Where Angels Fear to Tread (1991)

After a rich Edwardian widow impulsively marries a handsome but poor Tuscan dentist and dies in childbirth, her English in-laws try to gain custody of the baby.

Director:

Charles Sturridge

Writers:

E.M. Forster (based on the novel by), Tim Sullivan (screenplay),

Stars:

Rupert Graves, Helen Mirren, Helena Bonham Carter

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rupert Graves	...	Philip Herriton
Helen Mirren	...	Lilia Herriton
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Caroline Abbott
Barbara Jefford	...	Mrs. Herriton
Judy Davis	...	Harriet Herriton
Thomas Wheatley	...	Mr. Kingcroft
Sophie Kullmann	...	Irma
Vass Anderson	...	Mr. Abbott
Sylvia Barter	...	Mrs. Theobald
Eileen Davies	...	Ethel
Siria Betti	...	Hotel-Keeper
Giovanni Guidelli	...	Gino Carella
Anna Lelio	...	Perfetta
Luca Lazzareschi	...	Spiridione
Sergio Falasca	...	Carriage Driver

Storyline

Around 1906, the widow Lilia Herriton meets a young man when she visits Italy and marries him. The man is only a dentist without a good name, and Lilia's relatives are clearly unhappy with her choice. Lilia dies while giving birth to a son, and two relatives travel to Italy to take care of of the baby, expecting no trouble from the father.

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Plot Keywords:

italy | bathing baby | sister in law | forgiveness | bare chested male | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for sensuality, violence and theme

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

28 February 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ahol angyal se jár

Filming Locations:

Caprarola Railway Station, Caprarola, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Gross:

$1,403,033 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sovereign Pictures, London Weekend Television (LWT), Stagescreen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Goofs

In a scene outside on the veranda in Gino's house in Italy, Lilia (Helen Mirren) has her back to the view of the countryside. At one point, when the camera is on her, a white van can be seen driving along the road in the distance. It is clearly a 1990s-era vehicle, moving much faster than automobiles of the era could have.

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Quotes

Philip Herriton: Some people are born not to do things, and I'm one of them.

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Soundtracks

"Vaga luna che inargenti"
(uncredited)
Music by Vincenzo Bellini

User Reviews

When in Rome, do as the English do.

Such is the credo of a trio of Edwardian English gentry who travel to Italy to save a new born baby from the clutches of its Italian father upon the death of its English mother. "Where Angels Fear to Tread" is an excellent film in need of a story. A well crafted, well acted, well directed period piece (circa 1906), the film peers deeply into the marginally interesting group of characters, their relationships and idiosyncrasies, and their difficulty bridging the English/Italian culture gap. Unfortunately this tedious work only seems to get interesting about the time credits roll and one is left wondering what happened to the on screen "To Be Continued" declaration. An okay watch for those into the subtleties of European period films with little to offer all others.