The Europeans (1979)

Director:

James Ivory

Writers:

Henry James (novel)
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 October 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

It's the mid-nineteenth century. Adult siblings Felix Young and Eugenia Munster were born and raised...

Plot Keywords:

European | Unitarian | Minister | Catholic | Church

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Lee Remick	...	Eugenia Young
Robin Ellis	...	Robert Acton
Wesley Addy	...	Mr. Wentworth
Tim Choate	...	Clifford
Lisa Eichhorn	...	Gertrude
Kristin Griffith	...	Lizzie Acton
Nancy New	...	Charlotte
Norman Snow	...	Mr. Brand
Helen Stenborg	...	Mrs. Acton
Tim Woodward	...	Felix Young
Gedda Petry	...	Augustine
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Ivory	...	(uncredited)
Richard Robbins	...	Musician (uncredited)
Donald Warnock	...	The Dandy at the Ball (uncredited)

Directed by
James Ivory

Writing credits
Henry James		(novel)
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala		(screenplay)

Produced by
Connie Kaiserman	....	associate producer
Ismail Merchant	....	producer

Original Music by
Richard Robbins

Cinematography by
Larry Pizer

Film Editing by
Humphrey Dixon

Casting by
Judy Abbott

Art Direction by
Jeremiah Rusconi

Costume Design by
Judy Moorcroft

Makeup Department
Marianne Grigg	....	makeup artist
Jeanne Richmond	....	makeup artist
Martin Samuel	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Joyce Herlihy	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christine Fox	....	second assistant director
James Maniolas	....	assistant director (as Jim Maniolas)

Art Department
Don Carpentier	....	property master
Jeremy Mitford	....	property master

Sound Department
Derek Ball	....	sound
Brian Blamey	....	sound editor
Bob Jones	....	sound re-recording engineer
Ken Nightingall	....	boom operator (as Ken Nightengall)
Doug E. Turner	....	sound re-recording engineer (as Doug Turner)

Camera and Electrical Department
Christopher Cormack	....	still photographer
Ken Ferris	....	focus puller
Constantine Makris	....	grip
Christopher Misiano	....	grip
Donald Newman	....	gaffer (as Don Newman)
Brian Rose	....	clapper loader
Eugene Shlugleit	....	electrician
Jim Walsh	....	best boy

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jenny Beavan	....	costume assistant
Keith Morton	....	wardrobe master

Editorial Department
Mark Potter	....	assistant editor (as Mark Potter Jr.)

Music Department
Vic Flick	....	conductor
Vic Flick	....	music arranger

Other crew
Elizabeth Aldrich	....	choreographer
Steve Bach	....	production assistant
Trevor Bond	....	title art
Jane Buck	....	continuity
Walter Bursiel	....	production assistant
Anthony Chase	....	production assistant
Ellen Dinerstein	....	production assistant
Michael Fields	....	production assistant
Charles Garth	....	choreographer
Graham Henderson	....	production accountant
Peter Kean	....	location unit manager
Mark Potter Sr.	....	title art
John Rusconi	....	production assistant
Karen Shashoua	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Merchant Ivory Productions (presents)

Distributors

• Enterprise (1979) (UK) (theatrical)
• Levitt-Pickman (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Home Vision Entertainment (HVE) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Gaumont (1980) (France) (theatrical)
• Cecchi Gori Home Video (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Connossieur Video (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• F.J. Lucas (Brazil) (VHS)
• MK2 Éditions (2007) (France) (DVD) (special edition)
• Odyssey Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1985) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)

Other Companies

• Hillsburg/Meyer Inc.  titles
• Don Carpenter & Eastfield Village  property
• Cosprop  costumes (as Cosprop, London)
• Spot Labs  processing (as Spot Lobs, Toronto)
• Rank Film Laboratories  release prints (as Rank Laboratories)
• Delta Sound Services  re-recording at (as Delta Sound Services, Shepperton Studios)
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• The United States Department of Interior, National Park Service  special thanks (as United Stages National Parks Service)
• Smithsonian Institution  special thanks
• Merrimac Valley Textile Museum  special thanks
• Richard Ginori  special thanks (as Richard Ginori, New York)
• Firestone and Parson Jewellers  special thanks (as FIRESTONE and PARSON, Boston)
• Appleton Manor Farms  special thanks
• Sowles Foundation  special thanks
• Aquila Farm  special thanks
• Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities  owner: The Lyman House in Waltham Massachusetts all owned by
• Essex Institue, The  owner: Gardner-Pingree House in salem Massachusetts owned by
• Gramavision Records  soundtrack (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:G | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Barrett House - 79 Main Street, New Ipswich, New Hampshire, USA

Company:

Merchant Ivory Productions

Trivia:

The film features interaction between Britisher Eugenia Young and American Robert Acton; in fact, the British woman is played by an American (Lee Remick) and the American man is played by a Britisher (Robin Ellis).

Soundtrack:

French Quadrilles

Remick shines

I take issue with with Hal-900's assessment of Lee Remick's performance in this movie. I agree that she is physically perfect, but laughed and cringed at the same time at the statement that Remick was "unable to meet the demands of her complex role", whatever that means. She never gave a bad performance, elevated any movie she was ever in, and was the caliber of the other actresses mentioned, Jane Fonda and Faye Dunaway, if not better. She is utterly delightful in The Europeans and plays the sly baroness with panache. I have not seen many Merchant Ivory films and don't generally watch period pieces, but this one I did enjoy, mainly for Remick.