The Age of Innocence (1993)

A tale of nineteenth-century New York high society in which a young lawyer falls in love with a woman separated from her husband, while he is engaged to the woman's cousin.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers:

Edith Wharton (novel), Jay Cocks (screenplay)

Stars:

Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder

Won 1 Oscar. Another 14 wins & 33 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Day-Lewis	...	Newland Archer
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Ellen Olenska
Winona Ryder	...	May Welland
Linda Faye Farkas	...	Female Opera Singer
Michael Rees Davis	...	Male Opera Singer
Terry Cook	...	Male Opera Singer
Jon Garrison	...	Male Opera Singer
Richard E. Grant	...	Larry Lefferts
Alec McCowen	...	Sillerton Jackson
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Mrs. Welland
Mary Beth Hurt	...	Regina Beaufort
Stuart Wilson	...	Julius Beaufort
Howard Erskine	...	Beaufort Guest
John McLoughlin	...	Party Guest
Christopher Nilsson	...	Party Guest

Storyline

Society scion Newland Archer is engaged to May Welland, but his well-ordered life is upset when he meets May's unconventional cousin, the Countess Olenska. At first, Newland becomes a defender of the Countess, whose separation from her abusive husband makes her a social outcast in the restrictive high society of late-19th Century New York, but he finds in her a kindred spirit and they fall in love.

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Plot Keywords:

new york | high society | orchestral music score | sophisticated woman | aristocrat | 

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Taglines:

In a world of tradition. In an age of innocence. They dared to break the rules.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and some mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Julius Beaufort was known to have "dissipated habits" which means overindulgence in pleasure, specifically alcohol and its associated vices. It was a common term in the 1800s as a polite way to describe someone as immorally self-indulgent.

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Goofs

In the scene when Newland and May visit Mrs. Mingott after hearing of her stroke, as the servants carry her into the Drawing Room and set her down, a boom mic is visible at the to of the screen.

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Quotes

The Narrator: He could feel her dropping back to an inexpressive girlishness. Her conscious had been eased of its burden. It was wonderful, he thought, how such depths of feeling could coexist with such an absence of imagination.

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Crazy Credits

The Columbia logo turns sepia to look like a 19th-century photograph.

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Connections

References The Red Shoes (1948)

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Soundtracks

Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op 13
("Pathetique")
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven

User Reviews

Scorcese's Answer to Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon"

In the 70's, the decade's greatest director Stanley Kubrick broke from his series of groundbreaking films to make a long period piece. That movie, "Barry Lyndon", was met with much critical acclaim, but also a litany of derision from fans and critics alike who called it too slow, too ponderous and too boring. Nearly 20 years later, the world's leading director of that time, Martin Scorcese took the same steps and met with much of the same criticism.

These two movies are not for everyone. If you want to see action and fast-paced filmmaking, you will find them boring. However, if you want to see the pinnacles of the careers of the two greatest directors of the second half of the 20th century, you will find them here.

Enough has been said about the plot and the acting in "The Age of Innocence". The bottom line is that for pure cinematic luster and beauty, the 90's offers only a single movie that can match "Barry Lyndon". Don't watch the clock, watch the film, and enjoy a departure and a triumph that proves the depth and confidence of Scorcese's skills.

Lastly, don't let anyone spoil the ending for you, and don't jump to conclusions. Think about it after you've seen the movie, savour it for a while and the understanding will come to you. This movie quite simply has the finest ending of any movie I have ever seen.

"The Age of Innocence" is the 10 that rises just above Scorcese's string of 9 1/2s. See it.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

1 October 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Age of Innocence

Filming Locations:

Villa Nuits, Westchester Village, Irvington, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$34,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,317,289, 19 September 1993

Gross USA:

$32,255,440

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$32,255,440

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Cappa Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo SDDS (8 channels)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1