The Wings of the Dove (1997)

Director:

Iain Softley

Writers:

Henry James (novel)
Hossein Amini (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 November 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

American | Journalist | Heiress | Poverty | Marriage

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Helena Bonham Carter	...	Kate Croy
Linus Roache	...	Merton Densher
Alison Elliott	...	Millie Theale
Charlotte Rampling	...	Aunt Maude
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Susan 'Susie' Stringham
Michael Gambon	...	Lionel Croy, Kate's Father
Alex Jennings	...	Lord Mark
Ben Miles	...	First Journalist
Philip Wright	...	Second Journalist
Alexander John	...	Butler
Shirley Chantrell	...	Opium Den Lady
Diana Kent	...	Merton's Party Companion
Georgio Serafini	...	Eugenio
Rachele Crisafulli	...	Concierge
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gary Condes	...	Man in Boat Queue (uncredited)
Royston Munt	...	Carriage Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Iain Softley

Writing credits
Henry James		(novel)
Hossein Amini		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mark Cooper	....	line producer
Stephen Evans	....	producer
Paul Feldsher	....	executive producer
David Parfitt	....	producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer
Caroline Wood	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Ed Shearmur		(as Edward Shearmur)

Cinematography by
Eduardo Serra		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tariq Anwar

Casting by
Michelle Guish

Production Design by
John Beard

Art Direction by
Martyn John
Andrew Sanders		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Joanne Woollard

Costume Design by
Sandy Powell

Makeup Department
Jan Archibald	....	chief hair stylist
Cristiana Bertini	....	first makeup assistant: second unit, Venice
Laura Borselli	....	second makeup assistant: second unit, Venice (as Laura Borzelli)
Anita Burger	....	hair stylist
Jeanette Freeman	....	supervising hairdresser: Venice
Sallie Jaye	....	chief makeup artist
Kerin Parfitt	....	makeup artist
Daniel Phillips	....	makeup artist (as Darren Phillips)
Carla Ruffert	....	first assistant hairdresser: second unit, Venice
Astrid Schikorra	....	hair stylist
Elide Velicogna	....	second assistant hairdresser: second unit, Venice

Production Management
David Ambrosi	....	unit manager: Venice
Christian McWilliams	....	unit manager
Rosanna Roditi	....	production manager: Venice

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sergio Ghetti	....	third assistant director: Venice
Guy Heeley	....	second assistant director: UK second unit
Luca Lachin	....	second assistant director: Venice (as Luca Lacchin)
Simon Moseley	....	first assistant director
Barbara Mulcahy	....	third assistant director
Pierantonio Novara	....	third assistant director: Venice
Avshalom Pollak	....	additional third assistant director: UK second unit
Giovanni Silvestrini	....	third assistant director: Venice
Richard Styles	....	second assistant director
Gala Wright	....	second unit director: Venice
Rebecca Wright	....	third assistant director: UK (as Rebecca Tucker)

