.
Actors are great; Helena Bonham Carter is indeed good in this role and Alison Elliotte is just as good and even better.
It's exquisitely shot, especially in the Venetian scenes and the final scene between Millie and Merton, the settings and period detail are so colourful and evocative and The Wings of the Dove has to contain some of the best and jaw-droppingly amazing costume design in all of film.
The characters also fascinate, compellingly real and human rather than labelled just good and bad.The Wings of the Dove contains fine performances, with that of Helena Bonham Carter ranking among the year's and her best, her character makes some questionable decisions to put it lightly but the many nuances Bonham Carter brings to the role allows one to really sympathise with her and understand why she makes them.
Charlotte Rampling, Michael Gambon, Elizabeth McGovern and Alex Jennings are all talented actors too and give excellent support.All in all, wonderful film and one of the best Henry James film adaptations ever made.
Many scenes of satin/silk clothing reclining on matching satin/silk furniture, a cocktail for the eye.Helena Bonham-Carter (playing Kate) never fails to deliver incredible performances, ably assisted by her looks which belong to another century, the eighteenth or nineteenth.
Alison Elliot plays Millie, the dying rich girl who is the prey of Kate, penniless, in love with an impoverished journalist, Merton, played by Linus Roache.
When she discovers the heiress is attracted to her own lover and is dying, she sees a chance to have both the privileged life she cannot give up and the lover she cannot live without.What is interesting to me is how great an actress Helena Bonham Carter has been, apparently since the beginning.
This film narrowly predates "Fight Club", and if I had been someone who followed the Oscars at the time, I would have taken more notice.That is the beginning and end of this -- a showcase for Bonham Carter.
Based on Henry James novel, Kate Croy (Helena Bonham Carter)'s mother was born to wealth, but she threw it all away to marry Kate's opium addicted father.
When she becomes friend with sick wealthy orphan Millie Theale (Alison Elliott), Kate sees an opportunity to get back with Merton and keep her position.It's a real murky portrait of the London class system, and how money corrupts the characters in this movie.
I must agree fully with Lord Mark's comment about Kate's eyes.What was great about this film was the acting, presentation, mood, and lesson.Okay spoiler time, because I'd like to share my opinions on what happened.
Helena Bohham Carter was amazing in her role, and became the person she was depicting, as if a metamorphosis was taking place, and she fit right into this very interesting time period!
She then befriends a terminally ill American heiress and tries to arrange a love affair between this heiress and her boyfriend, so he can become wealthy after her death!I consider this an wonderful cast, for it not only stars Helena Bonham Carter, but also stars Linus Roache, Alison Elliott, Charlotte Rampling, and Elizabeth McGovern .
I think that Helena Bonham Carter's Oscar nomination was well deserved and she should at least a Golden Globe or Screen Actors Guild Award for it.
I was entranced by the music, the alternating 'rising tension' and 'nice piano' themes perfectly captured the scheming Kate and the goodness of Millie respectively.Of course the film has flaws, none that stand out...but as a whole the film doesn't really make it on a 'great film' level if you're comparing to movie classics.
I don't think many people face what Kate and Merton did...but then...wouldn't that take the fun out of the movie?Visions of Venice to die for...absolutely beautiful music and the best costumes and art direction this side of Titanic (far far FAR better than Titanic).
If you're a period film buff, and you loved such drivel as Somewhere In Time, Titanic and the somewhat better Room With A View...watch for it...Lauren..
Helena Bonham Carter was outstanding in this Henry James tale of a woman who thought she had it all figured out.Kate (Helena Bonham Carter) was in love with Merton (Linus Roache from Batman Begins), but she had to do what her Auntie (Charlotte Rampling) wanted because she had the bucks.
