The Bostonians

Unrated

10/2/19842h 2m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ An intimate and exquisite probe of the feminist heart. ~

Overview:

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

Director:

James Ivory

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

boston, massachusetts
lawyer
feminist
post civil war
19th century

Cast

Christopher Reeve

~ as ~

Basil Ransome

Vanessa Redgrave

~ as ~

Olive Chancellor

Jessica Tandy

~ as ~

Miss Birdseye

Madeleine Potter

~ as ~

Verena Tarrant

Nancy Marchand

~ as ~

Mrs. Burrage

Wesley Addy

~ as ~

Dr. Tarrant

Barbara Bryne

~ as ~

Mrs. Tarrant

Linda Hunt

~ as ~

Dr. Prance

Charles McCaughan

~ as ~

Music Hall Policeman

Nancy New

~ as ~

Adeline

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 1 year(s) ago
6
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.