Widows' Peak (1994)

Director:

John Irvin

Writers:

Hugh Leonard (story)
Hugh Leonard (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 May 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Scandal, seduction, blackmail and murder. Thank heavens their husbands aren't alive!

Plot:

Edwina has just moved into the neighborhood known as "Widows' Peak," so called due to the prevalent marital status of the residents...

Plot Keywords:

Widow | Ireland | Period Piece | Rural Setting | New Girl In Town

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Mia Farrow	...	Miss Katherine O'Hare / Clancy
Joan Plowright	...	Mrs. Doyle-Counihan
Natasha Richardson	...	Mrs. Edwina Broome
Adrian Dunbar	...	Godfrey Doyle-Counihan
Jim Broadbent	...	Con Clancy, Kilshannon Dentist
Anne Kent	...	Miss Grubb, Doyle-Counihan's Maid / Driver
John Kavanagh	...	Canon Murtagh
Rynagh O'Grady	...	Maddie O'Hara, Broome's Maid
Gerard McSorley	...	Gaffney, Lawyer
Michael James Ford	...	Lieutenant Rokesby
Garrett Keogh	...	Grogan, Realtor
Britta Smith	...	Mrs. Colgan
Sheila Flitton	...	Mrs. Mulrooney
Marie Conmee	...	Mrs. Lawless
Ingrid Craigie	...	Mrs. Purdieu

Runtime:

Spain:102 min | UK:101 min | USA:101 min | Argentina:102 min | Canada:102 min (Ontario)

Country:

UK | Ireland

Language:

Irish Gaelic | English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Germany:6 (bw) | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Ballyknockan, Valleymount, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

British Screen Productions

Trivia:

The movie's writer, Irish playwright Hugh Leonard, originally wrote the part of Miss O'Hare especially for Maureen O'Sullivan, but she gracefully reneged because of her advanced age and dwindling stamina. Her daughter Mia Farrow ultimately took over the role

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Just after Edwina and Godfrey have sat down on the blanket for a picnic, you can see the top of a modern car driving by in the background.

Movie Connections:

References The Big Parade (1925)

Soundtrack:

Mother Machree

Three queens.

Nowadays,nine movies out of ten feature two male actors as the leads.For a change,"Widows Peak' boasts three actresses at the top of the bill.And what a threesome:Mia Farrow,a spinster,the Cinderella of a bunch of posh and distinguished ladies whose queen is none other than Joan Plowright.This wealthy widow ,with her hoity-toity ways, annoys anyone and all,including her son,a would be handy man,actually a big ninny,always tied to his mother's apron strings,although he firmly denies it.Enter Richardson,who plays a beautiful English widow,and Plowright would like her offspring to marry this rich heiress.A mortal feud begins between Farrow and Richardson.But things are not what they seem and prepare yourself for a lot of unexpected twists,till the very end.And you'll dig such witty lines as (the ironical lawyer to Plowright)"your real treasure is the love of your son".

More than the shrewd plot,the everyday life of the little community is exquisitely depicted:the film (excerpts of De Mille's "ten commandments"(1923,of course!)during which Plowright is enjoying sweets,the mass on Sunday morning,the local dance during which Farrow and Richardson fight for... two tickets for King Vidor' s "the big parade",the regatta,the only time Plowright's son feels manly.

An user regrets James Ivory did not direct it.One would probably have a better movie,for sure.The characters -particularly the lady and her son- verge on caricature. But anyway,watch it,if you like great actresses.