Directed by Iain Softley, "The Wings of the Dove" is a period drama set in England, which tells the story of Kate Croy (Helena Bonham Carter), a beautiful, wealthy, woman who wishes to marry a common journalist, Merton Densher (Linus Roache.) Their love is forbidden by society, until a young heiress from America (Alison Elliot), enters their lives, and tempts the couple to set forth an unorthodox plot to be together.The acting in the film is superb.
Helena Bonham Carter's sensual, thoughtful, performance as Kate Croy earned her many critics awards, as well as an Oscar nomination for Best Actress (This reviewer maintains that she should have won.) Supported by a wonderful supporting cast, Alison Eliot delivers a touching performance as the young heiress, and Linus Roache is magnificent as Bonham Carter's poverty-stricken love interest.
The film is further enhanced by the beautiful cinematography, at it's best in the scenes set in Venice, and the gorgeous costumes.
"The wings of the dove" is a great film - the finest "Masterpiece Theatre movie" ever made.
"The Wings of the Dove" is the most beautiful movie I've ever seen, and along with James Cameron's "Titanic", my favorite.
So, thank God there is "The Wings of the Dove", the movie that truly stole my heart!As for Helena Bonham Carter (Kate Croy), Linus Roache (Merton Densher), and Allison Elliot (Milly Theale), they truly bring this movie to life!
Along with Helena, Linus, and Allison, I also give lots of praise to director, Iain Softley, and of course, the great Henry James for writing such a beautiful, twisted, romantic tale of friendship, envy, and love!!!
I'm not sure if this good-looking, well crafted and expressively acted movie, is an entirely successful adaptation of Henry James's acclaimed but hard-to-read novel.
Set in London and Venice in the early 1900s, it tells the story of a poor but beautiful and well connected woman, Kate Croy (Helena Bonham Carter), who persuades her would-be husband, Merton Densher (Linus Roache), to court a fabulously wealthy young American, Millie Theale (Alison Elliott), because Kate knows that Millie is dying and will leave Merton a fortune.
The breathtaking beauty of Bonham Carter, a strong performance by Roache, and a remarkably touching one by Elliott, together with the magnificent sets, locations - especially Venice - and music make this movie very watchable.
I remember seeing Helena Bonham Carter for the first time back in the mid-eighties, in the film called "Lady Jane", and then later in "A Room With A View".
The locations (especially Venice), the actors (especially Helen Bonham-Carter), the pedigree (Henry James), are all in place for a great movie.
English films set in Italy like Wings of the Dove quickly seduce me with lovely atmosphere and beautiful photography.
I did not believe the Bonham Carter character and my enjoyment of Wings of the Dove floated away with the gondolas in the canals of Venice..
I'd rather be bludgeoned to death with one of his books than ever have to read another one -- the movie version could have featured transvestite cyborgs for all I cared; as long as I wasn't actually having to read it, I was a happy boy.The film is pretty good, about what you'd expect from a period piece based on a famous literary classic.
It's a period film, based on a famous novel (by Henry James), set in gorgeous locations (London and Venice), with magnificent costuming and a largely English cast led by Helena Bonham Carter, who graced many a Merchant-Ivory film.
Not that I ever tried but books by Henry James appear to be almost unreadable but this movie is just a sober love story.
Based on the classic novel by Henry James,Iain Softley's 1997 adaptation features one of Helena Bonham Carters best performances,an ending that will stick in your memory long after the films finished and breathtaking period costumes designed by Sandy Powell.A timeless love story blighted by restrictions of class and money which will move you like no other.London 1910,spirited and beautiful Kate Croy(Helena Bonham Carter)is deeply in love with kind hearted but penniless journalist Merton Densher(Linus Roache).However since Kate became the ward of her wealthy aunt Maude(Charlotte Rampling)she now has no choice but to consider her financial position at all times.Especially as her aunt sends money to her alcoholic father Lionel(Michael Gambon).This drives a wedge between Kate and Merton and she soon finds herself being courted by the wealthy Lord Mark(Alex Jennings).When Kate befriends the outgoing yet fragile Millie Theale(Alison Elliott)she hatches a plan to get her to leave her fortune to Merton by bringing the two together knowing Millie is seriously ill and may die.However the plan backfires when Milton visits the women in Venice and really does come to care for Millie and falls in love with her.And so begins Kates quest to try and reclaim Mertons heart even though it may now completely belong to Millie.A haunting love story with beautiful location work and memorable performances,Wings Of The Dove will stay with you long after it's over..