Art Department
David Abbott	....	carpenter
Steve Allaway	....	supervising carpenter
Tony Allaway	....	carpenter
Joe Alley	....	carpenter
Riccardo Andreotti	....	painter: Venice second unit
Alessandro Anselmi	....	carpenter: Venice second unit
Lee Apsey	....	carpenter
Barry Arnold	....	stand-by propsman
Ornella Baraldo	....	assistant art director: Venice
Ernie Bell	....	painter
Frank Berlin	....	painter
Warren Browne	....	carpenter
Lee Bryant	....	dressing props
Peter Bryant	....	property storeman
David Bubb	....	carpenter (as Dave Bubb)
Anthony Challenor	....	carpenter
Ray Chan	....	assistant art director
Jane Clark	....	storyboard artist
David Coley	....	stand-by carpenter
Franco Contini	....	assistant set dresser: Venice
David Creed	....	stand-by carpenter (as Dave Creed)
Stuart Davidson	....	stagehand
Danny Delaney	....	trainee stagehand
Jeremiah Delaney	....	stagehand
Peter Duffy	....	carpenter (as Peter Duffey)
Belinda Edwards	....	property buyer
David Edwards	....	carpenter (as Dave Edwards)
Andrea Faini	....	art director: Venice
Eddie Farrell	....	carpenter
Francesca Fezzi	....	assistant art director: Venice
Garry Fisher	....	carpenter
Elisabetta Frazuoli	....	painter: Venice second unit
Gary Freeman	....	draughtsman
Karl George	....	wood machinist
Barry Gibbs	....	property master
Frank Gill	....	carpenter
Alvise Grandese	....	assistant set dresser: Venice
Warren Greenham	....	painter (as Warren Grenham)
Alan Grenham	....	supervising painter
Peter Grove	....	carpenter
Bill Hargreaves	....	stand-by propsman
David Haynes	....	painter
Arthur Healey	....	painter (as Arthur Healy)
Kevin Hedges	....	carpenter
Robin Heinson	....	stand-by painter
Frank Henry	....	carpenter
Bryce Johnston	....	carpenter (as Bryce Johnstone)
David Jones	....	stand-by stagehand
Roberto Laurenzi	....	construction manager: Venice second unit
Bill Lyons	....	carpenter
Steve Marquiss	....	scenic painter (as Stephen Marquiss)
Edward McLaren	....	painter (as Edward Mclaren)
Rod McLean	....	draughtsman
Dave Middleton	....	construction coordinator
Eddie O'Neill	....	stagehand
Giorgio Pansini	....	property buyer: Venice
Darryl Paterson	....	property storeman
Pietro Petri	....	carpenter: Venice second unit
Harry Portlock	....	carpenter
Floriano Porzionato	....	propman: Venice
Paolo Pugiotto	....	carpenter: Venice second unit (as Paolo Pugglotto)
Clifford Rashbrook	....	stagehand (as Clifford Rashbrock)
Vito Reina	....	carpenter: Venice second unit
Anthony Rhone	....	scenic painter
Claire Nia Richards	....	art department runner (as Claire Richards)
Clive Rivers	....	chargehand stagehand
Ron Ross	....	carpenter (as Ronnie Ross)
Paul Sansom	....	carpenter
Paola Saraval	....	painter: Venice second unit
Brian Shelley	....	painter
Lee Shelley	....	painter
Steve Sibley	....	scenic painter (as Steven Sibley)
Kenneth Small	....	carpenter
Eliza Solesbury	....	assistant set decorator
Gary Stopps	....	carpenter
Pietro Tessera	....	assistant set dresser: Venice
Caireen Todd	....	art department assistant
Paul Turley	....	property storeman
Peter Verard	....	construction manager
Danny Walker	....	graphics supervisor
Graham Weames	....	carpenter
Richard Weames	....	supervising carpenter
Kenneth Welland	....	painter
Terry Wells Jr.	....	dressing props
Dave Wells	....	carpenter (as David Wells)
Laurence Wells	....	dressing props
Brian Western	....	painter
Mark White	....	construction
Grahame Ménage	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paula Boram	....	foley artist
Geoff R. Brown	....	assistant foley editor (as Jeff R. Brown)
Ed Colyer	....	foley mixer (as Edward Colyer)
Martin Evans	....	sound editor
Stan Fiferman	....	foley editor
Steve Finn	....	sound assistant (as Stephen Finn)
Gordon Greenaway	....	assistant sound editor
Matt Grimes	....	sound editor (as Matt Grime)
Dean Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dean Humphries)
Andrea Isaac	....	assistant sound editor (as Andrea Issac)
Eddy Joseph	....	sound consultant (as Eddie Joseph)
Sam Kruger	....	sound trainee
Daniel Laurie	....	assistant sound editor (as Dan Laurie)
Dominic Lester	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Lindsay	....	production sound recordist
Nick Lowe	....	sound editor
Nigel Mills	....	sound editor
