The Bostonians

1984

2h 2m

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

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12 Images

Drama

Romance

A bored lawyer and a suffragette vie for the attention of a faith healer's charismatic daughter.

Directors

James Ivory

Writers

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala(screenplay by)

Henry James(novel by)

Stars

Christopher Reeve

Vanessa Redgrave

Jessica Tandy

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Top cast

Basil Ransome

Olive Chancellor

Miss Birdseye

Verena Tarrant

Mrs. Burrage

Dr. Tarrant

Mrs. Tarrant

Dr. Prance

Music Hall Policeman

Adeline

Henry Burrage

Mr. Pardon

Mr. Gracie

Mrs. Farrinder

Newton Tarrant

Music Hall Official

Patient

Henrietta Stackpole

Directors

James Ivory

Writers

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala(screenplay by)

Henry James(novel by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

There's a lovely line in this otherwise unremarkable adaptation of the Henry James novel from Vanessa Redgrave who announces something along the lines of being eternally grateful for not having the vote! It did make me smile. That, sadly, is about all that did as we trudge through this stylish but turgid story of the embryonic American suffragette movement. Amidst this struggle for enfranchisement, the bright "Verena" (Madeleine Potter) is facing the affections of the more traditional "Basil" (Christopher Reeve), himself a man who she ought to have little time for. Might there be the slightest chance that something might develop between them? Initially, there is some sparky conversation amongst the well-heeled citizens and there is potency in some of the dialogue, but boy - after about half an hour the whole things slows to a glacial pace; is seriously over-written and even the usually charismatic Jessica Tandy ("Miss Birdseye") struggles to breath life into what ought to have been a sharp and wittily constructed dramatisation of a story about politics, empowerment and - yes, romance too. Reeve is as wooden as a washboard which doesn't help and though Potter does give it her all, the film just lacks spark, pace or oomph. As ever with Merchant Ivory films, the things looks a million dollars, but there's no excusing the weaknesses all around here and it takes for ever, too.

Geronimo196723 May, 2024