Sunday, August 25, 2013

August 25 - The Age of Innocence(1993)

This is a film with a scene that happens today – August 25. I hope you will enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

THE AGE OF INNOCENCE

Newland Archer is a lawyer from a wealthy family in New York. He’s engaged to May Welland, who is also from an upper crust family. However, after he meets May’s cousin Ellen who is separated from her husband, a Polish count, Archer becomes attracted to her. Archer is tasked by the family to talk Ellen out of seeking a divorce, as the scandal would be monumental. Fearful that he is falling for Ellen, Archer asks May to move up their wedding date, but she refuses, at her mother’s insistence. Archer tells Ellen he loves her, while May tells him not to marry her if he loves someone else, but he says he loves her and May’s family eventually agree to move up their wedding date. They are married and tour Europe. His path crosses Ellen’s, but he does not speak to her. Later, on August 25, 1875 [1:18:49 to 1:21:05] Archer visits the Bleakers and finds a parasol belonging to Ellen. Archer wants to stay married to May and have Ellen also, perhaps as his mistress. Ellen plans to return to Europe, but when Archer is about to tell May of his plans to leave her and follow Ellen, May tells him that she is pregnant and that she had already told Ellen this news. Archer stays with May. Many years later on a tour of Europe with his son he does not meet Ellen when his son visits Ellen.  

I cannot give my opinion of Archer Newland in language that can be read in polite society. The Age of Innocence is surely an ironic title as Archer is about as far from innocent as you can get.  He’s a selfish liar and cad and that’s the politest thing I can say about him.

An Edith Wharton Reader ed. By Arthur H. Quinn (Appleton-Century-Croft, New York, 1950) pps. 140-146

Director - Martin Scorsese

Awards – The film won the Best Costume Design Ocar. The movie was also nominated
                 for the Best Supporting Actress(Ryder), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best             
                 Original Score and Best Art Direction Oscars at the 66th Academy Awards.

Runtime – 2 hours 19 minutes

Released – October 1, 1993

Starring -

Daniel Day-Lewis as Newland Archer
Michelle Pfeiffer as Countess Ellen Olenska
Winona Ryder as May Welland
Alexis Smith as Louisa van der Luyden
Geraldine Chaplin as Mrs. Welland
Mary Beth Hurt as Regina Beaufort
Alec McCowen as Sillerton Jackson
Richard E. Grant as Larry Lefferts
Miriam Margolyes as Mrs. Mingott
Robert Sean Leonard as Ted Archer
Siân Phillips as Mrs. Archer
Carolyn Farina as Jenny Archer
June Squibb as Maid
Jonathan Pryce as Rivière
Michael Gough as Henry van der Luyden
Norman Lloyd as Mr. Letterblair
Stuart Wilson as Julius Beaufort
Joanne Woodward as Narrator 




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