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lauren Potter	....	foley artist
Malcolm Rose	....	sound maintenance engineer
Steve Schwalbe	....	adr editor (as Steven Schwalbe)
Mike Wood	....	sound editor
Alan Sallabank	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Dominic Tuohy	....	senior special effects technician: Effects Associates
Steven Warner	....	special effects technician: Effects Associates (as Steve Warner)
Tez Palmer	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Paul Round	....	digital compositor
Alan Church	....	digital effects producer (uncredited)
Sally Clayton	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Simon Alderton	....	stand-by rigger
Marco Alzetta	....	labourer grip: second unit, Venice
Daniel Bacciu	....	labourer electrician: second unit, Venice
Werner Bacciu	....	grip: second unit, Venice
Regis Benedettelli	....	grip rigger: second unit, Venice
Stefano Biscaro	....	key grip: second unit, Venice
Alessandro Bolognesi	....	Steadicam operator: Venice (as Alessandro Bolgnesi)
Roy Branch	....	best boy electric
Bob Brock	....	electrician (as Rob Brock)
Bob Brock	....	generator operator (as Rob Brock)
Nicola Bruso	....	grip: second unit, Venice
Tony Burns	....	electrician
Luca Casagrande	....	labourer electrician: second unit, Venice
Steve Casey	....	electrician
Andrea Castellan	....	generator operator: second unit, Venice
Steve Challis	....	stand-by rigger
Steve Costello	....	gaffer
Tommaso Dabala	....	labourer electrician: second unit, Venice
Gary Dormer	....	rigger
John Ferguson	....	clapper loader
Paolo Frasson	....	grip: second unit, Venice
John Gamble	....	clapper loader: UK second unit
Dario Gardi	....	gaffer: second unit, Venice
Cristiano Giavedoni	....	electrician: second unit, Venice
Andrew Gleboff	....	camera trainee
Andy Hopkins	....	crane operator
Bill Howe	....	rigger
Brad Larner	....	focus puller: second unit, UK
Emanuele Leurini	....	video assist: second unit, Venice
Iain Lowe	....	rigger
David Morgan	....	focus puller (as Dave Morgan)
Ian Norgate	....	rigger
Thierry Pouget	....	focus puller: Venice second unit
Mike Proudfoot	....	camera operator
Miles Proudfoot	....	clapper loader: Venice second unit
Kenny Richards	....	rigger
Pascal Ridao	....	camera operator: Venice second unit
Peter Robertson	....	Steadicam operator: UK second unit
Angelo Russo	....	electrician: second unit, Venice
Raffaele Scarpa	....	labourer grip: second unit, Venice
Nick Schlesinger	....	camera operator: UK second unit
Roger Sharland	....	video operator
Andrew Taylor	....	electrician (as Andy Taylor)
Mark Tillie	....	still photographer
Michele Turchetto	....	generator operator: second unit, Venice
Tony Turner	....	grip
George Vince	....	practical electrician
Andrea Chiozzotto	....	electrician: second unit, Venice (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kerry Barden	....	casting: USA
Daniela Foà	....	extras casting: second unit, Venice
Billy Hopkins	....	casting: USA
Suzanne Smith	....	casting: USA
Deborah Maxwell Dion	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alba Alzetta	....	costume maker: second unit, Venice
Nicola Ball	....	costume assistant
Anthony Brookman	....	wardrobe master
Cecilia Burrows	....	costume maker
Claire Christie	....	costume maker
Luca Critofoli	....	costume maker: second unit, Venice
Cristiano Galzerano	....	costume maker: second unit, Venice
Frank Gardiner	....	associate costume designer
Anna Maria Genuise	....	costume maker: second unit, Venice (as Anna Maria Genvise)
Janette Haslam	....	costume maker (as Janette Haslem)
Jenny Hawkins	....	costume assistant
Yvonne Jackson-French	....	costume maker
Charles Lester	....	costume maker
Patricia Lester	....	costume maker
Peter Lewis	....	costume maker
Loredana Malusa	....	costume maker: second unit, Venice
Vanessa Munro	....	costume assistant
Anne Nichols	....	costume maker
Alison O'Brien	....	costume maker
Shizuko Omachi	....	wardrobe assistant: second unit, Venice (as Shizu Omachi)
Hilary Parkinson	....	costume maker
Suzanne Parkinson	....	costume maker
Gwen Russell	....	costume maker
Ermelinda Scilinguo	....	wardrobe assistant: second unit, Venice
Clare Spragge	....	costume supervisor
Jackie Thomas	....	wardrobe mistress (as Jacki Thomas)
Carmen Verttoretti	....	costume maker