The Wings of the Dove is a sinister, fascinating love story.Helena Bonham Carter plays Kate Croy, an ambitious but poor young woman who lives on the generosity of a rich aunt.
Unable to live poor but not wanting to surrender to the husband her aunt is trying to find for her, she hatches a genius and simple plan: to let her boyfriend, Merton Densher (Linus Roache) seduce the rich and dying American millionaire Millie (Alison Elliott) so that she will leave all her money to him.Carter shines in this movie and her performance is one of the main reasons to watch it.
Helena Bonham Carter is good as Kate Croy, the schemer who persuades her lover, Merton Densher, played by Linus Roache, to marry a wealthy American woman who is dying, but overall, the film is lackluster, especially when compared with the much richer and more vibrant film by Jane Campion, The Portrait of a Lady (1996).Henry James deals with subtle nuances of meaning and thought, but this is not why the film fails to satisfy.
SPOILER !!!!!Alison Elliott plays an interesting Millie Theale, the American millionaire who loved both Carter and Roache, and her presence is felt long after she quits the mortal scene.
Ultimately, the love scene fails because of the unpleasant associations with Millie and becomes simply depressing.In a way, the film emphasizes the point, so well made in James Joyce's wonderful story from Dubliners, "The Dead," that the dead hold power over the living.
In the film version it is Kate who introduces him to her as the initial plot point in her plans.In the BBC version, Milly is the center of the story, with Lisa Eichhorn's beautiful, heart-rending innocence radiating goodness over the emotional plotting.
A number of actors seemed to specialise in films of this type, but the ruling Queen of Period Drama was undoubtedly Helena Bonham Carter.
"The Wings of the Dove" was Helena's fourth film of this nature, following "A Room with a View", "Where Angels Fear to Tread" and "Howard's End".Henry James's original novel dates from 1902, but the film is for some reason set in 1910.
Bonham Carter's character, Kate Croy, is a young woman in a difficult position.
The Wings of the Dove (1997): Dir: Iain Softley / Cast: Helena Bonham Carter, Linus Roache, Alison Elliott, Charlotte Rampling, Elizabeth McGovern: Compelling romance that suggests purity.
"Wings of the Dove" Film Review of another Henry James Story by C A Hall Spellbreaker Studios.
Based on the novel by Henry James, 'The Wings of the Dove' is a beautiful film both in terms of locations, story and acting.
Helena Bonham Carter plays Kate Croy, who after being taking on as a ward by her Aunt Maude, is forced to meet illicitly with her lower class lover Merton Densher (played by Linus Roache).
The cinematography of the film is simply stunning, especially the night scenes in Venice, the costumes too are beautifully made and in my opinion Helena Bonham Carter has never looked better; whilst she may not want to be known as a corset queen, it must be said that her performances in such period films are always superb.
It is also obvious why Bonham Carter was Oscar nominated for the film, she succeeds playing a complex character and the scene where she writes a letter to Merton, terrified that her lover will fall in love with Millie is almost heartbreaking to watch, we can truly understand her pain, yet we also understand that this is a pain of her own design.
Alison Elliott, and Helena Bonham Carter, in my opinion are quite possibly the two most beautiful ladies in the world, and to see them both in the same movie is a privilege.This movie is very complicated in as much as Kate Croy manipulates circumstances to such an extent that her lover actually goes along with her in a scheme to marry a dying Millie Theal, who is rich, and upon her death will in all likely hood leave her fortune to him.