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 & 32 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:

catholic | f rated | new york | countess | woman | 

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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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

1 October 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

La edad de la inocencia

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Daniel Day-Lewis checked into the Plaza Hotel as "N. Archer" and lived there for 2 weeks wearing clothes suitable to his film character as research for Newland Archer.

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Goofs

When Mrs. Mingott tries to give a party in honor of Countess Olenska, not a single of her invitations is accepted, but the handwriting is the same on each separate refusal that flips by on camera.

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Quotes

Ellen Olenska: Are you very much in love with her?
Newland Archer: As much as a man can be.
Ellen Olenska: Do you think there's a limit?

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Crazy Credits

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

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Connections

Referenced in Gossip Girl: The Age of Dissonance (2009)

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Soundtracks

Radetzky March
Written by Johann Strauss Sr.
Performed by The Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin
Courtesy of PolyGram Special Markets

User Reviews

A Splendid Look Back At Luchino Visconti

Exquisite and yet dark, pungent, unforgiving. The best, the most cinematic kind of period drama since Visconti's "Senso'. Martin Scorsese is, without question, the master of his generation. After his dark paintings of New York, the New York of "Taxi Driver" or "The King Of Comedy" this look back at a time when not just New York, but America was defining its identity. Daniel Day Lewis is sublime and Michelle Pfeiffer gives the performance of her life. I was also profoundly moved for that glimpse of Alexis Smith in her last film appearance and the wonderful voice of Joanne Woodward narrating Edith Wharton's words. Thank you!