Editorial Department
Jay Coquillon	....	assistant editor
Mike Fraser	....	negative cutter
Liz Green	....	associate editor
Katya Jezzard	....	assistant editor
Saska Simpson	....	assistant editor
Mike Stainer	....	color grader (as Michael Stainer)

Music Department
John Bell	....	additional orchestrator
Becky Bentham	....	music supervisor: Air Edel Associates Limited
Andy Brown	....	musicians' contractor
Vic Fraser	....	music copyist
Tim Handley	....	music editor
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music engineer (as Steve McLaughlin)
Dashiell Rae	....	music editor
Maggie Rodford	....	music supervisor: Air Edel Associates Limited
Ed Shearmur	....	conductor (as Edward Shearmur)
David Walter	....	assistant music engineer
Robert Randles	....	music consultant (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Tony Bird	....	transportation manager: Aeroshoot Film Services
John Botton	....	stand-by driver: props
Bill Clare	....	driver: construction department
Mike Crawley	....	unit driver
Natasha Dack	....	driver
Howard Doubtfire	....	driver: minbus
Phil Edwards	....	driver: minbus
Terry English	....	unit driver
Rob Fowle	....	camera driver
John Geary	....	veteran vehicles: Motorhouse
Phil Knight	....	unit driver
Dougie Lankston	....	driver: dressing props (as Doug Langston)
Ron Lowe	....	dining bus driver
Ron Nanson	....	unit driver
Mark Richards	....	unit driver
Simon Saunders	....	unit driver
Charlie Simpson	....	wardrobe driver
Kieran Smith	....	driver: makeup/hair

Other crew
Stephanie Avery	....	production assistant
Sean Barrett	....	milliner
Liz Barron	....	financial controller
Roy Beck	....	stand-in
Bill Beenham	....	supervising rigger
Lorenzo Bellini	....	craft service: second unit, Venice
Erica Bensly	....	production coordinator
David Bittner	....	labourer: second unit, Venice
Klaus Bittner	....	labourer: second unit, Venice
Paul Bittner	....	labourer: second unit, Venice
Fabio Bozzetti	....	production assistant: Venice
Giacomo Brasolin	....	labourer: second unit, Venice
Ben Burt	....	floor runner
Stefano Calcaterra	....	propman: Venice
Donata Cecconi	....	floor runner: Venice
Clair Chrysler	....	stand-in
Cleone Clarke	....	assistant to producer
John Cowell	....	fabric painting and dyeing
Maria Grazia Dabala	....	boat marshall: Venice
Natasha Dack	....	runner
Dominique De Langes	....	location manager: Venice
Mario De Poli	....	unit nurse: second unit, Venice
Cyril Dickman	....	etiquette advisor
Valerie Dyer	....	unit nurse: UK second unit
Joan Field	....	stand-in
Lee Field	....	stand-in
Carlo Forcellini	....	craft service: second unit, Venice
Paolo Fortunati	....	labourer: second unit, Venice
Italo Gerardi	....	labourer: second unit, Venice
Jane Gibson	....	movement consultant
Maurizio Graziosi	....	cashier: Venice
Dee Gregson	....	assistant location manager
Stuart Hopps	....	choreographer
Marino Ingrassia	....	labourer: second unit, Venice
Debbie Kaye	....	horse coordinator
Sara Keene	....	unit publicist: Corbett & Keene Ltd.
Ermanno Kerstich	....	craft service: second unit, Venice
Marilena La Ferrara	....	payroll clerk: Venice
Vikki Luya	....	unit publicist: Corbett & Keene Ltd.
Marianne Lytton	....	unit nurse: UK second unit
Luca Massarotto	....	labourer: second unit, Venice
Jennifer McAlear	....	assistant to executive producer
Mickey McKnight	....	runner: editing
Aldo Mingardi	....	security: second unit, Venice
Nicola Minghetti	....	crowd marshall: second unit, Venice
Caroline Moore	....	production runner
Diane Pontefract	....	assistant accountant
Giulio Ravenna	....	labourer: second unit, Venice
Kay Robinson	....	production secretary
Giorgio Rossi	....	unit nurse: second unit, Venice
Giorgio Scasso	....	security: second unit, Venice
Brian Shemmings	....	health and safety advisor
Ron Stenner	....	medical advisor
Margaret Teatum	....	assistant post-production accountant
Luciano Tito	....	floor runner: Venice
Anita Tomaselli	....	production assistant: Venice
Alberto Tomasini	....	labourer: second unit, Venice
Fabio Vianello	....	production assistant: Venice
Maxine Weavers	....	stand-in
Chris Wheeldon	....	location manager
Anna Worley	....	script supervisor
Gala Wright	....	assistant to director
Carla Zacchia	....	accountant: Venice (as Carla Zacchia Legali)
Mike Fraser	....	rushes transfer (uncredited)
Enzo Sisti	....	fiscal representative: second unit, Venice (uncredited)

