The Bostonians (1984)

19th-century Boston woman dedicated to the suffrage movement, meets a faith healer's daughter, a Mississippi lawyer also has eyes for the young woman.

Director:

James Ivory

Writers:

Henry James (novel), Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (screenplay)

Stars:

Christopher Reeve, Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Tandy

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Reeve	...	Basil Ransome
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Olive Chancellor
Jessica Tandy	...	Miss Birdseye
Madeleine Potter	...	Verena Tarrant
Nancy Marchand	...	Mrs. Burrage
Wesley Addy	...	Dr. Tarrant
Barbara Bryne	...	Mrs. Tarrant
Linda Hunt	...	Dr. Prance
Charles McCaughan	...	Music Hall Policeman
Nancy New	...	Adeline
Jon Van Ness	...	Henry Burrage (as John Van Ness Philip)
Wallace Shawn	...	Mr. Pardon
Peter Bogyo	...	Mr. Gracie
Martha Farrar	...	Mrs, Farrinder
Dusty Maxwell	...	Newton Tarrant

Storyline

19th-century Boston woman dedicated to the suffrage movement, meets a faith healer's daughter, a Mississippi lawyer also has eyes for the young woman.

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Plot Keywords:

lesbian | womens lib | independent film | based on novel

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Taglines:

A BEAUTIFUL FILM . . . An intimate and exquisite probe of the feminist heart. [Australia Theatrical]

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1984 (UK)

Also Known As:

A bostoniak

Filming Locations:

Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Merchant Ivory Productions, WGBH, Rediffusion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The climatic scene at the "Boston Music Hall" was actually filmed at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, New York, finished in 1875. The Boston Music Hall was pulled down in the 1950s. But the film required a civic hall with a pipe organ in it for plot reasons. While we see the 1882 Odell organ in the Troy hall, the organ itself didn't work very well in 1983, so the music was actually recorded on the organ at Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts.

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Goofs

The invitation Basil receives to hear Verena give an address is for Wednesday, June 1, 1876. In 1876, June 1 fell on a Thursday.

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Connections

Featured in From the Journals of Jean Seberg (1995)

User Reviews

Timeless

The other reviews really don't get that this is a very subtle expose on gay relationships in this era. Was Henry James gay? Did he live his perspective through this story of the Bostonians…?. And imagine writing about women's rights movement intertwined with gay women of the day- a man writing in the 1800's! WoW – how progressive even today in 2011 people still debate the legitimacy of gay relationships (not me-please note I am happily married heterosexual). This is in amazing film. Period accurate and an incredible story about the dynamic of class – to be the lover of a women of means but who is really drawn to a traditional marriage – if he has the means to support her. Watch this from that perspective. It's remarkable to think that this was written in the late 1800's and that this film was done in the 1980s – so way ahead of its time. And then look at Christopher Reeve and how he took this movie to break out of his Superman stereo type…. Pretty incredible. I think the naysayers here really didn't get the historical significance of this film. Its an amazing film. Thank you Merchant and Ivory…you are amazing.