The Wings of the Dove (1997)

An impoverished woman who has been forced to choose between a privileged life with her wealthy aunt and her journalist lover, befriends an American heiress. When she discovers the heiress is attracted to her own lover and is dying, she sees a chance to have both the privileged life she cannot give up and the lover she cannot live without.

Director:

Iain Softley

Writers:

Henry James (novel), Hossein Amini (screenplay)

Stars:

Helena Bonham Carter, Linus Roache, Alex Jennings

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 20 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Kate Croy
Linus Roache	...	Merton
Alex Jennings	...	Lord Mark
Charlotte Rampling	...	Aunt Maude
Ben Miles	...	Journalist 1
Philip Wright	...	Journalist 2
Michael Gambon	...	Kate's Father
Alexander John	...	Butler
Alison Elliott	...	Milly
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Susan
Shirley Chantrell	...	Opium Den Lady
Diana Kent	...	Merton's Party Companion
Georgio Serafini	...	Eugenio
Rachele Crisafulli	...	Concierge

Storyline

Kate Croy's mother was born to wealth and privilege, but she threw it all away to marry Kate's father, a penniless opium addict who admits to having stolen from his wife. After her mother's death, Kate is offered an opportunity to return to the life her mother gave up. There is a condition, however: Kate must sever all of her old ties, not only to her father, but also to her lover, the muck-raking journalist Merton Densher, whom she has promised marriage. Kate reluctantly agrees to this, and in the meantime becomes friendly with "the world's richest orphan," Millie Theale, an American making the Grand Tour. Desperate to see Kate, Merton crashes a party that she and Millie are attending, and Millie is attracted to him. When Kate learns that Millie is dying, she comes up with a plan to have her cake and eat it too...but all does not go as planned.

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Plot Keywords:

american | journalist | heiress | party | poverty | 

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Taglines:

A couple with everything but money. An heiress with everything but love. A temptation no one could resist.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Las alas de la paloma

Filming Locations:

Brompton Cemetery, Fulham Road, West Brompton, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

DEM 216,514 (Germany) (24 July 1998)

Gross:

DEM 216,514 (Germany) (24 July 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax Films, Renaissance Dove

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Julianna Margulies was considered for the role of Kate Croy.

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Goofs

The tile pattern on the Underground stations the train passes through at the beginning of the film are identical in pattern and color for each station. Each station on the Piccadilly line had its own tile pattern and color scheme so that the illiterate could still recognize their station without needing to read the station name.

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Quotes

Merton: You want me to seduce a dying girl? And what makes you think she'll just leave me all her money?
Kate: I know her. I know how she loves.

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Connections

Referenced in Jersey Girl (2004)

User Reviews

An exceptional film with my all-time favorite female performance.

This one really took me by surprise, in the best way possible. The story is a perfect blend of suspense and romance that is flawlessly engaging from start to finish. I couldn't help but keep my eyes glued to the screen the entire time. It flows beautifully and never moves too far ahead or too slow for the viewer. There wasn't a single second where I was bored or waiting for the film to end. I'm not usually the biggest fan of a period romance, but I was blown away by this one. The score is incredible. It sets the perfect ambiance for the film and makes you feel like you are with these characters. The ending left me in a complete catharsis. I was just numb, staring at the screen in disbelief. Helena Bonham Carter is unexplainably phenomenal. She is one of a rare breed of actors who can display more emotion simply with her eyes than most actors can with their entire body. I feel blessed to watch her perform. Her extreme versatility and authenticity is unparalleled. Her performance is the best from a female that I've ever seen. The Academy should be in jail for giving the Oscar to the mediocre Helen Hunt over Bonham Carter's flawless tour de force.