Thanks
Nicola Bradbury	....	special thanks
Nick Butler	....	special thanks: Royal Parks Agency
Denis Carrigan	....	special thanks
Chris Crome	....	special thanks: Westminster Special Events Office
Zena Dickenson	....	special thanks
Ann-Marie Doyle	....	special thanks
Graham Easton	....	special thanks
Donna Gigliotti	....	special thanks
Linda Howarth	....	special thanks
John Leeson	....	special thanks
Ling Ling Li	....	special thanks
Les Maddison	....	special thanks: Painshill Park Trust
Ileen Maisel	....	special thanks: Painshill Park Trust
Neil Mockler	....	special thanks
Paul Olliver	....	special thanks
Richard Paine	....	special thanks: Corporation of London
Meryl Poster	....	special thanks
Robert Randles	....	special thanks (as Bob Randles)
John Saddington	....	special thanks
Umberto Sambucco	....	special thanks: Bridgeman Art Library
Paul Webster	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Miramax Films
• Renaissance Dove

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Frenetic Films (1998) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1998) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (1998) (France) (theatrical)
• Scotia International Filmverleih (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Eurocine (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (1998) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Cannes Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• Scanbox Entertainment (Finland)

Special Effects

• Effects Associates (special effects) (as Effects Associates)
• The Film Factory at VTR (digital visual effects) (as The Film Factory at VTR London)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• 2020 Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• ARRI Lighting Rental  grip and lighting equipment (as ARRI Bell Lighting)
• ARRI Media  camera equipment provided by
• Aeroshoot Film Services  transportation
• Air-Edel Associates  music supervision (as Air Edel Associates Limited)
• Angel Recording Studios  music mixed and recorded at (as Angel Recording Studios)
• Angels & Bermans  costumes supplied by
• Bridgeman Art Library  special thanks
• C.R.G. International  production and tax services: Venice
• Corbett & Keene  unit publicity
• Corporation of London, The  special thanks
• Cosprop  costume supplier (as Cosprop)
• Crew to Crew  catering: second unit, UK
• Edit Hire (New Technology)  editing equipment (as Edit Hire)
• Film Finances  completion guarantor (as Film Finances)
• Gabetti  accommodations: Venice
• Globepost Travel Services  travel arrangements
• Hothouse Music  music supervision by
• Infinite Loop Ltd.  computers supplied by
• L.C.P. di Pompei  shoes made by (as Pompeii Footwear)
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• Lightworks  edited on
• London Metropolitan Orchestra, The  orchestra
• Marriott Harrison  legal advisor
• Mike Fraser  telecine rushes transfers (as Mike Fraser Midnight Transfer)
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• Motorhouse  period vehicles (as Motorhouse)
• Nicolao Atelier  costume supplier
• Painshill Park Trust  special thanks
• Peter Govey Film Opticals  film opticals (as Peter Govey Opticals)
• Peter Govey Film Opticals  main titles (as Peter Govey Opticals)
• Ray Knight Casting  extras casting
• Reel Food for Reel People  catering: second unit, UK
• Royal Parks Agency  special thanks
• Sam Travel  travel arrangements
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Sapex Scripts  post-production scripts
• Shaun Webb Design  titles (as Shaun Webb Graphic Design)
• Shepperton Sound  foley mixed at (as Shepperton Studios)
• Shepperton Sound  re-recording facilities (as Shepperton Studios)
• Shepperton Studios  filmed at (as Shepperton Studios)
• Special Treats  epk services (as The Special Treats Production Company Ltd.)
• Twickenham Film Studios  foley mixed at (as Twickenham Studios)
• Twickenham Film Studios  re-recording facilities (as Twickenham Studios)
• Venetian Apartments  accommodations: Venice
• Walton & Parkinson  production insurance
• Westminster Special Events Office  special thanks

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Belgium:KT | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 | Japan:R | Mexico:B | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #35341)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

The paintings Millie sees in the gallery with Merton and Kate are Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" (1907), and Klimt's "Danae" (1907).

Goofs:

Errors in geography: 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.

Quotes:

Merton:I wish I had wings of the dove so I could fly away.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 55th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1998) (TV)

Poetic, subtle, and beautiful

"The Wings of the Dove" poetically unveils itself with beautiful visuals and explorations in to the complexities of desire. A tragic irony, with an excellent finale. This movie also contains the most painfully emotive sex scene that I have ever seen; as it is honest and detailed with emotions that so rarely are captured this brilliantly in 'art'. This movie is intimate.